Birth in water - a relief birth pangs Prenatal contractions - false alarm   or immediately birth in a bath filled with warm water. It is believed that water birth are easier for a woman giving birth, and for the child for nine months is inside the membranes in the amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid). Although official recognition of births in hospitals in the water, by and large, have not yet received, many obstetricians and gynecologists say that the birth pangs of relief that provides a water birth, reduces the risk of complications during childbirth itself. Of course, water birth are always only under the supervision of an obstetrician.

The benefits of water birth

For a woman in labor:

• The warm water soothes, relaxes, facilitating prenatal bout
• At the final stage of labor increases the energy of warm water woman
• Stay in the water helps the woman to take a comfortable position, the body of subjective feelings, weighs less
• The lifting force of the water provides a more efficient uterine contractions and improves circulation, which leads to better oxygenation of the muscles of the uterus and pain relief
• Immersion in water often helps to lower high blood pressure Blood pressure - dangerous if his swing? Caused by anxiety, anxiety before birth
• Comfortable stay in the water reduces the level of stress hormones How to beat stress? Create an oasis   and stimulates the body's production of endorphins laboring woman - natural painkillers hormones
• Water makes the perineal tissue elasticity, which reduces the risk of fractures at birth
• Physical and emotional relaxation that provide water birth, helping the woman to concentrate on vain attempts and give birth easier and faster
• Childbirth in water for laboring women always comfortable - physically and emotionally - than a hospital ward

For a child:

• Births in the water suggest the aquatic environment, similar to the amniotic fluid in which the child during all nine months
• It relieves stress associated with the process of childbirth

Potential risks

Though water birth in the past several decades, gaining popularity, potential risks and complications of childbirth in the water are not fully understood. Nevertheless, many obstetricians and gynecologists suggest that birth in the water there are a few drawbacks. First of all, it is the risk of getting the water into the lungs of the newborn baby. In addition, although a water birth are always under the supervision of a qualified midwife in the case of unforeseen complications at childbirth obstetrician simply not be necessary tools for diagnosis and relief of severe consequences.

Contraindications

Births in water is contraindicated in women in the following cases:

• Herpes: herpes virus can exist in water, so there is a risk of infection. If a woman in labor herpes, it is best to consult with a doctor - in this case a water birth may be contraindicated.
• When uterine bleeding Uterine bleeding outside of menstruation - a sign of a serious breach   or infectious diseases of the uterus
• When multiple pregnancy
• At the risk of premature birth - if labor begins two weeks before they are due, or, water birth is not recommended
• When toxemia, or preeclampsia

Early childbirth also called premature. Most often they are the cause of cervical injury during a previous abortion or abnormal labor with rupture of the birth canal. Therefore, women with such injuries should be observed as at high risk of preterm birth.

What earlier generations

Early or premature birth - a birth at the gestation of 22 to 38 weeks (37 weeks total). Such labor ends with the birth of a premature baby weighing 500 to 2500 g and a length of 35-45 cm, having the features of functional immaturity. There are spontaneous or induced (caused by artificial means with severe diseases of the mother or fetus), premature birth. If premature births are repeated 2-3 times, then they are called habitual.

The frequency of premature birth in our country the average is about 6-7%.

Spontaneous early childbirth

The reasons for such delivery may be different. They may be related to genetic constitution or woman, her state of nervous and endocrine systems, a variety of chronic diseases of internal organs (especially the kidneys and cardiovascular system). Has meaning and obstetrical pathology of the pregnancy, for example, cervical incompetence (inferior muscles of the cervix, which normally act as a retainer ring, not allowing the fetus to get out of the uterus), acute and chronic infection in a pregnant woman, multiple pregnancy, premature detachment of the placenta and placenta previa, late toxicosis pregnant, fibroids (a benign tumor) of the uterus, genital endometriosis Endometriosis - a serious problem with serious consequences   (swelling portions mucosa of the uterus in other reproductive organs, including the muscle layer of the uterus).

Spontaneous preterm delivery occur on the type of emergency (ie occurring in time) delivery: there is labor, smooths and expansion of the cervix, rupture of membranes, the birth of the fetus and placenta. The clinical course distinguish between threatening and went into premature labor.

Threatening preterm labor are characterized by increased tone and irregular uterine activity. There are pain in the abdomen Abdominal pain: when to sound the alarm?   and in the lower back, sometimes - spotting Spotting - it is important to rule out pathology   of the genital tract, shortening and dilatation of the cervix up to 4 cm. If the initial treatment is ineffective, the threatening preterm labor go to the beginning.

When it started preterm delivery appear more intense cramping, smoothing and dilatation of the cervix more than 4 cm. In the future premature births occur as urgent. Duration of delivery is usually greater than urgent, but cervical incompetence marked shortening of the first stage of labor. Characterized as premature discharge of water and bleeding, that occur during the delivery of the placenta (in the third stage of labor). Due to protracted labor and premature discharge of water are often found significant post-natal infection.

Management of spontaneous early delivery

Tactics of treatment for early labor depends on the stage of labor, the intensity of labor, gestational age and viability of the fetus. Conservative expectant management maximize the pregnancy is carried out in the case of a membranes, the satisfactory state of the mother and fetus, the absence of infection, disclosure of uterine throat no more than 2-4 cm, women's lack of serious diseases.

When threatened preterm labor treatment is carried out in a hospital and is in strict bedrest, inhibition of uterine activity and the stimulation of the maturation of the lung tissue of the fetus. Inhibition of uterine activity is contraindicated in fetal death, the presence of anomalies in its development, suspected intrauterine infection, bleeding from the birth canal, expressed toxemia of pregnancy, and in some severe diseases not related to pregnancy (eg, infections, diseases of the kidneys).

Stimulation of the maturation of fetal lung tissue is performed using glucocorticoid hormones, which occurs under the influence of maturation of the surfactant - a substance which antagonizes spadenie lung tissue. Such therapy is the prevention of respiratory distress syndrome in infants (distress).

Active labor management tactics - labor does not linger, and being vaginally - carried out in the case of: opening membranes, regular labor, presence of infection, suffering the fruit of the lack of oxygen (hypoxia), serious illnesses mothers, polyhydramnios, severe toxemia of pregnancy, suspicion on fetal abnormalities Fetal development - week after week .

With timely hospitalization of women in most cases it is possible to prevent premature birth, of course, if there are no contraindications.

Galina Romanenko