Childbirth

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Paragraph 5.7: Childbirth

Lesson goals

• I can explain the different stages of childbirth
• I can name several problems that can make childbirth difficult, and what measures are used to solve them

Recap.. How did pregnancy work again?

To who does the placenta belong? The mother or the baby?

Explain how the placenta helps in delivering oxygen and nutrients to the baby

Recap Pregnancy

As visible in the image,

there are fetal veins and 

arteries as well as maternal

veins and arteries. These

come together in the placenta,

and will exchange nutrients 

and gases

Recap Pregnancy

This image gives another view on how 

the foetus is positioned in the abdomen

 (belly). This is near the end of the 

pregnancy. Give 2 reasons how you 

can see that it's at the end of the 

pregnancy! (next slide)

2 reasons

And then.. Childbirth

Childbirth, or labour, involves the birth of the baby (obviously).

Think for yourself: what do you expect to come out during childbirth? Note that in the next slide

What are contractions?

Can you name the 3 phases of child birth?

What comes out during childbirth?

Childbirth

• Birth of the baby
• Birth of the placenta (this includes the membranes     that held the baby, placenta and the water during the pregnancy).

Actual picture coming up on the next slide, be prepared ;)

Membranes = vliezen. We also call this the amniotic sac. This surrounds the foetus and placenta inside of the uterus. Think of it like a big balloon keeping all the water in.

Childbirth

• Birth of the baby
• Birth of the placenta (this includes the membranes     that held the baby, placenta and the water during the pregnancy).

Membranes = vliezen, these surround the foetus and placenta inside of the uterus. Think of them like a big balloon.

Childbirth

Childbirth itself can be divided in 

several stages. During these,

the mother will go through 

different amounts of pain. This

starts slowly, but builds up during

the whole birth. Women are allowed

to take pain medication for this!

Stage 1: dilation

• This can take a long time (sometimes more than 24 hours!)
• The contractions (which are just muscle cramps of the uterus) slowly start, and increase in strenght slowly. Later on they will also increase in frequency, happening more often.
• The cervix and vagina will widen, slowly making space for the baby 

In Dutch, we call this process 'ontsluiting'

Stage 2: expulsion

• When the dilation phase has widened the cervix far enough, the contractions will get very powerful and rapid.
• This is a sign for the mother to start pushing, and the baby will come out quickly.
• This stage does not take very long, as soon as the head comes out the rest follows fast.

Stage 3: afterbirth

• A little while (minutes) after the expulsion phase, the placenta will be 'born'. We call this the afterbirth.
• Again, contractions come with this. These are not as bad as the contractions of the baby's birth, of course.

And then..?

• When the baby is born, the umbilical cord is cut. This is because now the baby can breathe and eat/drink, so it doesn't need the nutrients via the placenta anymore.
• The end of the umbilical cord will slowly deteriorate and fall off eventually. This then forms the belly button as we know it.
• Fun fact: the differences in belly buttons that we have depend on the person who folds it after birth!

And then..?

• The uterus wil quickly shrink back to its normal size (no bigger than a hand)
• However, the belly muscles and skin will take some more time.
• Due to this, the mother often looks a bit pregnant for a few more weeks.

Difficult births

• Normally, the baby is positioned with its head first.
• However, sometimes the baby is on the wrong side (butt first, feet first, or even completely turned to the side).

Difficult births

• Normally, the baby is positioned with its head first.
• However, sometimes the baby is on the wrong side (butt first, feet first, or even completely turned to the side).
• Another problem that can occur is that the umbilical cord is wrapped around the baby's throat, legs or arms
• This could cut off oxygen supply, which is dangerous.

How to solve that?

• A caesarian section is the way to solve that (keizersnede)
• This involves an operation where the surgeon opens up the uterus and takes the baby out.

Why could a breech position be bad?

1. Its not bad its just more difficult to push out
2. Its bad because the baby can't breath anymore
3. Its bad because you'll have to get a c-section
4. Its bad because the baby will get stuck