Giving birth of a baby is very crucial part of the Pregnancy. There are many important aspects one should know to be prepare for the complications which one might face.

1. Have your bags packed and ready to
take your baby in hands. It is not easy
because there are various important
information about this phase which one
must know.
Pregnancy:
Giving Birth

2. Index
Pack Your Bags……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………2
What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase One ...................................................................................... 4
What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase Two ...................................................................................... 5
What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase Three ................................................................................... 6
Giving Birth Through Cesarean Section .................................................................................................... 8
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3. Pack your bags!
At some stage in the third trimester of your pregnancy you will need to pack a hospital bag with
everything you’ll need during and after giving birth.
Nobody, apart from your baby, knows when she will be arriving or how much of a hurry she will
be in to make an appearance. So it makes sense not to leave packing until the last moment.
Having your bags packed and ready during your pregnancy means you'll be prepared for her
arrival.
You may want to have two bags ready. One could be a “giving birth” bag with things you may
need during labour (whether you are planning on a home or hospital birth.)
The other would be for you and your baby’s stay in hospital.
Different hospitals have different requirements, for example, some provide washable nappies
while others expect you to bring in your own disposables. If you're having a hospital birth at some
stage in your pregnancy it's worth asking your midwife or the hospital for a list of what you'll
need.
But here are some suggestions:
Items for your “giving birth” bag
Your maternity notes and birth plan (make sure these are easily accessible)
Loose cotton T-shirt or nightdress to wear during labour (preferably one you are ok to throw
away afterwards)
Socks to keep your feet warm
TENS machine if you are using one
Natural sponge for mopping your face or sucking on
Massage oil or lotion for back rubs
Water spray to cool you down
Towel, toiletries, tissues and hairbrush
MP3 player and camera
Favourite CD if you are allowed to play your own music in the ward
Snacks and drinks for you and your birth partner
Money for car park and phone or a phone card (mobiles may not be allowed)
Items for your stay in hospital
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4. For you:
Nightdress (front opening for breastfeeding)
Dressing gown and slippers
Nursing bras
Towel, wash things, toiletries and cosmetics
Several older, cheap or disposable knickers
Maternity or super-absorbent sanitary towels
Clothes and shoes for going home in
Books, magazines
For your baby:
Newborn nappies and nappy sacks
Baby toiletries and cotton wool
2/3 sleep suits
2/3 vests
Outdoor clothes suitable for the time of year
Shawls or cot blanket
Baby car seat for taking your baby home
These check lists cover the main items you'll want to take with you, but you may want to add
other, more personal items, such as a photograph of other children or a gift to give an older
sibling from the new arrival.
Snacks and drinks can be added to your bags at the last minute.
( Source: http://www.articlesnatch.com/Article/Giving-Birth---Plan-And-Arrangements-You-Must-
Do/3820075#.UHP-Q64rfcs )
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5. What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase One
All women wonder how they will cope having a baby. Of course it’s natural to be a little anxious,
but it helps to tackle the fear of the unknown by talking to other women who’ve been through
the experience or reading about how labour progresses so you know what happens at each stage.
A first labour usually lasts between 12 and 16 hours (although it can be shorter or longer).
Second, third and following labours are often much shorter, but if the subsequent babies are
larger then labour may last just as long.
A woman goes through early labour (which some women don’t even notice is happening) then
three more recognisable stages of labour.
Giving birth is rarely speedy, although we’ve all heard examples of babies who have rushed out
before mum has a chance to reach hospital.
The very early stage of labour can take hours, or even days as contractions usually start very
mildly as little more than a twinge and start to build up as they put pressure on your cervix to
open up (dilate).
If you have been advised by your GP to go into hospital early, or there’s a snow storm forecasted,
then now is the time to set off. But if you are not expected to have any complications you might
as well stay in the comfort of your own home.
Moving around during early labour, or soaking in a warm bath will help you cope with the early
contractions.
During this time you may experience a show - a mucus plug which seals the opening of the cervix
and comes away as a blob or series of small blobs in your underwear.
This occurs when the cervix stretches and softens. It can happen a couple of hours or even a
couple of days before giving birth.
Once you are having strong, regular contractions, lasting about 45–60 seconds and coming every
five to 10 minutes you will need to go to the hospital. If you are having a baby at home, now is
the time to call your midwife.
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6. At the hospital your midwife will assess how close you are to giving birth and discuss your pain
relief choices.
You may be connected to a hand-held Doppler or a foetal monitor to check baby’s heartbeat. You
will be encouraged to eat light snacks and to drink plenty of liquid.
Meanwhile you cervix will be dilating – it has to open to 10cm during the first stage and the time
this takes varies from woman to woman.
As labour progresses, your contractions will become much stronger with hardly any gaps in
between them and you may feel the urge to push. But your midwife will tell you when you can
safely do this.
In the early stages of having a baby your partner can help with their encouragement, back rubs,
feeding you sips of water, or moping your brow with a cool cloth.
( Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/what-to-expect-when-giving-birth-phase-one-
5766539.html )
What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase Two
The great day has arrived, but while every mum wants giving birth to go as quickly as possible,
the truth is that most first labours last an average of 12 to 16 hours.
A woman goes through early labour then three more recognisable stages of labour. The first
stage is the longest one, with contractions building in intensity and frequency as the cervix opens
sufficiently.
The second phase is the actual delivery of the baby and the third phase usually refers to the
delivery of the placenta.
The second stage, which can take up to an hour, is the most exciting phase of having a baby as
the big moment is almost here. Of course it can be painful – although you will be offered pain
relief to help cope with the contractions - and the pushing can be exhausting. But the end is in
sight. Soon you will be holding your newborn baby in your arms.
Suring this second phase of having a baby, your contractions will become even stronger and
closer together and you will feel the urge to bear down and push with each one.
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7. With every single push, your baby will move further down the birth canal and you are closer to
giving birth.
Eventually the baby's head will 'crown', passing through the perineum and you may feel an
intense burning sensation.
The midwife will most likely encourage you to ‘pant’, a succession of quick, short breaths to allow
the perineum to stretch and not tear.
Some women will of course tear, or possibly, before that happens, your midwife will decide to
perform an episiotomy (a small cut which will be stitched after you have given birth).
Once your baby’s head is out the next contraction is the most important one of all. When you
start to push this final time your baby will turn to release one shoulder, quickly followed by the
other.
This is a moment of intense relief as all pain and discomfort stops immediately. Many women
describe the moment as feeling incredibly, intensely happy.
Once the baby is born, the cord will be clamped and cut – sometimes new dads are allowed to do
this – and the baby will be handed to the proud mum.
This skin-to-skin contact is beautiful and very natural and although baby may look discoloured,
wrinkly and not at all like the newborn babies in the movies, she will seem like the most beautiful
baby in the world to the proud new mum and dad.
( Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/what-to-expect-when-giving-birth-
phase-two-5777009.html )
What to Expect When Giving Birth – Phase Three
Once a woman has passed through the very early stages of having a baby there are three
recognised phases of labour.
The very early stages of labour can take hours, or even days, as contractions usually start as little
more than a twinge and then build in intensity and frequency as pressure on the cervix causes it
to open up (dilate).
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8. The cervix has to open to 10cm during the first stage of giving birth, and the time this takes varies
from woman to woman.
The second phase of labour is the final hour of having a baby. The big moment is close and
although most women will be feeling tired by now, they will also have a feeling of euphoria that
their baby is almost here.
During stage two you will have the urge to push and will be encouraged to do so until baby’s
head has appeared.
During one final big push your baby will release one shoulder, turn and release the other then she
will be born. Some women may be in danger of tearing at this stage, but a small, neat cut
(episiotomy) which can be stitched after giving birth, will prevent this happening.
In stage three the placenta (or after-birth) has to be expelled and in most cases this is quite
straightforward.
Many women are so preoccupied with their newborn baby in their arms, they don’t even notice
this is happening.
With your permission, your midwife will give you an injection of syntometrine immediately after
your baby is born. This speeds up the delivery of the placenta which usually arrives between five
and 20 minutes after giving birth.
Sometimes it takes a few gentle pushes and it’s out, or your midwife may gently pull the cord to
help to remove it while you relax your tummy.
A natural third stage, where the placenta is expelled without the need for drugs, isn’t suitable for
everyone.
When no injection is given this third stage of having a baby could last for up to an hour and a
woman can experience some bleeding.
In some rare cases the placenta, or part of it, stubbornly refuses to move and this can cause
heavy bleeding and removal under anaesthetic.
Once you have given birth and while you are being cleaned up and given any stitches that are
necessary, your baby will be checked over to make sure she’s healthy.
( Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/what-to-expect-when-giving-birth-
phase-three-5779044.html )
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9. Giving Birth Through Cesarean Section
Although it takes longer to recover from giving birth by Caesarean, mums who have their babies
this way are still able to hold and breastfeed their babies soon afterwards.
Giving birth by Caesarean entails an operation with an obstetrician making a cut through the
tummy and into the uterus (womb) to lift the baby, or babies, out.
Mums usually stay awake during the procedure and can see the moment their baby is lifted out
of them. Partners can be present too.
There are two types of Caesarean, a planned (also called elective) one and an emergency one. If
you have a Caesarean birth you can still deliver vaginally the next time.
A woman having a planned or elective caesarean will be made fully aware of all the birthing and
pregnancy information she needs well in advance.
There are several reasons why a woman may have a planned Caesarean. These include:
o You or your baby developed a complication during pregnancy or labour.
o You've already had two (or more) Caesareans.
o You have an infection which could be passed to your baby during a vaginal birth.
o You've requested a Caesarean.
o Your baby is lying transverse (sideways) or keeps moving around (unstable) or is a bottom-
down, or breech, position.
o You have pre-eclampsia or eclampsia.
o Your baby is not growing properly.
o You have a pre-existing medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes which puts you
or baby at risk.
o Your placenta is low-lying (placenta praevia).
o You are having a multiple birth.
o You have lost a baby during or just before a previous labour.
Only around six percent of Caesarean births are classed as emergency.
They may occur because of:
o A complication during pregnancy or labour affecting you or your baby.
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10. o Prolapse of the cord (when the umbilical cord gets ahead of your baby and there is a risk of
it becoming squashed and blocking baby’s oxygen).
o Your labour is taking too long and you are not dilating sufficiently.
During pregnancy, information about what is happening to your body and what changes you can
expect is vital… and never more so than when you are having a Caesarean.
You will be given a full explanation of the procedure and all possible risk scenarios and you will be
asked to give your consent before the operation goes ahead.
The main disadvantage of a Caesarean birth is the pain and discomfort after the operation which
can last a few weeks.
Medicines will help you cope, but your day-to-day activities could be affected for several weeks.
( Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/pregnancy-articles/giving-birth-through-cesarean-section-
6082059.html )
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