Development and Growth Of Mother and Baby in every passing week of Pregnancy
Pregnancy Week 1-4
A woman usually ovulates 14 days before her next menstural period. To simplify the matter, the start day of the pregnancy is considered to be the first day of the last menstural period(LMP). Actually, the conception takes place in the 2nd week of pregnancy. By week 4, your body start showing early signs of pregnancy as breast tenderness and fatigue. But in many case they go unnoticed till week 5. Some women may confuse implantation bleeding with menstural bleeding.
However, it is around the end of week 5 the pregnancy test start showing positive. The lining of uterus is getting thickened. The pregnancy is not detectable on ultrasound until the start of week 6.
The signs that indicate that you're really in labour:
Water Bag Breakage
A quarter of labour starts when the amniotic sac surrounding the baby breaks and the amniotic fluid escapes. If labour does not start with in 24 hours of rupturing of membrane, your doctor may induce contractions with oxytocin or prostaglandins.
Contractions
Contractions start slowly and feel a bit like a period pain, sometimes with a backache and diaarhea as well. They will increase in frequency and intensity, with the contractions interval reducing from 20 minutes to 5 minutes. You have to record the duration of contractions and gap between the two contractions before calling your birth centre. Having a record of your contractions, hospital staff will let you know when to reach there.
Show
It is a small bloodstained discharge as your cervix thins and the mucus plug drops out. Many times show passes unnoticed by the expectant mother.
Labour is divided into three stages - the dilation of the cervix, the delivery of the baby, and the delivery of the placenta.
First Stage- Dialation of Cervix
The first stage has 3 phases:
Initial (latent) Phase- This stage is the longest and the least painful part of labour. The cevix thins and dialates to about 4 cm. The contractions intervals from 5-20 minutes and lasts from 30-60 seconds. Active Phase- The contractions tend to occur around 2 or 4 minutes apart and last up to a minute or so. The cervix dilates from 4 -10cm. Transition Phase- This is the phase that takes you from first to second stage of labour.contractions are running into each other. You 'll feel pressure in your bottom due to the baby's head moving down the birth canal.
Second Stage - Delivery of the baby
For the first baby this stage lasts between half to one hour, however for second and subsequent pregnancies it sometimes takes only few minutes. When the baby's head touches the pelvic floor muscles it triggers a reflex known as Ferguson's reflex which, creates the uncontrollable urge to push.Once the head has emerged, the delivery staff will turn the body to deliver the shoulders. The rest of the baby will then slip out.
Third Stage - Delivery of the placenta
The delivery of placenta usually happen five to 30 minutes later. It only takes few minutes for uterus to gently contract and push out the placenta.
No matter how many people tell you about labour pain, you won't really understand until you experience it yourself. Using pain relievers is again a personal choice, here is a list of commonly used and offered pain relievers.
Epidural
A mixture of local anaesthetic and painkilling drugs are injected into the epidural space around the nerves attached to the spinal cord, which makes the mother feel numb from the waist down. Since an epidural may cause the mother's blood pressure to drop, it is not recommended for women with low blood pressure or a bleeding placenta. While this can provide excellent relief from pain it may also mean that you lose all sensation and feel no urge to push, So you may not get to feel your baby actually coming out. In some cases, the baby may have to be delivered by forceps or vacuum cup, or by caesarean section.
Pethidine
This drug is usually given during the first stage of labour, as an injection in the thigh or buttock. It is is similar to morphine, which may make you feel sleepy and give an unpleasant "high" sensation, but at the same time may also let you relax or even sleep in preparation for labour.
Gas and Air(Entonox)
This is the most commonly used method of pain relief and involves inhaling a mixture of oxygen and nitrous oxide(laughing gas) through a mouthpiece or mask. Nitrous oxide doesn't stop the pain entirely, but takes the 'edge' off the intensity of each contraction. Many women prefer nitrous oxide because it allows them direct control – you can hold the mask yourself and take deep breaths whenever you feel the need. For others it has no effect whatsoever.It can also cause nausea and vomitting.
With this method of pain relief, four small electrodes are attached to your lower back on either side of your spine. These are linked to a battery powered unit. You control the delivery of electrical impulses by using a hand held portable machine. These electrical impulses send a signal to through your neuron system to the brain where they compete with pain impulses arising from the uterus, and help to block the pain. It is also believed to stimulate the production of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers.
