The Birth of your Baby

The early stages of your journey to parenthood are now complete. Ahead of you is a shorter, but not necessarily easier, stage that of pushing the baby out. Together at last, you'll meet your new baby.

Coping With Second Stage

As your baby is gradually pushed down your birth canal, try to use gravity as much as possible to help, keep as up right as you can. Get in to what ever position feels most comfortable it may be sitting up on the bed, squatting on a mat with the support of your partner, leaning against a chair, being on all fours, or using a birthing stool. Your partner and health care provider can follow your lead. Between contractions, use your breathing techniques in particular, let your pelvic noor, rectum, and anus relax.

Crowning

Your doctor will tell you when your baby's head appears at the vaginal opening this is called crowning. Listen to your doctor, she'll tell you when to push and when to relax. If you take your time and let your vagina stretch slowly, you may avoid a tear. Once the baby's head crowns, your partner can show you by holding a mirror this is a great encouragement because you know that your baby will soon be born.

Episiotomy

An episiotomy is a surgical cut in the perineum that helps to allow the baby's head to pass through. Given time, you may not need one, but if it's felt you should have one, the doctor will ask your permission to do this procedure as your baby's head crowns. It's more common to have an episiotomy with a first baby because the vaginal opening may be less elastic and you are more likely to tear. Episiotomies are also performed if your baby is very large, is in the breech position, or you need assistance with forceps or vacuum. If you haven't had an epidural the pelvic floor muscles will be numbed first with an injection of local anesthetic. Then the vaginal tissues, plus underlying muscle, are cut at the height of a contraction to extend the opening. The incision is stitched after the placenta has been delivered.

The Delivery

The head is the widest part of your baby it will slowly emerge, and the doctor will make sure the cord isn't around the neck and will clear fluid from the mouth and throat. The doctor will ask you to pant, not push, at this stage, then with the next contractions she will gently turn the baby so that the shoulders can emerge one at a time, and the rest of your baby's body will slide out: the pushing contractions stop immediately and you'll feel a wonderful sense of release. Your baby may or may not cry out, some babies whimper, some cry lustily, others begin breathing without any crying.

Meeting Your Baby

This is the moment for which you've waited nine months, when you can take your baby in your arms together for the first time, the moment that will make every thing you've just gone through worth while. Your doctor will probably lay your baby on your stomach or give him to you to hold while the cord is clamped and cut, let your baby feel your skin, hold him close to your face, and let him look up in to yours. Share this moment you're both his parents and savor it, this is a meeting that will change both your lives for ever. It is also the moment when you claim your new status as parents.