17 Things That Happen Before, During & After Childbirth As Told By A Midwife

When it comes to the ‘tell it all’ of birthing a child, there is usually some reserve; nobody tells all. In this report, Mirror shares some down-to-earth information from Michelle Lyne of the Royal College of Midwives about 17 things that happen before, during and after childbirth.

1. Waters Break: Lyne says women do not feel their waters breaking but notice that they are wet and may confuse the phenomenon with incontinence. ‘Some women also say they feel a popping sensation.’

2. There Are Exceptions: She says, ‘Not all women pop their waters as they go into labour, some may only go once in established labour, when it can cause more of a sensation because there is a lot more pressure from the descending head behind the water.’

3. Category ‘Fore’ and ‘Hind’ Waters: ‘Fore’ waters sit in front of the baby’s head while ‘hind’ waters are behind the baby’s head. Hind water leak does not produce any real sensation, she says.

4. The ‘Show’ Is Real: The operculum, commonly known as the ‘show’ is the mucus which sits in the cervical canal; believed to prevent infection from entering the uterus. It passes through the vagina either before or as labour starts. Lyne says, ‘it tells us that there is change happening to the cervix and is usually mucoid and can be streaked with blood.’

5. You Experience of Labour Depends On…: The position of the baby, she says. ‘If the baby is facing the woman’s back then labour is often felt at the front – across the abdomen. If the baby is facing to the front with its back to the woman’s spine then labour can be felt mostly as back ache.’

6. Your Baby May Choose to Relieve Himself during Labour: And no, he is not out of you yet! ‘If the fetus becomes distressed in labour it will open its bowels and pass meconium stool which will stain the normally clear amniotic fluid.

7. Open Up to The Idea of a Vaginal Exam: If you have an epidural, then you will be examined vaginally. Vaginal examinations are usually undertaken to confirm progress in labour.

8. Epidural Can Lead to Bed Confinement: Some epidurals allow mobilisation, says Lyne, but some can cause the legs to feel numb because of the pressure of venous fluid or the increasing impact of the drugs used on the nerves. This may mean that you are more likely to be confined to a bed.

9. Epidurals Cause a Drop in Blood pressure: With the drop in blood pressure comes the need for an intravenous delivery of fluid. This must be given through a vein in the forearm or the back of the hand; a drip.

10. Epidurals Impact on the Bladder: With the epidural causing an impact on the bladder, the woman may not know that she needs to empty her bladder. A catheter is normally used for women who cannot pass urine themselves.

11. Epidurals fail: The epidural might not work; or it might only work partially. Women on epidural may fail to notice a change in contractions and may not experience an urge to push.

12. A Stuck Umbilical Cord: After the baby’s head is born, the midwife usually tries to find the stuck cord then attempts to create a loop of it to allow delivery of the baby’s body through it.

13. A Loop can’t be Made, So: Then the cord may be clamped and cut to allow delivery of the rest of the baby. However, this is increasingly not recommended because touching the cord may interfere with its function.

14. The Cord Rarely Breaks in Labour: But it may snap when trying to deliver the third stage if it is pulled too hard.

15. More About the Umbilical Cord:
-It’s about 2 cms thick
-composed of ‘a jelly like ‘connective tissue and covered in amniotic membrane.
-it surrounds the umbilical vein and two umbilical arteries; therefore, it’s pretty fairly robust and can take some effort to cut – especially if fully gorged with blood.
– if allowed to stop pulsating before cutting, it will be less engorged and more easily cut with scissors.

16. It will tell on you ‘down there’: The common tell-tale impacts are in form of haemorrhoids and/or stitches for perineal repair of either a vaginal/perineal tear or repair of an episiotomy; a surgical incision of the perineum to allow delivery.

17. Healing Times Differ: The deeper the tear or cut, the longer it may take to heal.

In concluding, Lyne advises the maintenance of ‘a good level of hygiene and that you change sanitary towels every time you use the bathroom. It may also help to pour water over your stitches at the same time as passing water to dilute your urine and reduce any stinging.’