Labor and Delivery | 3D Animation of Childbirth
For most women, labor begins with contractions. They cause the cervix to dilate to about 10 cm,
allowing your baby to move into the birth canal. As your cervix begins to open, the mucus plug
that blocks the cervical opening is discharged into the vagina. Sometimes, losing the mucus
plug happens days or weeks before labor starts. You might also feel your water break and
experience increasing pressure in your back. Despite common misconceptions, only about 15% to 20% of people experience their water
breaking before going into labor. Contractions will eventually become more regular,
come closer together, and last 60 to 90 seconds. For a first pregnancy, the time from the start
of established labor to being fully dilated is usually 8 to 12 hours. It's often quicker –
around 5 hours – in subsequent pregnancies.
If you feel the urge to push but are not
fully dilated, you will be asked to hold back. Pushing too soon could cause your cervix
to swell, which might delay delivery. Pant or blow your way through the contractions. When your cervix is fully dilated, your baby will move further down the birth
canal toward the entrance to your vagina. It’s time! You may get an urge to push
that feels a bit like you need to poo. The pushing stage usually lasts about an hour. At some point, you might be asked
to push more gently — or not at all. Slowing down gives your vaginal tissues
time to stretch rather than tear.
After the baby’s head has emerged, the body is rotated sideways so that the
shoulders can emerge easily, one at a time. The rest of the baby usually slips out
quickly after the first shoulder comes out. The umbilical cord is clamped and cut. After your baby is born, you'll likely feel
great relief. You might hold the baby in your arms or on your abdomen. Cherish the
moment. But a lot is still happening. You'll continue to have mild, less painful
contractions. The contractions help move the placenta into the birth canal. You'll be asked
to push gently once more to deliver the placenta. The placenta usually detaches
from the uterus within 20 minutes. The woman is given oxytocin in many hospitals to
help the uterus contract and expel the placenta. Your doctor will examine the placenta to make
sure it's intact. Any remaining fragments must be removed from the uterus to
prevent bleeding and infection. The doctor will also determine whether any
tears in your vaginal region need stitches. If you didn’t have anesthesia during the birth,
you'll receive an injection of local anesthetic in the area needing stitches.
The stitches will
typically dissolve on their own within six weeks. Thank you for watching this video. Please
watch my other videos if you would like to know how breastfeeding works or
what to expect during a C-section..
