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What should not be done during childbirth? Correct behavior during childbirth

Here is the long-awaited pregnancy behind, and the woman thinks with fear about the upcoming birth. She is afraid of pain, complications and much more.

Fear of childbirth may not affect this process in the best way, so it is important to know how the labor is going and what to do during it.

Before you wonder how to behave during childbirth, you need to have an idea of ​​how it goes.

Generic activity is usually divided into three periods.

First stage of labor. During this period, the woman may have contractions and the cervix will open a few centimeters. A few hours before the onset of labor, the cervix opens slightly, and a mucous plug that covered the cervix during pregnancy can also come off. Of course, the mucous plug can come off even a week before giving birth, and you may not notice this, so contractions are the most accurate harbinger of the onset of labor.

Contractions can be false and real. It's easy to tell them apart:

  • In real contractions, the frequency between them is the same, while in false contractions, it is different.
  • False contractions are accompanied by aching pain in the lower abdomen, like during menstruation, and during real ones, the pain is acute, and can radiate to the lower back or under the scapula.
  • During false contractions, you can move or take a comfortable position - then the pain will go away. With real contractions, the pain does not go away, but gradually increases over time.

In the first period, the cervical dilation occurs very slowly, about one centimeter per hour, but after it is opened four centimeters, the process will go faster. As soon as the cervix opens 10-11 centimeters, the second period begins.

Second stage of labor. At this time, the baby's head is already beginning to move through the bone ring, entering the pelvis of the expectant mother. During this period of labor, the woman begins to make attempts to help the baby move towards the exit. Usually, the birth of a baby lasts about an hour, but due to a number of factors, this process can take 2 - 3 hours.

What influences this process:

  • Dimensions of the unborn child.
  • Contractions and attempts of the expectant mother.
  • The size of the woman's pelvis.
  • The location of the baby's head in the womb.

The end of the second stage of labor ends when the newborn baby takes the first breath and cry.

Third stage of labor. Labor ends with the birth of the placenta. The uterus sharply decreases in size, and the remnants of the amniotic bladder and umbilical cord come out with the help of several contractions, in which you will again want to push. This period lasts no more than 30 minutes, and then a heating pad with ice is placed on the mother's lower abdomen to prevent bleeding.

How to behave during childbirth at different periods of pregnancy

To help you feel less scared, talk to your doctor beforehand about what and how you should do during labor. Knowledge will help you to have a baby with ease.

How to behave in the first stage of labor:

  • The most important thing is to psychologically tune in to the birth of a baby. If you do not panic and are afraid, then everything will go smoothly and without complications.
  • Empty your bladder as often as possible.
  • It is important to breathe deeply and calmly during contractions, so you help your baby cope with the hypoxia that has arisen from them. When breathing during contractions, inhalation should be equal to exhalation.
  • You should measure the time of contractions, their duration and frequency in order to know the approximate beginning of the second period.
  • You should not drink or eat at the onset of labor, as reflex vomiting may occur due to dilatation of the cervix.

How to behave in the second stage of labor:

  • If you feel pressure in the rectal area, this is a sure sign that pushing has begun. Be sure to empty yourself as often as possible before doing this.
  • You can take an upright position to make it easier.
  • Listen carefully to your midwife and follow her instructions.

In the third period, there are no special recommendations on how to behave during childbirth, because everything will happen in its own way. If you plan to breastfeed your baby, do it as early as possible, as hormonal changes will occur and the placenta can easily separate by itself.

How to make labor easier and relieve pain

The most unpleasant sensations and pain appear during contractions in the first stage of labor. The pain during contractions is very strong and prevents the woman from relaxing and tune in to having a baby.

How to relieve labor and labor pain:

  • During the period of contractions, a woman should breathe deeply, and most importantly, calmly. Calm breathing will help your little one cope with hypoxia during labor.
  • The pain will be less if you are in a position that is comfortable for you and does not cause pain. This can be on the left side, upright, or on all fours. Sitting on a hard surface is not recommended, and walking will help the fetus move closer to the birth canal.
  • Tension prevents the uterus from opening, so it is advisable to relax during labor.
  • If the doctor permits, you can sit on an inflatable ball.
  • You can take a warm shower or bath, which can also ease your condition and relieve pain.
  • There is anesthesia in which the woman inhales nitrous oxide with oxygen and the pain goes away. This breathable sip can be taken when you cannot stand the pain.

Listen carefully to the midwife when pushing, she will help you make the birth process easier on her own. Also, anesthesia will help to facilitate childbirth:

  • A water birth can help reduce pain, so if you're not afraid, you can arrange for a bathtub birth in advance if you wish.
  • General anesthesia is rarely used for complications or for a caesarean section.
  • Epidural anesthesia is by far the most popular. The bottom line is that the pain reliever is injected into the lumbar region near the nerves to block the pain impulse. With this kind of anesthesia, you do not feel the lower torso, and it is more difficult to lead the attempts.
  • Local anesthesia is used if the perineal area needs to be numbed before the baby is born. They resort to this method if a woman has a large fetus or multiple pregnancies.

Also, childbirth can be anesthetized with the help of relaxation effects on the woman's psyche, the use of aromatherapy, acupressure and self-massage.

During childbirth, do not be afraid and think with good thoughts about the upcoming meeting with the baby, then your pain will decrease and you will behave during childbirth as it should.

Video

Childbirth is a huge stress for the female body. As in all stressful situations, experts recommend not to panic and calm down in order to be able to think sanely. But not only these recommendations are the answer to the question: how to behave during childbirth. It is necessary to study the mechanism of the process itself, including all the nuances, in order to have an idea of ​​the changes taking place in the woman's body at all stages of the generic process and not be afraid of them.

Labor process

The entire generic process is divided into several stages, each of which requires a certain behavior from the woman.

Due to her individual characteristics and beliefs, each woman treats the birth process differently. Someone awaits this moment with awe, while others feel fear. In the second case, most often, this happens due to the lack of awareness of the pregnant woman about the appearance of a new life. Therefore, it will not be superfluous to find out what stages the generic process goes through and what awaits the expectant mother at each of them. It is necessary to familiarize yourself with this material in advance, because the beginning process will not allow the assimilation of information, and the woman in labor will perceive what is happening not in a positive way.

First stage of labor

The first stage is characterized by the onset of contractions. This is the longest process. Painful sensations gradually increase, take even periods of time, which are becoming shorter and shorter. At this time, the birth canal is smoothed, the baby sinks to the pelvic floor and prepares to pass through the prepared birth canal.

At this stage, three stages can be distinguished:

  • latent - characterized by a slow opening of the cervix. During this period, it opens by an average of 4 centimeters, the contractions have a moderate pain intensity. As a rule, water flows away. There is still time to get to the medical facility;
  • the active stage is designed to open the neck up to 8 centimeters, the pain sensations intensify, the contractions have an interval of 5 minutes. At this time, the woman should already be under the supervision of doctors;
  • the transient stage is characterized by frequent painful contractions, their duration is about a minute, and the interval is 2-3 minutes. At this time, the attention of medical personnel is riveted to the state of the woman in labor, the cervix is ​​maximally disclosed (10-12 cm.)

Second stage

The second stage is called the "pulling period". The woman in labor is asked to move to the birth chair, since the baby is already ready to be born. This applies to natural childbirth, since during a cesarean section, a woman is taken to the operating unit. The child slowly moves along the birth canal, can roll over in the process. Further, its head reaches the exit. Struggling, the woman helps the baby to overcome this difficult path. After the appearance of the head, the doctor helps her completely exit the perineum, after which the shoulders and body are born. The birth of the head is the most difficult process of the second stage, the shoulders and body come out quickly. The newborn is placed on the mother's chest and the most difficult job for the mother is over.

Third final stage

The release of the placenta occurs at the third stage. At this time, the woman needs to push a little more so that the "child's place" is completely released. The contractions will no longer be so painful and there are very few of them. This is an important point, since the remnants of the placenta in the uterus threaten health problems (bleeding, inflammation).


 The pushing stage is the most difficult for a woman in labor.

How to behave during childbirth for a woman in labor

Only by understanding the sequence of stages and the characteristics of each of them, you can get an idea of ​​how to behave correctly during childbirth. Each stage has its own nuances, so it is advisable to consider each of them separately.

Contraction behavior

The first phase of the onset of contractions is the least painful, and the interval between them is quite large. Therefore, at this time, the mother can calmly get ready and decide what to do, how to get to the hospital. If you have relatives or friends who can give you a ride, it's time to call them. If not, call an ambulance. Those who have not given birth for the first time should hurry up, since the process is faster than in first-born ones.


 During contractions, a woman chooses a position for herself in which she is most comfortable.

During the second phase, the expectant mother must arrive at the medical facility. The contractions are already more painful, their interval is gradually decreasing. At this time you need:

  1. Choose the right posture. They can be changed several times, focusing on your feelings. Most often, it is easier for women in labor to endure pain in such positions:
  • standing, holding the support with your hands;
  • On knees;
  • upright while moving. Particularly helpful is the slight swinging of the pelvis from side to side;
  • lying on your side with your knees slightly bent;
  • reclining on a fitball.
  1. Breathe correctly. This ensures the flow of the required amount of oxygen into the body of the mother and baby. If you do uncontrolled exhalations and breaths during contractions, you can increase the pain and provide the child with a temporary lack of oxygen. During contractions, two breathing techniques are used:

  1. Do self-massage. Acupressure massage can help relieve pain. To do this, clench your hands into fists, gently massage your lower back. With your fingertips, you can make light massage movements from the center of the lower abdomen, gradually moving to one side, then to the other.
  2. Relax as much as possible after the bout. Remember that you will need strength to push. Therefore, after each contraction, try to normalize your breathing and try to relax for a while until the next one begins.
  3. Monitor the interval of contractions. In some cases, doctors ask the woman in labor to count the minutes of rest and the duration of the contraction. The more often they occur and the longer they last, the sooner the birth canal and cervix will be ready to expel the fetus.

6. Calm down and don't panic. This rule applies to all three stages of labor. The body of the expectant mother took care of natural pain relief in advance. For example, a few weeks before delivery, the nerve endings of the uterus are partially destroyed, thereby reducing pain. In addition, during contractions, the female body produces the hormone of happiness (endorphin) and the pain reliever enkephalin. But there is a nuance: they work in full force only when the woman is calm. Fear and nervousness drown out their action, and as a result - more pronounced soreness. Therefore, various techniques of meditation and self-soothingness in between contractions are encouraged, be it singing or concentration exercises from yoga practice.

Behavior during pushing

The second stage of the labor process takes place in the delivery room. The medical staff will be nearby, monitor and help the woman in labor.

Important!Listen carefully to your doctor's instructions. This is a prerequisite in the process of a successful childbirth, because the specialist knows better what is happening. Coordinated work with the obstetrician reduces the risk of injury to the birth canal, cervix and baby.

3. While pushing, it is better to slightly raise the upper part of the case.

  1. In the intervals between attempts, as well as between contractions, try to rest for further effective action.
  2. It happens that a woman, after the pain experienced in contractions, can no longer determine by her condition whether there is now a contraction or not. In this case, be sure to tell your doctor about it. He will help and tell you when to push again.
  3. Don't be distracted by unnecessary thoughts. Correct pushing is the key to a quick birth. Therefore, all thoughts are aside. No nuances such as involuntary bowel movements, your appearance, etc. should not bother you at this moment. This is a natural response of the body, in which there is nothing to be ashamed of.

Ideally, if you know how to behave correctly, the attempts will look like this: the fight begins - we take a deep breath. We find the support of the delivery chair and hold on, the head is slightly raised, the chin is pressed to the chest. We hold our breath and direct the force of attempts to the area of ​​the uterus and press, while exhaling air.

At the stage of attempts, a feeling of "bursting" is characteristic. This is fine. Correct behavior during labor and awareness of what is happening will give the woman in labor confidence and help to pull herself together.

Expectant mothers, if they wish, can attend courses for young parents at the clinic or maternity hospital. There, they tell in detail and in an accessible way, and sometimes show videos on how to behave during childbirth. A woman can ask questions of interest and get a detailed answer. Find out about such a service in your antenatal clinic, you will surely be interested in listening.


 During pregnancy, you should attend courses for young mothers, where they will tell you how to behave correctly during childbirth.

Birth of the placenta. What do you need to know?

The above two stages of childbirth require effort, peace of mind and follow the instructions of the medical staff from the expectant mother. At the last stage, very little is required from the woman - to push several times, but this is incomparably easier than the main attempts. Some recommend coughing to help expel the placenta and membranes. The duration of this stage takes from 5 to 30 minutes.

What shouldn't you do?

There are mistakes that are most often made by women who do not know how to behave correctly during childbirth. As a result, they experience tremendous fear and insecurity, trauma and pain that could have been avoided. So, the main "no":


 You should NOT scream loudly during childbirth, so as not to consume the oxygen necessary for the body
  1. Do not believe the horror stories told by acquaintances or friends that childbirth is very scary. First, the pain threshold is different for everyone. Secondly, you do not know how this or that figurant of scary stories behaved in a particular situation.
  2. Do not give up medical manipulations. The specialists know what they are doing and they know best if you or your baby need help.
  3. Do not squeeze your pelvic muscles during labor, even if you really want to.
  4. You can't scream for a long time. It is clear that a short involuntary cry can escape, but try to control yourself. Screaming, you exhale oxygen, which, on the contrary, should enter the body.
  5. It is no longer possible to drink and eat when the contractions have begun. This is fraught with vomiting and complications of anesthesia (if required).
  6. You can not restrain the body's natural urges (urination and defecation). If your body requires it - do not resist. Excessive fullness of the rectum or bladder will only make it difficult for the baby to pass through the birth canal.
  7. Don't make your own decisions about taking pain medications. This requirement also applies to the postpartum period.

All of these prohibitions are dictated exclusively by common sense, and their only goal is to preserve the health of the mother and child.

Knowing how to behave in childbirth, a woman receives not only informational awareness, but also psychologically prepares for what awaits her. The expression “knowledgeable means armed” is the best fit to describe the actions of a woman in labor. In this case, the woman is not just a passive sufferer-observer, but an active assistant in difficult but joyful work. Only calmness, self-confidence, understanding of what is happening and well-coordinated work with an obstetrician-gynecologist will guarantee that your childbirth will go well.

Good time of the day, my dear readers!

Women's topics are so diverse that it can be discussed endlessly. The most important thing for us, dear ladies, is health and our children. During childbirth, both are closely interconnected. But even more important is how the woman will behave.

Breathing, posture, moral attitude to what is happening - everything is important not only for easing pain, but also for the state of the unborn baby. I appeal to all future women in labor: let's figure out together how to behave during labor and childbirth.

If you are giving birth for the first time, the total labor time will be about 16 hours. It is customary to divide it into two periods:

  • latent - characterized by less severe pain and continues until the uterus opens 4 cm;
  • active - contractions become more pronounced and gradually turn into attempts.

The first birth is longer and more stressful. In the second pregnancy, the time of contractions is reduced to 6-8 hours (and some mothers can give birth in 40 minutes, for example, me).

The latency period of labor is best done at home. Do not rush to go to the hospital at the first symptoms, no matter what child is born to you. Contractions can be false. Their difference lies in the unevenness of the intervals.

When you come to the hospital with such complaints, you risk staying in the hospital, which is not the best option psychologically for a healthy woman in labor.

Try to spend at least the first few hours at home, and with the increase in contractions, you can confidently move to the hospital. It is very important, while staying at home, to behave correctly.

Behavior during labor and childbirth

Compliance with simple rules, dear readers, will help you to alleviate the condition during labor and childbirth. The main goal of your actions is to facilitate the early opening of the uterus and provide oxygen to the baby moving along the birth canal. To do this, we do this:


The last point is especially important, since the nutrition of the child with oxygen depends on it during the period of contractions. Usually, at any clinic, compulsory courses for women in labor are held, where they are told about the types of breathing. If you have not managed to learn how to breathe, I will tell you how to properly inhale and exhale air.

Breathing types

There are several types of breathing patterns during labor and childbirth:

  • Slow . Inhale is done through the nose and exhale through the mouth. Inhalation and exhalation in duration should be in a ratio of 1: 2. This type of breathing should only be used during a contraction. During the rest period, we breathe as usual.
  • Through plump lips... Suitable for latency. When the pain sensation reaches its peak, you can inhale through your nose and exhale with a "poo" sound through your pouting lips.
  • Diaphragmatic-thoracic... To feel the correct breathing, one hand is placed on the chest and the other on the navel. When inhaling, the stomach should rise as much as possible, and exhalation should occur through the chest. At the very beginning of the contraction, up to 4 such breaths are made.
  • Like a dog . It is used when it is already difficult for a woman to control her breathing. Then you can press your tongue to the palate and breathe often, as animals do during the heat.

And here, for greater clarity, you have a video of how to breathe correctly during labor and childbirth:

Today, many expectant mothers are inclined to give birth at home. The safety of this choice is a separate issue. But wherever you are, try to follow the described rules.

The most important thing that the expectant mother must understand for herself is that childbirth is a completely natural process. Nature has done everything to ensure that everything goes as well as possible.

And even the pain that women in labor experience during labor, they completely forget within a minute after they put a small ball of happiness on their chest.


I hope you now know how to behave during childbirth and labor and how to relieve your condition in case of pain (if you forgot, let me remind you - with correct breathing).

See you soon!

* Pure scarlet blood is secreted from the genital tract (in any quantity and at any stage of pregnancy);

* Amniotic fluid is poured out, or is leaking. Be sure to pay attention to the condition of the waters. Remember the time when they poured out, or began to leak.

* Contractions are frequent and painful.

If, in your case, labor began with contractions, try to remember the time of the first bout. Write down on paper what time the contraction started and how long it lasted.

Since the beginning of labor try not to eat(maximum you can afford something "light": yogurt, tea, croutons, crackers) and don't drink much... In many maternity hospitals this is not allowed, because vomiting is possible; plus, during labor, anesthesia may be required, and if the stomach is full, food may enter the lungs, which will naturally lead to adverse effects.

Necessarily listen to the doctor and midwife, taking your childbirth, so as not to harm either yourself or your baby!

During contractions:

You will not be able to control the frequency and strength of your contractions.

If there are no contraindications (premature birth, rapid labor, breech presentation, poor health of the mother or child), try to move more, especially at the very beginning of childbirth: walking around the room, changing the position of the body more often. This will speed up the birth process, the blood circulation will be better, and more oxygen will flow to the baby, which is very important.

Necessary try to relax all muscles as much as possible. Firstly, in the case when a woman strains, not even though she herself, she can create an obstacle in the way of a baby being born. Secondly, if you strain, the process will be more painful (due to hormones that are released during stress).

Stress relief methods:

1) Breathing at the time of contractions: when they are not strong and not long, breathe evenly and deeply; when the contractions become painful and frequent, you can breathe quickly and shallowly (much like a dog's breathing). The main thing is to breathe, not hold your breath!

2) Comfortable posture: lying on the left side, standing near the bed and leaning on the back, sitting on a large inflatable ball (fitball). It is better not to lie on your back, because this can lead to oxygen starvation of the child and stagnation of blood in the internal organs, not counting situations when it is necessary: ​​examination, opening of the fetal bladder, CTG, ultrasound, listening to the heartbeat, giving birth to a child in the 2nd stage of labor.

3) Pain relief massage: you can massage the lumbar region with your fists in a circular motion. Massage of the sacrum helps a lot.

4) try to sleep or at least pretend to be asleep.

5) Movements by the pelvis: circular and swaying.

6) Calm, relaxing music can help a lot.

7) Own attitude: think that your baby will be born soon, you will finally be able to pick him up, hug him.

When women start to feel painful enough contractions, many begin to demand that they have a caesarean section. Don't do that. This operation is performed only for certain indications, when natural childbirth can threaten the life and health of the mother and child. In the event of any complication, the gynecologist who observes you during pregnancy, or the doctor who is giving birth will ask about the operation. But, simply because you do not want to give birth yourself, or you can no longer endure the pain, they will not operate on you.

When the contractions get frequent and intense, closer to the full disclosure of the cervix, and if there is also a desire to push - you can't sit on the bed(it turns out an obstacle for the child). You can, for example, sit on a hospital duck.

Try do not shout in painful periods when the uterus contracts or during attempts - this, again, the child suffers from a lack of oxygen, and you also lose more strength, which is better to save.

During attempts:

You can delay or intensify the pushing.

You can't arbitrarily start pushing since premature pushing can injure both the mother and the baby. When you first feel a strong urge to push, breathe out the push (breathe quickly and shallowly), and immediately call a doctor or midwife.

How to push correctly: take a deep good breath, hold your breath (do not exhale), strain the abdominal muscles as much as possible, trying to help the child move along the birth canal (imagine that you are struggling to go to the toilet "in a big way" if the pain in the birth canal increases - you do everything right). Push for an average of 15-20 seconds, then exhale smoothly to consolidate the result of the push. Try to rest before pushing next time. For one fight, there are about 3 attempts. It is better to push fruitfully several times than to try to do it continuously during a contraction - this is how the child suffers from a lack of oxygen, and you lose more strength. Try not to scream - it will only get in the way.

Those. there is no need to push "in the face" (to tighten the muscles of the face), to puff out the cheeks, as many do - this is how the child does not advance, plus small hemorrhages may appear on the face and eyes.

If you still don’t start pushing correctly, doctors will begin to press on the abdomen, as if squeezing out the child. If necessary, you will have to apply obstetric forceps.

If you do not feel the urge or they are too weak, you will be guided by a doctor and a midwife.

I bring to your attention a video where the obstetrician-gynecologist talks in detail about the methods of pain relief in childbirth:

And one more video, where the specialist of the childbirth preparation center explains which positions are most convenient:

It is very important for both the expectant mother and the baby. After all, not only a woman helps her baby to be born, but he also moves along the birth canal, participates in labor. The health and life of the child depends on how the mother will behave during childbirth. This requires informational and psychological preparation.

This complex and natural process

Childbirth is divided into three periods. The first, the longest and most difficult, is characterized by contractions. Its duration can be from several hours to a day. In the second period, the expulsion of the fetus occurs. He is most important. The third - the postpartum period - is characterized by the birth of the placenta.

The onset of labor is foreshadowed by contractions, the most important thing here is to pay attention to their regularity. Contractions of the uterus begin with barely perceptible, and in the lower abdomen. Then the periods of regular contractions of the uterus increase to 1 minute, and the intervals between contractions decrease from 10-15 minutes to 2-3. Primiparous women experience this period up to 16 hours, or even more. In multiparous women, contractions take 6-8 hours.

Much depends on how the woman will behave during the contractions. To relieve this process,

you need to know some tricks. The child needs oxygen, so during the start of the contraction, you need to take a deep breath and then exhale, this will provide the necessary flow of oxygen into the blood. To understand how to behave during childbirth, you need to listen to your body, be able to relax and rest in between contractions.

If you are giving birth with a partner, then ask him to give you a lumbar massage, alternate it with and regular breathing during contractions is the key to the successful completion of the first one and eliminating the risk of hypoxia in the child. When you feel an overwhelming urge to empty your bowels, it means that the second stage of labor has begun. You need to push correctly so that there are no internal and external perineal tears. Attempts should be made as follows: when a contraction occurs, breathe in deeply and grab your legs with your hands and, raising your head, pull them towards you, pressing your chin to your chest. When you no longer have the strength to push, exhale the air. Such actions must be performed three times during the bout. Correctly performed manipulations during pushing accelerate the process of expulsion of the fetus and reduce painful sensations. The third period is the shortest and most painless. It takes about 30 minutes.

Proper preparation

The technique of how to behave during childbirth is taught in many public and private clinics. It is very important to attend such classes, especially for those women who are pregnant for the first time and have little idea of ​​childbirth. If this is not possible, then listen carefully to the obstetrician and follow all his recommendations to give birth to a healthy baby, while reducing pain and speeding up the process. They help you understand how to behave during childbirth, and various printed manuals for women in labor, with which you can learn many techniques of pain relief and practice breathing.