Childbirth

Cesareans are commonly performed when

________labor progresses too slowly and /or when the fetus seems to be in distress.

In respiratory distress syndrome

________, the lungs of a baby born more than six weeks early are so poorly developed that the air sacs collapse, causing serious breathing difficulties.

Pain relief

________: epidural, non- pharmacological treatment, breathing techniques.

Cerebral palsy

________: a variety of impairments in muscle coordination resulting from brain damage before, during, or just after birth.

Cesarean delivery

________: the delivery of a baby by surgical removal from the uterus.

Anoxia

________: insufficient oxygen to the fetus or newborn.

Locations

hospital, birthing center, home

Attended by

physician, midwife, doula, labor coach

Cesarean deliveries carry risks of serious complications for the
mother, such as:

1. Bleeding
2. Infection
3. Damage to pelvic organs
4. Post-operative pain
5. Heightened risks of problems in future pregnancies

The greater the oxygen deprivation,

the poorer children’s cognitive and language skills in early and middle childhood, although many improve over time.

Childbirth in earlier times was said to be

“a struggle with death” for both mother and baby.

Babies in planned home births are more likely to have

seizures or neurological problems, although these are still very rare.

Planned home births end up with fewer

cesarean deliveries

The typical method of childbirth is

vaginal delivery.

Dramatic reductions in risks surrounding pregnancy in

industrialized countries

Industrialized countries have

✓ Availability of safe anesthesia, antibiotics, blood transfusions, improved hygiene, drugs for
inducing labor
✓ Improvement in assessments of prenatal health

New risks with pregnancies

✓ Increased maternal age, chronic health
conditions, put those at greater risk
✓ Increased medical intervention, sometimes
unnecessary, higher rates of caesarean
section

In 17th and 18th century France,

a woman had a 1 in 10 chance of dying while or shortly after giving birth.

In 19th century England and Wales,

an expectant mother was almost 50 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman giving birth today

20th century United States, moved from

home to the use of medical, maternity hospitals.

Nationwide, planned home births have roughly

twice the rate of infant death as hospital births.

Of first-time moms choosing home birth,

up to 37 percent transfer to a hospital, largely because the baby is unable to move through the birth canal.

A cause of cerebral palsy is

anoxia