How to give birth to a baby at home. Childbirth at home at home, what to do if it starts? What to do if labor starts unexpectedly at home

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A woman who is preparing to become a mother constantly asks questions about how childbirth will go. If this is a home birth, then the expectant mother will have many more questions. In order to successfully give birth at home, you need to know a number of features, such as signs of the onset of labor, when it is necessary to go into the water and how to recognize this moment, how to tie the umbilical cord and other technical features of childbirth.

All these points must be learned in advance so that the home birth goes well, and the birth assistant must also be taught them. If you prepare well, childbirth at home will be quick and easy.

Determining the onset of labor

Home births usually begin with contractions. The woman feels pulling and squeezing spasms in the lower back and lower abdomen. If these sensations are regular and repeat every 10-20 minutes with the same duration, then labor has begun. Gradually, contractions will intensify, and the intervals between them will begin to shorten. During this period, the cervix actively opens so that the fetus can pass through the birth canal.

Contractions can last 8-20 hours or even longer, but there are also emergency birth, when everything happens much faster, within 3-4 hours. When giving birth at home, the dilation of the uterus should be checked by an assistant by touch. For the fetus to pass through, an opening of 8 fingers is necessary. Typically, before pushing, when contractions occur at intervals of 1-1.5 minutes, the cervix is ​​dilated by about 4 fingers.

Attempts, the most difficult period

Childbirth at home moves into the second stage, contractions intensified and became more frequent and the woman began to feel a fullness of the abdomen and desire contract your diaphragm and abdominal muscles to push the baby down. When contractions occur at intervals of a minute, you need to get into the water. This must be done before pushing begins. The water temperature should be 37 degrees - this is the most best option. When a woman gets into the water, she feels noticeable relief. It’s easier to give birth at home, in water. However, contractions may calm down. In this case, the water must be made 1-2 degrees cooler and the mother’s nipples must be stimulated so that labor does not stop.

During pushing, a woman should push with each contraction. When the contraction begins you need to do deep breath and holding your breath, push hard. You need to tense the muscles of the diaphragm and abdomen, and press on the uterus. You need to push so that all your strength goes down, not up. Otherwise, you will be trying in vain, and the blood vessels in your eyes may burst. Childbirth at home in the bathroom, in sitting position, allow a woman to place her fists under the base of her buttocks, thereby creating emphasis, which will help her push better.

Also, a woman who gives birth at home can squat across the bathtub and hold onto the edge with her hands. If while you are pushing, you run out of breath, but you are still pushing, you need to take a quick breath and continue pushing. When the contraction has stopped, you should rest. If you continue to push without a contraction there will be no result, you will simply waste your energy.

If home birth takes place in a pool or on land, the most comfortable position is all fours or squatting. Some women prefer to stand leaning forward throughout labor. A comfortable position depends on the structure of the genital organs and pelvis. Therefore, if giving birth at home, a woman should rely on her feelings and choose the correct position for childbirth. According to the sensations during pushing and contractions, a woman can choose a comfortable position. This must be done carefully, without fuss or sudden movements.

Any position your body asks for will help you have an easier birth, so if you're having a home birth, be sure to listen to your body. When giving birth in a hospital, a woman is often stimulated, using forceps, Caesarean section, incisions, squeezing with a towel, etc., so that she gives birth faster. However, when a woman gives birth at home, in order for the process to move from the “dead point”, she simply needs to change her position. Therefore, childbirth at home is easier.

Birth of a baby

With each push, the baby's head becomes more visible. During contractions, she appears and then disappears again. This moment is the most painful. However, a woman should try to relax her genitals as much as possible and constantly push. Childbirth at home, as a rule, takes place without ruptures, so a woman should not be afraid or strain her perineum. If labor begins to weaken, it is necessary to stimulate it, as with pushing.

Before the baby comes out, a little blood is released. When birthing at home and in water, the assistant should always keep their hands close to the emerging head, as the water may lose its clarity. However, if the baby comes out on his own, he will immediately float up with his back up. Usually the baby is born in one, two or three attempts. It happens that the baby is entwined with the umbilical cord. In this case, home birth is no different from hospital birth and the umbilical cord should be carefully unwound, without sudden movements. The newborn should be wrapped in a clean diaper, as he is slippery. Then you need to get out of the water and lie down on the prepared bed or sheet.

The newborn baby begins to scream and gradually turns from blue to pink. However, if necessary, you can clear your child's nose by suctioning out the mucus to help him breathe faster. If the child does not begin to breathe, he should be turned upside down and tapped on the heels. If he doesn't start breathing, he needs to do something artificial respiration and using your index and middle fingers make indirect massage hearts and lungs by pressing. You can also pour the baby cold water and rub his arms and legs. You have to fight to the last, no matter how long it lasts.

Delivery of the placenta and cutting of the umbilical cord

When the placenta is born, up to two glasses of water may be released. When the woman lies down on the bed, it is important to place the baby in her chest. He may not suck milk, but at least touch the nipple with his lips - this will stimulate the release of the placenta. The birth of the placenta begins after a small contraction, its release is not very painful. Before and after her birth, small pieces that look like liver may come out - this is normal. On average, the placenta comes out 20-40 minutes after the baby is born.

The umbilical cord is cut after the pulse has stopped. This usually occurs 20 minutes after the baby arrives. To cut it, you need to bandage it in two places and cut it off, retreating about 2 cm from the child’s body and about 20 cm from the first knot. The baby's umbilical cord must be treated with a disinfectant.

Video in Dr. Komarovsky's program

A home birth is when a woman chooses to give birth at home rather than in a hospital. Some women prefer home birth for a number of reasons, for example, it can give mothers greater freedom during childbirth, when they can move freely and bathe. This is also an opportunity to feel comfortable during childbirth in a familiar place, surrounded by loving people. However, home birth does come with its own challenges and risks, so if you're considering a home birth, it's important to understand exactly what the process entails before you give birth. To get started, review the following steps.

Steps

Part 1

Decide if home birth is right for you

Try to give birth. Your doctor or midwife will help you with labor, telling you how to breathe, push, and rest when appropriate. When you start to feel baby walking, ask your doctor/midwife or partner to place their hands between your legs so you can catch your baby as soon as he comes out. If you want your hands to be free, hold on tight as you push.

  • As with normal birth, you can change your position for comfort. You could, for example, try pushing on your knees in water.
  • If you or your child show no signs of complications (see Part Three), exit the pool.
  • Get your baby out of the water as soon as he is born. Keep him above the water so that he can breathe. After this, hold your baby close and walk out of the pool so that your brain can calm down and the baby can be dried and wrapped in a blanket.

  • Understand the advantages and disadvantages of water birth.“Water birth” sounds like giving birth in a puddle. This birth method is becoming increasingly popular in last years, and some hospitals even offer birthing in a swimming pool. However, some doctors don't consider it as safe as regular childbirth. While some mothers swear that water birth is more relaxing, comfortable, painless and "natural" than normal method childbirth, they do carry certain risks, including:

    Prepare a birth pool. Within the first 15 minutes after birth, your doctor/midwife or friend should fill a small pool with water. Special pools designed specifically for water births are available for rent or purchase. Some forms of health insurance cover these costs. Remove your clothing from the waist down (you can go completely naked if you want) and enter the pool.

  • A partner or midwife should enter the water with you. Some mothers prefer to have their partner (spouse, etc.) in the pool for emotional support and intimacy. Others prefer a doctor or midwife. If you plan to have a partner with you, you can experiment with leaning against your partner's body for support as you push.

  • In some cases, the baby will have its first bowel movement in the womb. In this case, keep the baby's head above water, away from contaminated water, to avoid serious infection when the baby inhales or ingests its own feces. If you think this may have happened, take your child to the hospital immediately.
    • Have competent friends or a nurse nearby.
    • Never give birth alone without instructions from a doctor or nurse nearby. Many things can go wrong.
    • If you can, clean your vulva by douching your vaginal canal before your baby comes out. This will help ensure that the vagina is as clean as possible and there is no harm to your health.

    Warnings

    • Nurses, friends, and even doctors can feel a little nervous at home. Many may feel out of place. However, try to understand if they are reluctant or distracted. Don't snap at them unnecessarily.
    • When twins are born and the first baby comes out head down, complications are possible for the second (one leg may be out while the other remains inside the uterus, and specially trained midwives, nurses or doctors are needed in this situation to avoid fractures).
    • If the umbilical cord is tangled around the baby's neck, etc., or the umbilical cords of twins are tangled, or the babies are joined at any part of the body (Conjoined twins), a caesarean section is usually used. So don't give birth without qualified help.

    Preparing for the arrival of a baby involves choosing a maternity hospital, a doctor, and collecting things. Mothers go to the hospital so as not to miss the onset of contractions. Sometimes there is no way to wait for an ambulance. Simple actions will help that will indicate what to do if labor begins at home, what first support needs to be provided.

    More and more women are daring to have a baby outside the walls medical institution. Parents independently choose where the newborn will be born: at home or in the maternity hospital. Sometimes emergency fetal delivery occurs ahead of schedule, and the mother begins to give birth without waiting for an ambulance. Multiparous chooses home environment, if the birth of the first child in the maternity hospital is unsuccessful. This leads to psychological discomfort, the decision to stay in a familiar place, where everything will be more calm and painless.

    They choose natural childbirth, since the process takes place in a family with a favorable atmosphere, close people, and a husband. Qualified care is provided by an obstetrician at home, using for childbirth modern methods and support at all stages. This will avoid the use of forceps, caesarean section, stimulation when they are not really needed.

    What you need to know when giving birth at home:

    • the responsibility lies with the expectant mother;
    • the process is not always completely safe;
    • preparation required;
    • carry out diagnostics;
    • the period is strictly from 38 to 42 weeks.

    Among the reasons for childbirth outside a hospital, the active participation of the mother in labor and prompt self-help are noted. At home, a woman takes a comfortable position: sitting, walking or lying. If the procedure is carried out with the husband, both feel like parents to the fullest and immediately establish a close connection with the baby.

    Where can I find a midwife for home birth? Ask friends who have already undergone the procedure under the same conditions, seek help on forums on the Internet, and learn in preparation courses for the process. This should be a specialist with extensive experience and recommendations.

    Organization of the process

    Parents have the right to independently choose where the birth of the child will take place. This can be a public or private institution, or a home option. But the fetus in the belly is not considered a citizen with all rights until it is born.

    Is it possible to give birth at home in Russia? Yes, there is no prohibition on the procedure, since future parents do not belong to the category of persons for whom another person is responsible. Specialized clinics offer to enter into an agreement with an obstetrician so that the delivery takes place with minimal disruption and negative consequences. Although the document does not have legal force in case of problems. According to the law, it is impossible to force a woman in labor to choose a specific institution.

    Is it possible to give birth at home? Yes, health care in Russia it is voluntary. This includes obstetrics and obstetrics. Its provision occurs when informed consent patient, therefore parents have the right to carry out home birth.

    The birth process does not take place without the help of an obstetrician, who performs a number of actions to bring the fetus into the world without risk to health and controls the process. He decides on the need to open the amniotic sac, cut the perineum, stitch the tears, and separate the placenta manually. The doctor listens to the heartbeat, predicts complications in time, has the skills of resuscitation measures, primary processing baby. The cost of services depends on experience and positive recommendations obstetrician

    TO premature birth at home they prepare on a physiological and psycho-emotional level. To carry out it is required medical examination: find an experienced obstetrician, leave transport near your home for unforeseen situations. Once registered at the antenatal clinic, pathologies are identified. Childbirth at home is recommended only for a healthy mother.

    During preparation they carry out general cleaning using antiseptic solutions. Determine the room: bathroom or bedroom. The paramedic's tactics include the use of a navel treatment product, clean ironed sheets, sterile cotton wool, and an ice pack. Purchase containers for packing the placenta and disposable diapers in advance. Consult about the first aid kit. If abnormalities are detected in a woman during the preparation stage, it is better to refuse delivery at home. It is important that the child is born healthy.

    What to do if labor begins at home

    By various reasons women are looking for ways to stimulate. The most common method is sex. Sperm contain prostaglandins that act on the cervix, preparing the organ for childbirth. The mother is given a nipple massage to release oxytocin. You can take a warm bath and do light physical activity.

    The woman in labor is given a cleansing enema to enhance intestinal motility. You are allowed to take a laxative, drink currant juice, and raspberry tea. Fresh parsley is added to dishes and beet salad is made. At home, use aromatherapy with essential oils jasmine and roses. Any of the methods will help if the cervix is ​​ready for the passage of the fetus through the birth canal. When a woman has her second birth, contractions begin at 38–40 weeks, and at home the process will take place in 6–8 hours.

    How to stop labor at home:

    1. reduce tone with the help of drugs;
    2. use antibacterial and sedative therapy;
    3. insert the Goji ring;
    4. bed rest;
    5. proper nutrition.

    The need for pain relief is caused by various factors. Use non-drug and medicinal method. In the first case, it is a psychological technique, physical procedures. If a woman is alone at home, the right deep breathing. Assign intravenous drugs, which quickly stop attacks.

    The decision to have an out-of-hospital birth implies that urgent measures on prehospital stage. They invite neighbors and open the doors so that doctors can enter the premises. They prepare towels, sheets, and a blanket in case the ambulance does not arrive in time. If you have an irresistible desire to push, use breathing techniques that will help stop the process. A woman washes her hands and prepares the place where she will give birth. Undresses, takes a comfortable position, it is recommended to treat the perineum with potassium permanganate, iodine or brilliant green.

    If labor begins at home, it is necessary to count the time. Use a watch with a second hand or a stopwatch. This will distinguish training contractions from real ones. Labor contractions pass first within 30 minutes with painful sensations of varying intensity. All intervals are recorded so as not to miss the beginning labor activity. If the indicator is 7 seconds after a minute, the uterus has opened 4 cm.

    Childbirth at home in stages

    If there is an accidental birth, you need to prepare things in advance. At the very beginning of the contractions, a place is organized. If the water drains naturally, there is no need to pierce it; use non-pharmacological means stimulation. Be sure to give an enema of warm chamomile decoction.
    How to properly deliver a woman at home:

    The woman in labor can walk, sit or lie down. When contractions prolong, stimulation is performed. The obstetrician listens to the fetal heartbeat. Controls the dilation of the cervix. The second stage is pushing. The process takes place on the bed or in the bathroom. The husband massages the shoulders and lower back. After the head appears, the baby is helped to emerge. Released Airways from mucus. the newborn is placed to the breast. They are waiting for the placenta to come out. The umbilical cord is cut.

    It is necessary to treat the seams if they are torn. They leave the woman with the newborn to recuperate. You are allowed to drink water; in case of a difficult birth, the mother will need medical care and time to rest.

    How to give birth at home:

    1. tune in to the positive;
    2. prepare things;
    3. make a first aid kit;
    4. take a comfortable position;
    5. treat the vagina;
    6. monitor contractions;
    7. push correctly.

    If the birth takes place at home without a midwife, the baby is dried after birth, placed on the stomach, and covered with a dry blanket. While waiting for an ambulance, it is recommended to feed the baby. The release of oxytocin causes the uterus to contract, helping to keep bleeding under control and the placenta to be released.

    What to do if you give birth at home:

    • wrap the baby up;
    • attach to chest;
    • wait for the ambulance.

    Depending on the classification, several types of genera are distinguished. The usual process takes place on the bed or floor. During contractions, a woman is allowed to lie down, squat down, or get on all fours to reduce pain. At this time, the partner gives a massage, supports the woman morally, and helps her breathe correctly. Normal childbirth takes place lying on your back.

    When a child appears in the water, they are placed in a bathtub or swimming pool. When the uterus opens, the woman in labor must remain in fluid so that the baby smoothly transitions to new living conditions.

    Consequences and complications

    The woman in labor is warned about negative consequences home process. Unpredictable delivery occurs even among experienced obstetricians. The first independent birth at home leads to the fact that there is no way to control the mother’s condition. But if there are problems, there is no legal protection of rights. The future father provides moral support, but will not be able to really help.

    It’s difficult to choose at home safe place, where there are no microorganisms dangerous for mother and newborn. After weighing the pros and cons, the couple decides to take full responsibility upon themselves. It is impossible to give birth without a doctor with full or partial presentation of the fetus, incorrect position, with gestosis, chronic diseases, bleeding. Mothers with many children experience muscle strain, so the seventh and subsequent births are best done in a hospital.

    What are the dangers of giving birth at home?

    1. weak or violent labor;
    2. intrauterine hypoxia;
    3. violation of uterine contractility;
    4. clinically narrow pelvis;
    5. umbilical cord prolapse;
    6. bleeding.

    If a woman does not have time to go to the maternity hospital, premature placental abruption occurs and the cervical canal is blocked, so a caesarean section will be required. Manual removal of the placenta during bleeding is carried out under anesthesia. In case of hypotension, coordinated actions of an ambulance using a sterile instrument will help.

    Unsuccessful childbirth leads to complications such as trauma to the baby's head and intracranial hemorrhage. Paralysis and fetal death occurs. Consequences are avoided if the process is carried out under the guidance of an obstetrician.

    When a woman renal failure or there is a threat of miscarriage, childbirth at home is contraindicated. Check for uterine pathology surgical interventions, heart disease, presence diabetes mellitus. It is prohibited to perform the procedure if you have a genetic condition mental disorder, malpresentation of the fetus, intrauterine defects.

    What to do after birth

    Sutures are treated after childbirth using potassium permanganate and brilliant green to prevent inflammation and infection. A decoction of nettle or rosehip is allowed to stop bleeding and restore strength.

    What to do after a home birth? Arrange the woman on the bed, laying down an oilcloth. Clots from the perineum are washed away warm water. Treat with disinfectants. Sterilize the instruments, wrap a cotton swab and clean the inside of the vagina. If there are no tears, arnica ointment is applied.

    When everting the anus, the organ is put in place and ice from yarrow is applied. At home, there are practically no breaks, since the process takes place in a calm environment.

    For cracks, treatment is carried out using propolis tincture. If the size is less than 1 cm, disinfection with a bandage is sufficient. It is better to stitch up in a hospital setting. Then you can immediately return home. If you urinate in water while stitches are in place, the discomfort. The divergence of adhesions is prevented with the help of an enema, which is given for two weeks. At night they sleep on their stomach.

    After delivery, the fetus is examined for umbilical cord wrapping. It is unwound to avoid suffocation. Bandage at a distance of 2 cm from the newborn’s skin and 1 cm from the first mark. The umbilical cord is treated with iodine.

    In the third stage, the placenta comes out. The organ is packaged and handed over to the obstetrician. The child's mucus is sucked out, urine is removed with a catheter, and the placenta is checked for separation. If the result is positive, the woman pushes and the placenta comes out.

    The child must be registered within a month. According to the law, confirmation of family ties between mother and newborn during childbirth outside a medical institution is proven by documents and witness testimony. The certificate is issued by a doctor present with the parents or an ambulance worker.

    Giving birth at home is not the best decision a pregnant woman can make. In this case, there is a very high risk of severe, unpleasant and even fatal consequences. It is especially not recommended to carry out independent childbirth for those at risk, these are:

    Women aged 25 years and older;

    Primipara women;

    Women who have undergone a caesarean section.

    First steps during rapid labor

    But what to do if labor begins quickly and it is not possible to get there? Firstly, you need to calm down and not give in to panic. Moreover, this should be done not only by the woman in labor, but also by the one (especially the one) who is next to her. Now rationally approach the assessment of the time available and only then take any measures.

    Time estimate - will we make it or not?

    In most cases, pregnant women tend to panic and tell others that the process has begun and the baby will soon be born. However, this is not always the case. At this point, it is very important to understand at what stage the birth process is.

    1. Contractions.

    If a pregnant woman feels a contraction of the uterus after a certain, uniform interval of time, which is at least 3 minutes, then these are contractions. Then you have about two more hours left. Your actions in this case should be to get to maternity hospital. Of course, each case is individual, and if you really understand that you will not have time to get there during this time, then it is better not to take risks, but to use the time of contractions to prepare for the birth at home. It is better to do this at home than in a car.

    2. Pushing.

    A pregnant woman feels an unbearable desire to go to the toilet “in a big way”; uterine contractions occur every 1-2 minutes. This process is called pushing, with which you have practically no spare time and it’s time to give birth.

    Unfortunately, there are situations when a pregnant woman has to give birth on her own, without anyone’s help. And this, despite the fact that pregnant women later It is strictly not recommended to stay alone for a long time. Independent childbirth is an unpleasant situation, but not fatal. The main thing is to adhere to a certain plan of action and have at least some information about the house.

    Actions to be taken by a woman in labor

    First, prepare everything that you might theoretically need during the birth process. Boiled warm water, disinfection solution - alcohol, cologne, iodine, clean sheets (rags, T-shirts), a rubber bulb for sucking mucus from the mouth and nose of a newborn, sharp scissors or a knife (if time permits, dip the device in the disinfectant solution for a few minutes).

    Secondly, find a place where you will be as comfortable as possible. Place the necessary things at hand. Remove your clothes completely or just the lower part, as you feel most comfortable. If possible, place a mirror in front of your lower body. This will make it easier for you to give birth independently at home. Home births must be constantly monitored.

    Third, accept what is comfortable correct position body: ideally half-sitting or lying down. You need to put something hard under your back so that you can rest. Bend your legs at the knees.

    Fourth, try to be as nervous as possible and focus on Start pushing.

    IN antenatal clinic All expectant mothers are told and shown. Most often, during the birth process, this information disappears from the mother’s head, and then midwives come to the rescue. In our case, you give birth on your own, without anyone’s help, there is no one to tell you what and how, so remember everything that is necessary as soon as possible.

    The right approach to pushing

    So, while pushing, the woman in labor should press her chin to her chest, bend her knees as much as possible and hold them with both hands. Take a deep breath and hold your breath; during these actions you need to push, that is, direct pushing actions towards the perineum. Then exhale smoothly and take a deep breath again and push. During one contraction, a woman in labor must push at least three times.

    So, we continue the birth at home without assistants. As soon as the woman in labor feels that the baby's head has come out birth canal, she needs to place her hands under the buttocks and thus hold the newborn’s head. We continue to push the baby out, all that remains is for the shoulders to go through, and the body and legs will pop out instantly. That's it, the baby was born. But we continue the birth process.

    What to do after the baby arrives

    The new mother should carefully, slowly, place the baby on her stomach or, if the length of the umbilical cord allows, on her chest. Next, clear the baby’s nose and mouth of mucus so that he can take his first breath. Wipe the child's face with a damp, clean cloth. A woman in labor needs to remember that she also needs to give birth to the “baby’s home” - the placenta. Then proceed to cutting the umbilical cord.

    How to properly trim and process the umbilical cord

    After the baby is born, it is very important to correctly cut the umbilical cord that connects him to the mother throughout pregnancy. This process is much easier than giving birth independently at home. . It is enough to have information. So, it is necessary to tie the umbilical cord 10-12 centimeters from the newborn’s navel with threads soaked in water. After 10 centimeters, tie it again. Use sharp scissors to cut the umbilical cord and treat it with iodine, alcohol or extreme case, greenery. Do

    Afterwards you need to wrap yourself in warm, clean clothes. The woman in labor should hold the baby to her chest and remain in this position until the ambulance arrives, which will take mother and baby to the hospital for a detailed assessment of the health of both.

    The actions during a home birth with an assistant are practically no different from those performed during an independent birth. Only the position of the woman in labor is simplified, since the process is controlled by another person who will help perform certain actions, including providing the first care for the baby.

    Practice shows that childbirth can be carried out at home. The reviews are very varied: some advise trying to avoid this, while others, on the contrary, recommend it. In theory, everything usually goes without complications, but in reality a number of troubles can arise.

    In order not to find yourself in a situation where you have to give birth at home, do not forget to immediately contact the ambulance!

    If a woman does not have time to get to the maternity hospital, and the baby is about to be born, she needs to deliver the baby herself. What needs to be done and how to help the baby be born?

    It may happen that labor is in full swing, and the baby will be born in the near future, but you don’t have time to get to the maternity hospital. In this case, the main thing is not to panic and gather strength.

    To rush or not?

    First you need to determine what stage of labor you are at. If the uterus periodically tenses and then relaxes and this happens at regular intervals, then these are contractions. If the maternity hospital is 2-3 hours away, you need to go urgently. There is a chance that you will have time to get to a medical facility before the end of labor.

    If you feel that the uterus is contracting after 1-2 minutes and at the same time there are sensations as if you really want to go to the toilet “in a big way,” then this is pushing. Then it’s better to stay where you are and not try to get to the maternity hospital in time.

    First actions

    On the road
    You need to decide whether someone can help you. For example, if you are traveling on a train, bus, etc., immediately notify the driver or conductor that you are giving birth. Ask those around you if there is a doctor among them, and if not, then ask one of the passengers to help you.

    At home
    If you are at home alone, try to find a helper among your neighbors. And, of course, call 03 and call for an ambulance. When receiving a call, the dispatcher or ambulance doctor will be able to advise you over the phone until the doctors arrive. You can also call maternity hospital(the telephone number of the maternity hospital is sometimes indicated on the exchange card). Its employees will be able to tell you what and how to do. If there is no helper, the main thing is not to panic, concentrate, since only you can help the baby be born.

    Preparing everything you need

    During the birth process you may need the following things:

    • iodine or any other disinfectant solution (brilliant green, potassium permanganate, hydrogen peroxide, alcohol, vodka, cologne);
    • clean diapers, sheets or shirts, T-shirts, any cotton fabric;
    • threads, a piece of bandage or strips of clean cloth;
    • scissors or knife, blade;
    • pure water(ideally boiled);
    • rubber bulb or any thin elastic tube.

    If possible, the knife and threads should be boiled or immersed in an alcohol solution.

    Actions during childbirth with an assistant: what to do for a woman in labor

    1. Remove all clothing below the waist.
    2. Take a half-sitting position, leaning your back against something hard, or lying down.
    3. Try to relax and focus on the birth process.
    4. When you start pushing, you need to take a deep breath, hold your breath, press your chin to your chest and push hard, directing the force to the perineum. Then you need to exhale smoothly, take a deep breath again and continue pushing. During one contraction you should push 3 times.

    Actions during childbirth with an assistant: what should an assistant do?

    1. Wash your hands with soap and then wipe with alcohol, iodine or other disinfectant solution.
    2. Place a clean sheet or diaper under the woman in labor.
    3. Treat the external genitalia, perineum and internal surfaces the woman’s thighs with a disinfectant solution (this should be done from the crotch to the thighs), after moistening a piece of cotton wool or bandage in it.
    4. Place your hand on the perineum as soon as the head begins to appear and move its tissue away from the fetal head (this will help avoid ruptures).
    5. Manage the laboring woman's efforts: as soon as the baby's head is half born, the woman should be asked not to push, but to breathe frequently and shallowly, inhaling air through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.

    After complete birth of the fetal head

    1. After complete birth of the fetal head, ask the woman in labor to begin pushing again, placing left hand from below under the baby's head.
    2. After the fetal head turns to face the woman’s right or left thigh, you need to slightly lift it up - this will allow the lower shoulder to be born, and then carefully move it down - the upper shoulder will appear, and then the entire fetus.
    3. The newborn should be positioned below the woman's perineum - on the floor if the woman in labor is lying there, or on a stool if she is positioned on an armchair or sofa.
    4. Use a rubber bulb or tube to suck out mucus and amniotic fluid from the baby's nose and mouth.

    Umbilical cord treatment and first care of a newborn

    1. Tie the newborn's umbilical cord using threads or a bandage in two places - 10 cm above the navel and stepping back another 10 cm from the first knot. Then cut the umbilical cord with scissors or a knife, lubricate the cut with iodine, alcohol or vodka and make a bandage from the bandage.
    2. Wipe the baby's skin to remove amniotic fluid and lubricant using a diaper or any clean cloth, and then wrap the newborn in a clean diaper or sheet.
    3. Place the newborn on the mother's chest.

    How to help a woman in labor come out of labor

    1. Ask the woman to push after separation of the placenta (signs of separation of the placenta are bleeding and lengthening of the umbilical cord) and gently pull the umbilical cord to remove it.
    2. Place the afterbirth in a plastic bag or wrap it in a clean cloth.
    3. Place an ice pack, a bottle of cold water, or any package from the freezer on the woman’s lower abdomen, wrapped in a clean cloth.
    4. Wash or wipe the woman’s perineum with a clean cloth, and if there are tears, treat them with iodine or another disinfectant solution, then cover the woman in labor with a sheet or blanket.

    Actions during childbirth without an assistant

    Until the fetal head is fully born

    1. Find comfortable spot and remove clothing from the lower part of the body.
    2. Sit in a half-sitting position, leaning your back against something hard if possible, and bend your knees.
    3. Place something clean under yourself and, for ease of monitoring the birth of the baby, place a mirror in front of the perineum.
    4. You need to push as described above.
    5. As soon as the baby's head is born, you need to place your hands underneath the buttocks and support it.

    After complete birth of the fetus

    1. After the baby is born, it is necessary to gradually, slowly pull it along the pubis and place it on your stomach.
    2. Wipe your newborn's nose and mouth with a clean cloth.
    3. Attach the baby to the breast.
    4. When a contraction occurs, push hard so that the placenta is born.
    5. Tie and cut the umbilical cord as described above.
    6. Wrap the child in something warm, and if there is nothing, then place him on your chest and cover him with your clothes.

    After childbirth - to the maternity hospital

    After the end of labor, the woman and the newborn must be taken to the maternity hospital as soon as possible. An obstetrician-gynecologist will examine the birth canal and, if any ruptures are detected, will close them. And the pediatrician will examine the newborn and properly treat the umbilical cord. After these procedures, mother and baby will be transferred to the postpartum ward and will be monitored for several days.

    It is permissible to give birth outside a maternity hospital only if there is no way to get to it
    no possibility. It is strongly discouraged to deliberately give birth at home.
    Only in the maternity hospital will both the woman and the baby be provided with qualified medical care.
    assistance and all measures were taken to avoid serious complications.

    Photos used in this material belong to shutterstock.com
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