What Does Childbirth Look Like

What does childbirth look like? The process of bringing a new baby into the world is a fascinating topic, but many people who have witnessed the event know that birthing is not a pretty sight.

Childbirth Without Fear

Expecting fathers can benefit from knowing what childbirth is like before they witness the event first-hand. Birthing differs greatly according to the type of birth that takes place. Women have a few choices to consider, each altering the way the birth unfolds.

Choices include but are not limited to:

• Hospital birth with epidural
• Natural childbirth
• Home birth
• C-sections (Cesarean sections)
• Water Birth
• Hypnobirth

Parents choosing a homebirth for their new arrival will have a different experience than parents scheduling a Cesarean section will. Visualizing what the experience is really like begins with an understanding of the birthing process, the people involved, as well as the type of birth.

Giving birth is a natural process that many women choose to do in the privacy of their home. What does childbirth look like in these conditions? Vaginal births appear to be the same at home and in the hospital when everything goes as expected. The stages of labor and delivery offer insight into the birthing process.

The first stage of labor begins with physical changes that are not readily apparent to everyone. However, the physician recognizes the physical signs of early labor, such as a thinning and opening of the cervix. The mother begins to feel contractions during this early stage of labor.

The water may break during this stage on its own. Many may expect to see a gush of water when this occurs, but this rarely happens. The broken water may appear as a slow stream that is so light that it goes unnoticed or it can have a noticeable flow. In some cases, the water has to be broken using an instrument.

Active labor appears when the cervix dilates to between 4 and 10 centimeters. During this stage, the baby may descend the birth canal, but each case is different. Some may have already descended and others may not have descended yet during active labor.

Those receiving an epidural or other pain medication for labor and delivery may expect to have the medication during this stage. Epidural anesthesia involves a local painkiller administered in a shot in the lower region of the back. The shot is followed by an intravenous delivery of medication put in place by a needle.

During the transition stage, the cervix is fully dilated and contractions become very intense. The body may release waste, urine, and blood through transition and pushing stages. The tissue between the rectum and vaginal opening bulges out with each push as the baby's head become visible.

"Crowning" is an exciting occurrence when the baby's head is clearly visible at the widest point. The baby's head emerges, usually facing down, and the person delivering the infant suctions the nose and mouth. The person delivering will also usually check to make sure that the umbilical cord is not around the neck or body.

After the baby is born, the placenta has to be removed. In normal situations, the mother feels contractions and the placenta is removed with the help of a nurse, doctor, or other birthing specialist. The placenta is a sac filled with blood and other fluids.

Labor and delivery typically begins the same for every woman, unless a prescheduled C-section is in order. The C-section is a surgical procedure that involves removing the baby from the uterus through the lower abdomen. The physician usually works while the mother is awake, but neither parent sees the actual surgery since their view is blocked.

In some cases, a woman may go into labor to find that a vaginal birth is not possible. When complications occur, a Cesarean section may be ordered. Many women choose to have hospital births to ensure that they receive proper medical attention they need for a safe delivery.

New parents may visualize a perfectly adorable baby in the delivery room, but real newborns are quite different. Those born vaginally will often have a cone shape to their heads due to the pressure of going through the birth canal. Their facial features can be flattened a bit as well. Some babies are covered with a greasy, white substance called vernix.

What does childbirth look like? The answer depends upon the situation, but it is a messy event. The rewards, however, are well worth some of the less pleasant aspects of giving birth.

• Winter Maternity Clothing
• Maternity Polo Shirts
• Summer Maternity Fashion
• Gender Selection and Conception
• Conception Myths

• How Soon Can I Take a Pregnancy Test
• Natural Ways to Induce Labor
• How to Conceive a Boy
• How to Conceive a Girl
• Early Pregnancy Symptoms