Chapter 7

The Baby’s Arrival

Journal

• Read p. 215• How do expectant parents feel at the

start of labor? • How are the likely to react? • What can the mother, coach, and other

family members do to stay calm and pass the time?

The Beginning of Birth

• Lightening: baby settles deep into the mother’s pelvis – Pressure is released from mother’s upper

abdomen

• Last few weeks parents become anxious for baby to be born.

Early Signs of Labor

• Show: losing the mucus plug which seals the cervix through pregnancy

• Cervix: the lower part of the uterus• Mucus: helps to prevent bacteria from

moving into uterus• Sometimes woman has a trickle or even

a gush of warm liquid from vagina- the membrane has broken. – Should note time it breaks

Early signs, continued

• Contractions: tightening and releasing of muscle of the uterus– Get shorter and harder– Contractions end after birth- no lingering pain

• False Labor– Contractions are not regular– Contractions do not become increasingly

stringer– End if woman walks around

Stages of Labor

• 3 stages: – First: cirvix opens– Second: baby born– Third: placenta expelled

• Labor length depends on mother and baby

First Stage

• Contractions prepare mother’s body to give birth

• Contractions open cervix and thins it• Contractions get to lasting 60 seconds

every 5-6 minutes• Baby moves further into lower pelvis• Head first: sometimes breech

presentation

Transition

• Cervix becomes fully dilated• Contractions very strong, last longer (up

to 90 seconds), and more frequent (2-3 minutes apart)

• Usually most difficult part of labor

Second Stage of Labor

• Contractions work to move baby out of birth canal

• Mother encouraged to push• Hormone called “relaxin”

– Pelvis– Birth Canal

• Baby’s head- 5 flexible bones• Episiotomy

Birth Positions

• Many to choose from• Part Sitting, Part Lying• Squat• Birthing Chair• Lie on side• Traditional Table with foot rests

End of 2nd Stage

• Doctor Provides support to baby’s head• Forceps: special tongs made from

surgical steel and shaped to fit baby’s head– Helps doctor control birth- more slowly or

quickly

Third Stage of Labor

• Mother has a period of rest after baby is born

• Then mother feels contractions again and an urge to push

• Mother then pushes and delivers placenta• Birth process is complete• Doctor examines placenta to make sure

all is delivered- serious illness may result from remaining parts of placenta

Birth Roundtable Activity

• Pass a piece of paper around the table. Each group member should add a fact to the paper. Continue passing the paper until no one remembers anymore information.

Cesarean Birth

• The delivery of a baby by making a surgical incision in the mother’s abdomen

• Mother can sometimes remain awake during birth

• 1 person may be present• Mother has top recuperate from birth as

well as major surgery

Newborn at Birth

• For 1st time baby is not completely dependent on mother

• During delivery baby’s lungs expand and fill with fluid in that may have been in trachea

• Usually newborns breathe naturally on own– Sometimes must be helped by rubbing on back

• Remaining fluid is suctioned out• Within a few minutes after birth the umbilical

cords stops pumping and then begins to shrink

How does newborn look?

• Head is wobbly and large• Fontanels: open spaces in the baby’s head

where the two spaces have not yet joined• Face swollen and puffy• Fat cheeks, short flat nose, and receding

chin• Baby eyes are nearly adult size • Lanugo: fine, downy hair • Vernix- creamy rich substance• Milia- baby acne

Section 7-2

The Postnatal Period

Journal

• Imagine what it must feel like for newborns to find themselves outside the dark, warm, confined space of the mother’s uterus.

• List 5 phrases expressing the newborn’s reactions to the “outside world”

Examining the Newborn• Apgar Scale- A rating system used to

evaluate a newborn’s physical condition an applied shortly after birth.

Examining the Newborn, continued

• Usually done 1 minute after birth then 5 minutes after birth.

• Baby is then examined to check for any conditions that may require special care.

• The baby is then weighed, measured, and cleaned up.

• The baby is identified by a foot print.• The baby then receives an identification

bracelet on the ankle and the mother receives a matching bracelet.

Later Tests and Procedures

• Within 1 hour of birth the baby is given drops of antiseptic in the eyes to prevent infection

• The baby is also given a vitamin k shot to help with blood clotting.

• In some hospitals a hearing test is given. • A blood sample is taken to test for

problems

Bonding and Attachment

• In most cases there are no problems and the mother and father can hold the baby.

• Bonding- forming strong emotional ties between parent and child

• Most birth centers now allow parents to hold the baby right away to begin bonding

• The newborn instinctively focuses on the mother’s face• If the mother is breastfeeding, often the baby will be fed

right away. • Colostrum- the first milk produced by a woman’s breast

after childbirth, which is easy to digest and rich in antibodies to protect the baby from disease

The Hospital Stay

• The stay differs from child to child, mother to mother, and hospital to hospital.

• Some families go home as early as 12 hours. • Insurance companies many times dictate how

long the mother will stay. • Some conditions do not appear until a few days

after birth• Jaundice- a yellowing of the skin and eyes

caused by having too much bilirubin- a chemical in the body. A special light is used for this condition

Rooming-In

• Many hospitals now having a rooming-in program.

• In this program the baby may stay in the family’s room day and night instead of the nursery.

Legal Documents

• Birth Certificate- most important piece of identification anyone has.

• The hospital or birthing center helps the parents fill this document out.

• Social Security number- application is also filled out at the hospital.

Premature Babies

• Between 5-6 percent of babies born are premature.

• Premature- born before 37 weeks and weigh less than 5 pounds, 8 ounces

• These babies require special care• Incubator- an enclosed crib where the

oxygen supply, temperature, and humidity can be closely controlled

Postnatal Care of the Mother

• Postnatal period: the period after birth• Physical Needs:

– Rest- the mother should rest when the baby does

– Exercise- as soon as the doctor approves – Nutrition- eating right just as important now

as when pregnant– Medical checkup- 6 weeks check up

• Emotional needs: “baby blues”

Review

• Complete p. 233 1-7

Chapter 7

Section 3A New Family Member

Journal

• Pearl S. Buck (writer, teacher, and humanitarian) once noted, “Who can gaze at a newborn baby, and not wonder again at the miracle?”

• What did Buck mean? In what ways are newborns miraculous?

Reflexes

• Reflexes- instinctive, automatic responses – Examples: sneezing and yawning

• Some reflexes continue through life, but some last only until the baby develops voluntary control of his or her body

• Rooting Reflexes: Baby’s automatic response when touch on the lip or cheek; baby turns to find food; stops around 4 months

Reflexes, continued

• Grasp Reflex: automatic response to close the hand over anything that comes into contact with the palm – begins to weaken around 3 months when babies

begin to reach for objects– Disappears around 1 year

• Startle Reflex: response to a loud noise or touch on the stomach– Legs are thrown up, fingers spread, and arms are

first extended and then brought back rapidly while the fingers close in a grasping action

– Disappears around 5 months old.

Caring for the Newborn

• It takes time for new parents to feel comfortable caring for a baby.

• Soon they gain confidence and become accustomed to the baby’s way of communicating.

What Do Babies Need?

• Food: newborns show hunger with their whole body– Hungry newborns want food immediately– Fulfilling this need quickly helps them learn

the can trust the world• Sleep: sleep and wake throughout the night

– A newborn sleeps an average of 15 hours per day

• Exercise: moving their arms and legs helps develop muscles and nervous system

Needs, continued

• To be kept safe, clean, and warm: diaper and bathe babies to keep clean– An adult should keep an eye on the baby at

all times– Check all clothing, toys, and the home for

safety

• Medical Care: periodic checkups to make sure the baby is developing normally and get immunizations

Needs, continued

• Things to look at, touch, listen to, and play with: stimulating surroundings help babies learn

• Love: need close contact with warm, affectionate adults– Makes baby feel at ease and secure

What do Parents Need?

• Parents should forget their own needs!– Knowledge of how to care for a newborn– Resources that can answer questions– Time to fill many roles– Emotional support– Financial planning– Reassurance and confidence that both parents are

capable and needed– Agreement about parenting and household

responsibilities– Personal health, rest, and nutrition– Privacy and time alone

Adjusting to New Routines

• Newborns need several weeks to settle into any predictable pattern of eating and sleeping

• Early Temperament: temperament is the style of reacting to the world and relating to others

Chapter Review

• P. 244 reviewing the facts 1-9