LABOR AND DELIVERY BIOLOGY 30 WILLENA & ALIDA MRS. PROCEE Click to add subtitle

HORMONES When the baby feels it is ready to come out and meet the world it will send off signals in the form of hormones Corticotropin-releasing hormone and cortisol is released in the last few days and weeks of pregnancy Estriol (a form of estrogen) is predominant during childbirth As the estriol level rises it inhibits the synthesis of progesterone by the placenta and prepares the smooth muscle in the uterine wall to the hormones that will stimulate uterine contractions The uterus also produces prostaglandins which decrease the progesterone levels Progesterone inhibits the contraction of the uterus

CONTINUED During labor our body produces oxytocin Oxytocin helps the mother and child bond It’s main role is to continue the process of uterine contractions The estrogens make the uterine tissue’s sensitive to oxytocin Oxytocin is produced when the baby’s head pushes against the cervix Low levels of oxytocin can cause contractions to stop or slow and cause excessive bleeding after birth

GOING INTO LABOR The first sign of labor is the baby moving it’s head down to the pelvis and staying there The next part of labor is contractions. The uterus begins to tighten and relax in a pattern. The contractions dilate the cervix and move the fetus out of the birthing canal The pain the woman feels is caused by the aching of the powerful muscles working Contractions are irregular and weak at first Soon they become stronger and occur in a regular pattern of every 5-10 minutes During labor they can get as close as 1 minute apart

DELIVERY Delivery is divided into 3 stages The first stage is the longest and is divided into 3 stages: early labor, active labor, and transition The cervix will continue to dilate until it is 10cm apart. The membrane that encloses the fetus breaks during the stage (water breaks)

2 ND STAGE OF LABOR The second stage begins once the cervix is fully dilated It can last for a few minutes to a hours. During the stage, a series of strong contractions of the uterus and muscles push the baby past the cervix into the birthing canal The mother must keep pushing with each contraction. Contractions and pushing works together The baby’s bones are small and soft, therefore being able to pass through the small birthing canal with no damage As the head emerges and if the baby is too large to come through the tissues around the vagina may tear The conclusion of the second stage the doctor stands ready to guide the baby’s head Immediately after the birth the fluid is sucked out of the baby’s nose and mouth to help it breathe independently Soon after the baby will give his or her first cry

3 RD STAGE OF LABOR The third stage is after the baby is born The uterus continues to contract and the placenta is separated from the uterus wall and passed through the vagina (after birth) The doctor examines the afterbirth to make sure it all came out and if it is normal and then thrown away The tears are then stitched up.

THE BODY REACTS During pregnancy the body will sense the changes and will react in different ways A pregnant woman may become hungry all the time and she may start to crave weird things Of course the body will be in pain during child birth During labor the mother can be given an epidural, a drug that dulls the pain After child birth the body is never the same, hormones during pregnancy may have changed certain things i.e: my sister always had straight hair, after pregnancy she had curly hair

PICTURES

WORKS CITED Childbirth:The Role of Hormones in Labor and Delivery. (2014, October 9). Retrieved from Education Portal: role-of-hormones-in-labor-and-delivery.html#lesson Hormones Driving Labor and Birth. (2014, October 9). Retrieved from Childbirth Connection: Labor and Delivery, postpartum care. (2014, October 9). Retrieved from Mayo Clinic: delivery/art Signs of Labor. (2014, October 9). Retrieved from Baby Center: You and Your New Body After Child Birth. (2014, October 9). Retrieved from Family Education: health/57543.html Leggitt, K. (2014, October 9). how does my body work during child birth. Retrieved from university of Minnesota : practices/holistic-pregnancy-childbirth/how-does-my-body-work-during-childbirth