2. Chapter 7
Childbirth

3. Essential Question
How do today’s knowledge and practices envision childbirth as a natural process while also providing advanced medical care for the mother and baby?
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4. Decisions Concerning Childbirth
7.1

5. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
assess ways family members can be involved during pregnancy.
describe the Pregnancy Discrimination Act and the Family and Medical Leave Act and explain how each law affects families during the birth or adoption of a child.
differentiate among options for a birthplace.
compare and contrast three methods of delivery.

6. Decisions Facing a Parent-to-Be
Health care provider for prenatal care, delivery, and for baby
Birthplace
Support people for delivery and for after birth
Name(s)
Breast-feeding or formula-feeding
Housing arrangements, clothing, and equipment
Work and leave options

7. Explaining Pregnancy to Siblings
Explain changes in the body or how a baby is born, if asked.
Familiarize an older child with newborns.
Assure child about what factors will be the same.
Explain and make any changes in housing arrangements or routines.
Engage older child as a special helper.
Make sure older children receive at least one gift.
Let child “introduce” baby to relatives and friends.

8. Employment Considerations
Pregnancy leave—used if a mother-to-be cannot work during pregnancy due to health reasons
Pregnancy Discrimination Act (PDA)—protects rights of working pregnant women
Maternity/paternity leave—time away from work after the birth or adoption of a child
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)—used to take unpaid leave for family-related reasons

9. Delivery Considerations
Choosing a birthplace:
hospitals
birthing rooms
birth centers
home
Choosing a method of delivery:
natural childbirth
Lamaze method
delivery with drugs
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10. What Do You Think?
How do social and economic factors impact childbirth options?
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11. Time to Be Born
7.2

12. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
identify and describe the signs of labor.
explain important events that occur during each of the three stages of labor.
differentiate among the most common procedures used for complications of childbirth.
compare and contrast a mother’s and baby’s stay in a hospital room with a stay in a birthing room.

13. Signs of Labor Birth should occur about 266 days after conception.
Lightening—the baby descending into the pelvis during the last few weeks of pregnancy
Contractions—tightening of the muscles to move the baby out of the mother's body
The mucous plug becomes dislodged or the amniotic sac breaks.

14. Did You Know?
In about five percent of cases, the baby moves into breech birth position.
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15. Stages of Labor
Body Scientific International, LLC

16. Complications of Childbirth
Premature delivery
Premature rupture of membranes
Prolonged delivery
Abnormal position for delivery
Cephalopelvic disproportion
Umbilical cord problems
Asphyxia
Meconium aspiration
Postpartum bleeding

17. Procedures for Childbirth Complications
Drug-assisted deliveries—increase or administration of drugs
Vaginal-assisted deliveries—may be manual (using version) or operative (using forceps or vacuum extraction)
Cesarean sections—baby is surgically removed

18. What Do You Think?
Why do hospitals encourage a rooming-in arrangement after birth? How important is this arrangement for the mother? for the baby?
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19. Newborn Medical Care and Tests
7.3

20. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
describe the first medical care babies receive at birth.
differentiate between the Apgar test and Brazelton scale.
give examples of newborn screening tests often performed within 24 to 48 hours of birth.
evaluate the types of care and treatment needed at birth for premature and other high-risk babies compared to healthy babies.

21. The Apgar Test Assesses the neonate’s chance of survival at birth
Administered one minute and then five minutes after delivery

22. Newborn Screening Tests
Blood tests—check for anemia, jaundice, and developmental disorders
Hearing test—checks neonate’s hearing
Heart test—checks for heart defects, such as critical congenital heart disease (CCHD)

23. Brazelton Scale Used to test babies up to two months of age
Identifies whether a baby has problems
interacting with the environment
handling motor processes
controlling physical state
responding to stress

24. First Medical Care of the Baby
Male circumcision—removal of the foreskin from the end of the penis
Well-baby checkup—routine medical visit to ensure signs of good health and proper growth
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25. Care for High-Risk Newborns
High-risk newborns—newborns who are premature, low-birthweight, or who have another high-risk condition
Neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)—provides immediate, specialized care for high-risk newborns
Neonatology—branch of medicine concerned with care, development, and diseases of newborns

26. What Do You Think?
Why is parental presence and involvement critical to the development of newborns in the NICU?
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27. Postpartum Care
7.4

28. Objectives After studying this lesson, you will be able to
describe physical care the mother receives during the postpartum period.
compare and contrast mood disorders that mothers may experience in the postpartum period.
identify common symptoms of paternal postpartum depression (PPPD).
give examples of ways parents can meet their own needs while caring for their newborn.

29. Physical Care of the Mother
Postpartum care—medical care received for the six to eight weeks following childbirth
Typical side effects of delivery include
mild cramping and vaginal bleeding
some loss or thinning of hair
facial blemishes or acne
night sweats and frequent urination
sore nipples and engorgement of breasts if breast-feeding
extra soreness due to any delivery complication

30. Postpartum Mood Disorders
Baby blues—mild mood disorder that goes away on its own
Postpartum depression (PPD)—serious maternal depression
Postpartum psychosis (PPP)—severe maternal mental illness characterized by delusions
Paternal postpartum depression (PPPD)—paternal depression following birth

31. Meeting Parent Needs Getting enough rest Maintaining a healthful diet
Staying physically active
Staying organized
Taking care of legal matters
Socializing
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32. What Do You Think?
Parents across the world are awarded significantly more leave time upon the birth or adoption of a child than are parents in the U.S.
What social or cultural aspects of the U.S. impact the expectation that a parent return to immediate productivity after childbirth?