|
Childbirth
Childbirth
is the process whereby an infant is born. It is considered by many to be
the beginning of the infant's life, and age is defined relative to this
event in most cultures.
A woman is considered to be in labour when she begins experiencing
regular uterine contractions, accompanied by changes of her cervix —
primarily effacement and dilation. While childbirth is widely
experienced as painful, some women do report painless labours, while
others find that concentrating on the birth helps to quicken labour and
lessen the sensations. Most births are successful vaginalbirths, but
sometimes complications arise and a woman may undergo a cesarean
section.
|
Pregnancy Overview
------------------------------------
Physiology of Pregnancy
--------------------------------------
Diagnosis of Pregnancy
--------------------------------------
Duration of Pregnancy
----------------------------------
Nutritional Care in
Pregnancy
-----------------------------------------
Childbirth
|
During the time immediately after birth, both the mother and the baby
are hormonally cued to bond, the mother through the release of oxytocin,
a hormone also released during breastfeeding.
CESAREAN SECTION
A Caesarean section, (also C-section, Caesarian section, Cesarean
section, Caesar, etc.) is a surgical procedure in which one or more
incisions are made through a mother's abdomen (laparotomy) and uterus (hysterotomy)
to deliver one or more babies, or, rarely, to remove a dead fetus. A
late-term abortion using Caesarean section procedures is termed a
hysterotomy abortion and is very rarely performed. The first modern
Caesarean section was performed by German gynecologist Ferdinand Adolf
Kehrer in 1881.
A Caesarean section is usually performed when a vaginal delivery would
put the baby's or mother's life or health at risk, although in recent
times it has been also performed upon request for childbirths that could
otherwise have been natural.
BREAST-FEEDING
Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with breast
milk directly from female human breasts (i.e., via lactation) rather
than from a baby bottle or other container. Babies have a sucking reflex
that enables them to suck and swallow milk. It is recommended that
mothers breastfeed for six months or more, without the addition of
infant formula or solid food. After the addition of solid food, mothers
are advised to continue breast-feeding up to a year, and can continue
until two years.
Human breast milk is the healthiest form of milk for babies. There are
few exceptions, such as when the mother is taking certain drugs or is
infected with human T-lymphotropic virus, HIV, or has active untreated
tuberculosis. Breastfeeding promotes health and helps to prevent
disease. Artificial feeding is associated with more deaths from diarrhea
in infants in both developing and developed countries. Experts agree
that breastfeeding is beneficial, but have conflicting views about how
long breastfeeding remains beneficial. They also express concerns about
the risks of using artificial formulas.
The World Health Organization (WHO) and the American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) emphasize the value of breastfeeding for mothers as
well as children. Both recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months of life and then supplemented breastfeeding for at least one
year and up to two years or more. While recognizing the superiority of
breastfeeding, regulating authorities also work to minimize the risks of
artificial feeding.
Breast milk is made from nutrients in the mother's bloodstream and
bodily stores. Breast milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar,
water, and protein that is needed for a baby's growth and development.
Because breastfeeding uses an average of 500 calories a day it helps the
mother lose weight after giving birth. The composition of breast milk
changes depending on how long the baby nurses at each session, as well
as on the age of the child. The quality of a mother's breast milk may be
compromised by smoking, alcoholic beverages or caffeinated drinks.
Breast-feeding has several benefits for the child. It provides immunity
and thereby decreases the morbidity and mortality rates. Children those
who are breastfed are likely to have higher intelligence, less childhood
obesity, lesser tendency to develop allergic diseases, less overweight
and other long term health benefits.
Mothers too benefit from breastfeeding as the process increases bonding
between mother & child. Mother can shed off her extra kilos as the fat
accumulated can be used for milk formation. It helps in reducing the
chances of developing breast cancer. The hormones responsible for
lactation process also helps the uterus and vagina to return to
normalcy. Breastfeeding serves as a natural postpartum infertility
measure thereby reducing the chances of consequent pregnancy.
|