If you want, as much as possible to retain control of his body during labor, and to minimize outside interference, you are best suited natural childbirth. If you decide to go this route, you have to take the pain and discomfort, as an integral part families - experience that includes a conscious living of each stage of the process.

The advantages of natural childbirth

Most of the techniques used during natural childbirth are non-invasive, so the risk of harm or side effects for you or your child is minimal.

Many women say that during natural childbirth experience a strong sense of self-empowerment, and after - a deep sense of accomplishment. And despite the pain left over, many of them say that in the next pregnancy if possible also choose natural childbirth. Often it is the feeling of the importance of what is happening and their own responsibility to help ease the pain perception.

Moreover, during natural childbirth the woman is free to choose a comfortable position for childbirth; compared with women who do an epidural, reduced the risk of the need for additional measures to stimulate the birth. Breathing exercises, visualization and self-hypnosis technique will be useful not only during childbirth; they can be used in different situations, to achieve inner balance.

disadvantages

Unlike epidural anesthesia, natural methods of pain relief may not eliminate pain, so if you are not ready or do not want to experience pain during labor, you'd better consider using anesthesia. In addition, many of the techniques used in natural childbirth, are ineffective if labor is very long and / or if there are various complications requiring medical intervention.

How to prepare for natural childbirth

If you have opted for natural childbirth, you start actively preparing for it - make a plan for delivery, choose the hospital where you will give birth, and a specialist who maintains your choice, as well as to gather information on how to pass natural childbirth.

Some women opt for home birth - in this case also need regular consultation with a specialist and very careful preparation.

In addition, planning natural childbirth, it is important to remember that, no matter how well prepared you are not, there is always the chance that something will go wrong, as you'd expect. It may be that the pain is much stronger than you thought, there is also the likelihood of prolonged labor and complications. Therefore, a plan of their ideal birth, think that may have to retreat from it; but that the main task - to give birth to a healthy baby.

Breathing exercises and visualization

Typically, these techniques are taught in the courses of preparation for natural childbirth. Under visualization usually understand as much as possible bright and realistic view of what calms you - for example, the place where you are very comfortable or safe birth of the baby.

If you have ever engaged in or do yoga, martial arts and meditation Meditation - treats the body and the spirit You have learned to breathe as recommended breathing during natural childbirth. Everyone else will have to master the technique of deep, calming breath, which helps change the perception of pain.

Supports

The presence of a partner or other loved one - almost an integral part of natural childbirth. However, no less important, and professional support. Instructor childbirth, midwife or doctor, who understand the essence of natural childbirth, can support, thanks to which, according to many experts, reduces the duration of labor and reducing the risk of various complications.

Hypnosis

Some experts suggest that hypnosis may significantly reduce pain and increase the likelihood of vaginal delivery. Begin to learn self-hypnosis should have a few months before the birth.

After delivery, after the hard work, the woman's body does not immediately bounce back. Gradually, over several months, the work of recovering all organs and systems. But most of all injured uterus to restore it takes time, proper care and supervision by the obstetrician-gynecologist.

Features postpartum period

Postpartum - this time starting after the birth of the placenta and lasts 6-8 weeks. During this period, changes occurred in women during pregnancy and labor, subjected to reverse recovery. But some characteristics that distinguish women giving birth by millipara remain for life. Since outer cervix (out of the cervical canal) in women giving birth becomes a slit (nulliparous it all).

Therefore, in this body there is the greatest reduction processes. Immediately after birth, the fundus (upper side) is 4-5 cm below the navel. The body of the uterus adjacent to the anterior abdominal wall, and retains much of the mobility due to stretching of the ligamentous apparatus and lowering his tone. The greatest thickness of the uterus is cut in its bottom and the top.

How quickly shrinking the uterus after childbirth

Reductions in the cervix immediately after birth are mild, they develop only at the end of the postnatal period. Immediately after the birth of the internal diameter of the uterine mouth (the entrance to the cervical canal) is 10-12 cm, which allows to enter the uterus out and remove the remnants of placenta. By the end of the first day of the inner cervix pass only two fingers and three days - for one. The outer cervix closes the third week after birth.

Immediately after birth, it is equal to the weight of an average of 1 kg, the cavity length - 15-20 cm, the transverse dimension of the body of the uterus - 12-13 cm. During the night the level of standing uterus is reduced by 2 cm, reaching the 5th day midway between the navel and the pubis. In the 9-10 day bottom of the uterus drops below the pubis. Uterine weight by the end of first week of 500 g, to the end of the second - 350 g, the end of the postpartum period - 50-60

The rate of recovery depends on the characteristics of the uterus during pregnancy and childbirth. When multiple pregnancy, polyhydramnios, large fruit, and the weakness of labor recovery of the uterus in the postpartum period has slowed somewhat. Negatively affect the process transferred earlier inflammation of the uterus and its appendages, with availability of nodes benign tumor A benign tumor - is not always safe   fibroma Fibroid tumors (fibroids) - when necessary intervention of a doctor? , Hypoplasia of the uterus and the restriction of motor activity puerperal due to some diseases.

What happens to the uterus during recovery

By reducing the uterine muscle squeezes blood and lymphatic vessels, some of them at the same obliterans (dry). The newly formed during pregnancy muscle cells die and are absorbed, the remaining muscle cells are significantly reduced in size.

The inner surface of the uterus after childbirth is an extensive wound surface, with the greatest change occurs in placental where many zatrombirovannyh vessels. The entire inner surface of the uterus is covered with remnants of fetal membranes and blood clots.

In the normal course of postnatal period uterine cavity during the first 3-4 days remain sterile. The purification of the uterus during this period played a major role phagocytosis (phagocytes - white blood cells is able to swallow and dissolve inside bacteria) and extracellular proteolysis (dissolution of bacteria by means of proteolytic enzymes, freed from the decay of white blood cells and bacteria).

Discharge from the uterus are the secret wound and called lohiyami. In the first days after birth fuckers bleeding due to a significant admixture of blood with a 3-4-day they are sero-sukrovichnymi and contain a lot of leukocytes White blood cells as the basis of immunity From 16-20 th day - liquid and light. By the sixth week of the release of the uterine lochia stops.

Restoration of the inner lining of the uterus (the epithelium) rejection occurs after fetal membrane fragments remaining after birth and ends at the 20th day, and in placental - until the end of the postnatal period.

This is a dangerous condition, since it may contribute to the development of the uterus in the inflammatory process.

How to accelerate the reduction of the uterus

The uterus begins to decline immediately after birth, at which time the bottom of it should be dense if it has a soft consistency, it indicates a reduced contractility of the uterus. In this case, it helps to massage the uterus, which is carried out externally through the abdominal wall.

Painful uterine contractions occur, amplifying during feeding baby Breastfeeding - a personal choice   feeding. To the uterus contracts more quickly during the first day on the belly put cold water bottle, appoint agents to facilitate their reduction. At very painful cuts possible use of painkillers and antispasmodics, but in most cases you can do without it. Great value in the first days after birth gets good hygiene (cleaning the processing of wounds, and so on), which prevents the complications of childbirth.

Starting from 4th day a woman starts to move more, it promotes a more active uterine contractions. The baby is fed "on demand", which also improves the contractile ability of the uterus.

Galina Romanenko