birth

• What do opinions vary about regarding childbirth locations?

  Home or hospital as the best place
• Why do most doctors prefer hospital deliveries?

  It is the safest place for potential problems
• What is a common belief about home deliveries?

  They are likely to be happier events
• When might a mother have to go to the hospital for delivery?

  Due to medical or local doctor requirements
• What are midwives legally required to do for home births?

  Care for the mother during the birth
• What will a midwife do if help is needed during a home birth?

  Summon a doctor or send for an ambulance
• Who is advised to deliver in a hospital?

  Mothers having their first babies
• What age groups of mothers are advised to deliver in a hospital?

  Under 17 or over 35 years old
• What type of births require hospital delivery?

  Multiple births like twins or triplets
• What previous birth experience suggests a hospital delivery?

  Having had three or more children previously
• What medical history suggests a hospital delivery?

  Having had a Caesarian section before
• What blood type condition suggests a hospital delivery?

  Having Rhesus negative blood
• What medical problems suggest a hospital delivery?

  Diabetes or high blood pressure
• What home condition suggests a hospital delivery?

  Inadequate home conditions for delivery
• What can trigger a hospital delivery due to timing?

  Beginning labour prematurely
• What are the advantages of hospital delivery?

  • Trained staff present at all times
  • Special monitoring equipment for baby
  • Immediate availability of emergency equipment
  • Opportunity for mother to rest post-birth
  • Freedom from domestic responsibilities
  • Protection from too many visitors
  • Interaction with other mothers
• What are the advantages of home delivery?

  • Familiar surroundings with family and friends
  • Attended by known doctor and midwife
  • Involvement of other children in family
  • More privacy than in a hospital ward
  • Choice of birth conditions
  • No need to follow hospital routines
  • Ability to care for baby in own way
• What is a common scheme combining home and hospital births?

  • Birth in hospital, return home after 1-2 days
  • Care by community midwife post-discharge
  • Requires support at home for first week
• What is the domiciliary scheme (domino scheme)?

  • Midwife visits mother at home
  • Accompanies mother to hospital for delivery
  • Returns home with mother and baby after a few hours
  • Continues care until health visitor takes over
• What items should be present in the room for a home birth?

  • Bed for the mother
  • Plastic cover over mattress
  • Cot for the baby
  • Table for midwife's equipment
  • Adequate light and heating
  • Cover over carpet for protection
  • Wash basin with hot and cold water
  • Bucket for used dressings
• What do some hospitals or midwives ask mothers to complete before birth?

  A questionnaire detailing their preferences
• What is a midwife?

  A nurse trained in pregnancy and childbirth
• What percentage of babies in Britain are delivered by midwives?

  About three-quarters
• What care do midwives provide besides delivery?

  Antenatal and postnatal care for mothers
• What is the average duration of pregnancy?

  38 weeks from conception
• How can the estimated date of delivery (EDD) be calculated?

  Add 40 weeks to the last period's first day
• What is another method to calculate the EDD?

  Add nine months and one week to the last period's first day
• What is the first stage of labour characterized by?

  The neck of the uterus opening
• What is a sign that labour has started?

  A show of mucus mixed with blood
• What happens during the first stage of labour?

  Contractions open the cervix gradually
• What is the longest stage of labour?

  The first stage of labour
• What is crowning in childbirth?

  When the baby's head emerges from the vagina
• What is an episiotomy?

  A cut to widen the vaginal opening
• What happens after the baby is born?

  The umbilical cord is clamped and cut
• What indicates that the baby is breathing after birth?

  The skin turns from bluish to pink
• What happens to the placenta after the baby is born?

  It is expelled from the uterus
• What may be given to the mother to prevent excessive blood loss?

  An injection of syntometrine