Childbirth is "a struggle with death" for both mother and baby
In the 17th and 18th century, women had a 1 in 10 chance of dying while or shortly after giving birth; thousand of babies were stillborn and 1 out of 4 born alive died during the 1st year
At the end of the 19th century, an expectant mother was almost 50 times more likely to die in childbirth than a woman giving birth in modern times
At the start of the 20th century, childbirth began to be professionalized in the United States; the growing use of maternity hospitals led to safer, more antiseptic conditions for childbirth
In 1900, only 5 percent of U.S. deliveries occurred in hospitals; by 1920, in some cities 65 percent did
In 1940, there were 47.0 infant (from birth to 1 year of age) deaths per 1,000 live births; by 2016, this rate had decreased to 5.87 infant deaths per 1,000 live births
Labor
An apt term for the process of giving birth
Parturition
The act or process of giving birth, and it typically begins about 2 weeks before delivery
Braxton-Hicks Contraction
False contractions at time during the final months of pregnancy, when the muscles of the uterus tighten for up to 2 minutes
Electronic Fetal Monitoring
Mechanical monitoring used to track the fetus's heartbeat during labor and delivery and to indicate how the fetal heart is responding to the stress of uterine contractions
Stages of Childbirth
1. Dilation of the Cervix
2. Descent and Emergence of the Baby
3. Expulsion of the Placenta
Vaginal Delivery
The usual method of childbirth that stimulates the release of oxytocin, a hormone involved in uterine contractions (maternal behavior)
Cesarean Delivery
Delivery of a baby by surgical removal from the uterus (incision in the mother's abdomen), performed when labor progresses too slowly, when the fetus seems to be in trouble, when the mother is bleeding vaginally, or when the fetus is in the breech or transverse position or the head is too big to pass through the mother's pelvis
Forceps
An instrument shaped like a large pair of salad tongs used to grasp and pull the head
Methods of Childbirth
Natural Childbirth
Prepared Childbirth
Lamaze Method
LeBoyer Method
Submersion in Water
Bradley Method
Other methods using mental imagery, massage, gentle pushing, and deep breathing
Pudendal Block
Local (vaginal) anesthesia given during the second stage of labor
Analgesic
Reduces the perception of pain by depressing the activity of the central nervous system, but has side effect to labor process and baby
Epidural
Regional anesthesia injected into a space in the spinal cord between the vertebrae in the lumbar region
Doula
An experienced mentor who furnishes emotional support and information for a woman during labor
Neonatal Period
The first 4 weeks of life, a time of transition from intrauterine dependency to independent existence
Anoxia or hypoxia
Lack of oxygen which might result in permanent brain injury or damage, causing mental retardation, behavior problems, or even death
During the first few days infants excrete meconium, a stringy, greenish-black waste matter formed in the fetal intestinal tract
Neonatal Jaundice
A condition, in many newborn babies, caused by immaturity of the liver and evidenced by yellowish appearance; can cause brain damage if not treated promptly
Apgar Scale
Standard measurement of newborn's condition, assessing Appearance, Pulse, Grimace, Activity, and Respiration, rated 0, 1, or 2 on each measure with a maximum score of 10
A neurological and behavioral test to measure a neonate's responses to the environment, assessing Motor Organization, Reflexes, State Changes, Attention and Interactive Capacities, and Indications of CNS Instability
States of Arousal
Regular Sleep
Irregular Sleep
Drowsiness
Alert Inactivity
Waking Activity and Crying
Low-birth-weight babies (LBW)
Infants with a birth weight of less than 5½ pounds (2,500 gr) due to prematurity or being small-for-date
Risk Factors for Low Birth Weight
Demographic and socioeconomic factors
Medical factors predating the pregnancy
Prenatal behavioral and environmental factors
Medical conditions associated with the pregnancy
The most pressing fear regarding very small babies is that they will die in infancy, given the multitude of challenges they face due to their immature immune system, nervous system, and inability to generate heat
Respiratory distress syndrome
Lack an adequate amount of an essential lung-coating substance called surfactant, which keeps air sacs from collapsing
Kangaroo Care (KC)
An intervention method of skin-to-skin contact in which a newborn is laid face down between the mother's breasts for an hour or so at a time after birth
Preterm infants are at greater risk for high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, adult-onset diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, but environmental factors like maternal education, two-parent family structure, and higher SES are associated with positive developmental outcomes
Postmature
Fetus not yet born as of 2 weeks after the due date or 42 weeks after the mother's last menstrual period
Stillbirth
The sudden death of a fetus at or after the 20th week of gestation
Infant Mortality Rate
The proportion of babies who die within the 1st year, caused by birth defects, genetic abnormalities, disorders related to prematurity or LBW, SIDS, maternal complications, accidents, and complications of the placenta, umbilical cord, and membranes
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
The sudden death of an infant under age 1 in which the cause of death remains unexplained after a thorough investigation that includes an autopsy, involving three overlapping factors: a vulnerable infant, a critical period, and an exogenous stressor
Vaccines
Mobilize the body's natural defense to prevent fatal childhood illnesses such as measles, pertussis (whooping cough), and polio
Some parents hesitate to immunize their children because of speculation that certain vaccines—particularly the diphtheria-pertussis-tetanus and measles-mumps-rubella vaccines—may cause autism or other neurodevelopmental disorders. However, there is no evidence that this is true.
Cephalocaudal principle
Sensory and motor development proceed from the upper parts of the body to the lower parts
Proximodistal principle
Growth and motor development proceed from the center of the body outward