Of all the miracles of life, childbirth is widely recognized as being one of the most special. After conception, the process of pregnancy begins, and the baby will begin to grow inside the woman’s womb. In the first few weeks of pregnancy, the baby will only be a collection of cells and will start to develop into an embryo. After several weeks have passed, the parents will commonly choose to go for a scan at the hospital where they can see the development of their unborn child and medical staff can check that the pregnancy is progressing healthily and that all development is taking place as expected. This article focuses specifically on what happens during the labor stage of pregnancy, which is the final stage before the child is born. There are two distinct stages to the labor process and these will be discussed in detail. Finally, a section will describe what can happen in rare cases where medical problems occur that are the result of medical negligence or malpractice.
Stage 1
In the first stages of labor, the woman will be acutely aware that she will be due to give birth soon due to the start of contractions. One key occurrence is that the woman’s “waters break.” This happens when the membranes that contain the fluid which surrounds your baby rupture and fluid is released out of the body. It is a clear sign that labor is taking place, and in these circumstances, it is common practice for the woman to be taken to the hospital for the birth and the midwife to be contacted. In addition, during the first stages of labor the woman’s cervix will dilate (or open). Once the cervix has dilated to approximately four centimetres in diameter, it will be recognized that full labor is now in progress. It can be beneficial for the expectant mother to undertake breathing exercises during labor to allow a degree of pain relief or even to have a hot shower.
Stage 2
The second stage of labor occurs at the point when the woman’s cervix is fully dilated and continues until the baby is born. During this period, it can be beneficial to find a suitable position to sit or lie down in to help with the pushing that needs to take place to allow the baby to be born. The midwife will commonly be present during this stage to offer advice and reassurance and some forms of pain relief may be prescribed to make the process more bearable. After a period of hours, the pushing should then lead to the baby’s head coming out before full birth takes place.
If Medical Problems Occur
Whilst millions of births occur every year around the world without problems or complications, it is important to note that in some cases issues due arise during childbirth. Injuries and lasting damage can be sustained to both the baby and the mother if mistakes are made by doctors and medical professionals. If you or your baby were harmed due to medical problems which were not adequately treated or prevented by healthcare staff, you may be able to file an injury during labor lawsuit. It can be vital to speak to a legal organization who have experience in this field of law, as it may be the case that both justice and compensation can be sought from the courts if malpractice or avoidable injury has occurred during childbirth.
