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The e-pregnancy is designed on April 2007 in a logical fashion, and categorised chronologically. It is our desire to provide you with high quality on line information, about birth schedule of care how women can recognises the signs of labour, stages of birth and birth complications. each section provides links and resources and refernces informations.

We are more than happy to answer any question.

Please be free to contact us.

E-mail: kleopatra229@yahoo.co.uk

Kleopatra.Alamantariotou@chelwest.nhs.uk

Tel :0207 6862898

Birth Complications

Some of the main complications and problems during labour and birth are below:

-Postterm labour

-Preterm labour

-Slow labour

-Premature rupture of membranes

-Abnormal Position

-Multiple births

-Shoulder dystocia

-Perineal Damage

-prolapsed umbilical cord

-Maternal infection

-Bleeding

The information in this web page is presented in summarised and has been taken from :

Health on Net Foundation www.hon.ch/Dossier/MotherChild/

http://health.discovery.com/centers/pregnancy/complications/complications.html

stages during labour

First stage of labour
For most women is the longest. If this is her fisrt baby, the average fisrt stage of labour can last from 6-12 hours. For subsequent births, the first stage is often shorter, averoging anywhere from 4-8 hours.

Early labour:
Usually begins with mild contractions that are 5-15 minutes apart and last from a minute to a minute and half each. During this period the cervix dilates from 0 to 4 centimeters

Active labour:
Is charectirized by stronger contractions that start to come closer together (every 3-4 minutes).
The mother may break at this point, which will cause contractions to become even stronger. During this period of labour the cervix wil dilate from 4 to 10 centimeters. When you know that you are truly in active labour( contractions 3-4 minutes apart and each lasting a minute).
It is good this time to call your hospital or to phone your midwife.

Second Stage of Labour:when the cervix has dilated fully to 10 centimeters, the second stage of labour begins. This is when the woman will need to begin to "push" her baby out. She will feel the urge to bear down with each contractions and should do so when given the ''go ahead'' by her doctor to help to move the baby into the birth canal.
The birth of the baby signals the end of second stage of labour.

Third Stage of labour:This is the shortest stage of labour and can last from just a minute or two up to twenty minutes. The mother will still experience some contractions. They will be closer together than when she was pushing and usually less painful. These contractions help to get the placenta down into the birth canal.

The information in this page is presented in summarised and has been taken from: Health on Net Foundation www.hon.ch/Dossier/MotherChild/