Anglo-American literature lists 7 cardinal movements, namely engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion.
The seven cardinal movements of labor are: engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation and expulsion.
In this course, you will learn about the five “P”s of labor (passenger, passage, powers, placenta, and psychology) and how they relate to the birthing process.
As your baby's head descends further, the head will most often rotate so the back of the head is just below your pubic bone. This helps the head fit the shape of your pelvis. Usually, the baby will be face down toward your spine. Sometimes, the baby will rotate so it faces up toward the pubic bone.
The first phase of the first stage of labor is called the latent phase, when contractions are becoming more frequent (usually 5 to 20 minutes apart) and somewhat stronger. However, discomfort is minimal.
Anglo-American literature lists 7 cardinal movements, namely engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion. German and older English literature lists only 4 rotational movements as the cardinal movements and excludes engagement, descent, and expulsion.
During the first stage of labor, the cervix opens (dilates) and thins out (effaces) to allow the baby to move into the birth canal. In figures A and B, the cervix is tightly closed. In figure C, the cervix is 60% effaced and 1 to 2 cm dilated. In figure D, the cervix is 90% effaced and 4 to 5 cm dilated.
You are more likely to go into labor at night.
It's fun to speculate that our ancestors on the African plains found night time labor safer, with fewer predators, but the exact why remains mysterious. Whatever the true evolutionary reason, our modern bodies continue to maintain a nocturnal birth rhythm.
The Three Rs: Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual
“Coping well” means that they get through their contractions without being overwhelmed. Their behavior has these three things in common: Relaxation, Rhythm, and Ritual. These Three Rs, describe the essential, universal, instinctual behaviors of women in labor.
This stage of labor ends when you are 10 centimeters dilated. The first stage is divided into three parts: early labor, active labor and transition to stage 2 of labor. For most first-time moms, early labor lasts about 6 to 12 hours. You can spend this time at home or wherever you're most comfortable.
Basically labor length is influenced by the Six P's: passage, passenger, power, position, psyche or perception and parity. The passage is defined as the bony boundaries of the pelvis. The shape of the pelvis determines how easily the baby can pass through.
If your baby is head down and facing your back (OA position), you'll probably feel kicks under your ribs. You'll also be able to feel the hard, rounded surface of your baby's back, which will be on one side of your belly.
A baby's position is important for birth to proceed naturally, allowing the smallest part of the baby to present first. In order to position correctly, a baby in the womb will try it's best to shift into a direction that best facilitates birth.
In the last weeks, some time before birth, the baby's head should move down into your pelvis. When your baby's head moves down like this, it's said to be "engaged". When this happens, you may notice your bump seems to move down a little. Sometimes the head does not engage until labour starts.
Dropping is not a good predictor of when labor will begin. In first-time mothers, dropping usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks before delivery, but it can happen earlier. In women who have already had children, the baby may not drop until labor begins.
"Lying on your side, standing, sitting, walking, rocking—anything that keeps you active can help decrease pain and speed up labor," says Dawley. Other benefits of upright labor positions include: Reduced need for medication. Help in dilating your cervix and widening your pelvic opening.
Researchers now believe that when a baby is ready for life outside his mother's uterus, his body releases a tiny amount of a substance that signals the mother's hormones to begin labor (Condon, Jeyasuria, Faust, & Mendelson, 2004). In most cases, your labor will begin only when both your body and your baby are ready.
Activity of baby - The baby may become slightly less active as labor approaches. You should still feel the baby move several times an hour - if you don't, call your health care provider immediately.
The final part of the active phase of labor (transition) is from eight to 10 centimeters, or full dilation. This may be the shortest phase of labor for many women, but it may also be the most intense. Strong contractions occur every two to three minutes and last for 60 to 90 seconds.
Women feel contractions differently, but early contractions generally begin as a cramp - similar to period pains, or a mild backache. Sometimes it will feel like a tight band around the top of your womb, which can be felt externally by placing a hand on your bump.
When your baby is ready to begin the journey through the birth canal, your cervix dilates from fully closed to 10 centimeters. This process can take hours, days, or even weeks. But once you hit active labor – about 6 cm dilated – it's usually just a matter of hours before you reach full dilation.