Birth: Birth – Delivery – Labor
Monitoring during third stage

Monitoring during third stage

Why monitoring continues after birth The birth of the baby is not the end of the immediate obstetric assessment. During the third stage, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and is expelled, while the uterus contracts to reduce blood flow from the placental implantation site. This contraction is a key physiological mechanism for limiting […]

Role of oxytocin in third stage

Role of oxytocin in third stage

The third stage and the need for uterine contraction The third stage starts immediately after the baby’s birth. The placenta separates from the uterine wall and is then expelled, together with the membranes. Once separation occurs, the uterine muscle should contract and retract. This contraction is more than a mechanical event: it compresses the open […]

Benefits of active vs natural approaches

Benefits of active vs natural approaches

What active and natural approaches mean An active approach to birth is best understood as engaged participation rather than a promise to avoid or seek a particular intervention. It may include walking, changing positions, using a birthing stool or ball, practicing breathing and relaxation, asking questions, involving a support person, and communicating preferences to the […]

Active vs natural third stage explained

Active vs natural third stage explained

What the third stage actually is The third stage of labor is the interval between the baby’s birth and the expulsion of the placenta. It is often much shorter than the earlier stages, but it is not clinically trivial. The uterus must contract effectively so that the placenta separates and the placental bed constricts. If […]

Immediate care after placenta delivery

Immediate care after placenta delivery

The fourth stage begins After placenta delivery after birth, the clinical priorities shift from completing the third stage of labor to stabilizing the birthing parent and newborn. This period is often called the fourth stage of labor, and it usually includes at least the first hour after the placenta has been delivered. Even when birth […]

How to push safely at the end of labor

How to push safely at the end of labor

Start from the physiology of the second stage The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends with birth of the baby. That threshold matters because pushing before a fully dilated cervix can increase discomfort and does not help the fetal head descend efficiently. Current obstetric guidance places the decision […]

Open-glottis vs directed pushing comparison

Open-glottis vs directed pushing comparison

What the two techniques actually mean Open-glottis pushing means the glottis remains open enough for air to move out while the person bears down. The push is usually coordinated with the contraction, but the breath is not held rigidly. Many people describe it as exhaling through the effort rather than bracing against it. Directed pushing […]

Signs pushing requires help

Signs pushing requires help

What normal pushing looks like The second stage of labor begins once the cervix is fully dilated and the baby is ready to descend. For many birthing people, the urge to push is strong and often described as pressure low in the pelvis or the sensation of needing to have a bowel movement. Contractions usually […]

Guided vs natural pushing methods

Guided vs natural pushing methods

What guided and natural pushing mean In practice, guided pushing means the labor team tells the person when to begin and stop each push, often with counting, breath-holding, and repeated coached efforts. It is sometimes called directed or coached pushing. The goal is usually to synchronize effort with a contraction and make each push look […]

Do you need to push and what it feels like

Do you need to push and what it feels like

When pushing usually begins The pushing stage of labor usually begins after full cervical dilation, commonly described as 10 centimeters. Full dilation means the cervix has opened enough that it is no longer the main barrier between the baby and the vaginal canal. Even then, the start of active pushing is not always automatic. Your […]