Childbirth Trilogy #2: Delivery of Your Baby, Welcome to the World!

You’ve just gone through your 15-hour labor and your body is now ready to welcome your little one to the world. Delivering your baby out to see the world is going to require some pushing – so stay strong, mommy!

Key Points to Expect:

• • Duration: 20 minutes – 2 hours, but sometimes longer
  • Contractions: Contractions last about 45 – 90 seconds every 4 – 7 minutes

• Other Symptoms: 

• • Overwhelming urge to push
  • Noticeable contractions, you will see your abdomen rising with each
  • Strong rectal pressure
  • Even more bloody mucus discharge
  • Burning, stinging sensation when your baby’s head emerges, called “Crowning”
  • You can accidentally pee on the bed

What can you do when the delivery of your baby starts?

Push, push, push!

• Push when your body signals: Go with the rhythm of your contractions. While the contraction is building, try to gather your strength for pushing. When the contraction peaks, take in deep breaths and push with all of your strength! Tuck your chin to your chest and focus your gaze on your navel so you can centralize your strength to the right direction. 

• Check your progress through a mirror: It can be very encouraging to see how your baby is coming back through a mirror. You will regain confidence to push further if you see your baby crowning and slowly coming out from your vagina. It’s important to keep in mind that pushing can be a two step forward one step backward process…so don’t become discouraged if your baby goes back and forth before you reach the finish line!

• Listen to your practitioner to change position or rest between contractions: It can be really challenging to not feel exhausted throughout the pushing process. You will have to conserve your energy and rest up for the next round of contractions. It is important to rest in between and change positions when necessary if your pushing isn’t progressing.

What’s next for your baby after he/she is out?

Your practitioner will start suctioning mucus from your baby’s nose and mouth when your baby’s head is out. They will then help gently pull the shoulders and torso out. Followed up clamping and cutting the umbilical cord. Then your practitioner will most likely bring the baby to your chest or stomach for skin-to-skin contact.

You may notice that your baby’s appearance isn’t what you’ve expected – he/she has got puffy eyes, cone-shaped head, enlarged genitals, and covered in a vernix coating that smells cheesy. Do remember that your baby has been soaking in your amniotic fluid for the past 9 months, it’s normal to see wrinkly and puffy skin on your baby just like when you’ve stayed in the pool for too long.

The nurse or pediatrician will then start evaluating your baby’s health. Your baby will be weighed and wrapped. Birth centers or hospitals sometimes let you start breastfeeding on the spot but be saddened if they haven’t asked. Afterwards your baby is sent to the nursery for a complete pediatric examination and to receive shots like Hepatitis B vaccines. When your baby’s temperature is stable, he/she will receive the first bath and be returned to the bassinet by your bedside. Then you would have plenty of time to tell him/her how happy you are to welcome him/her to this beautiful place. Good job, mommies!

Continue reading other series in the trilogy:

Childbirth Trilogy #1: Childbirth Trilogy #1: The 3 Stages of Labor
Childbirth Trilogy #3: The Delivery of Placenta and You’re Done!