Spontaneous Vaginal Birth
00:12 Prerequisites & Contraindications
01:01 Cardinal Movements
02:57 Stage 1: Cervical Effacement and Dilation
04:31 Stage 2: Birth of the Infant
CASE DESCRIPTION
- A spontaneous vaginal birth occurs when the fetus is delivered vaginally without assistance from vacuum or forceps.
- Cardinal movements of the fetus during labour facilitate vaginal birth. These include:
- Engagement
- Descent and Flexion
- Internal Rotation
- Extension
- External rotation (Restitution)
- Delivery of the anterior shoulder
- Delivery of the posterior shoulder
- There are four stages of labour:
- Stage 1: Cervical effacement and dilation
- Stage 2: Birth of the infant
- Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta
- Stage 4: Two hours postpartum
- Labour progress is assessed through periodic abdominal and vaginal examinations.
- The clinician guides the patient to push with contractions, optimizing delivery speed to prevent rapid distension and perineal tearing. Warm compresses and gentle perineal massage are applied to effectively reduce perineal injury during delivery.
- Midline support with the clinician's dominant hand is paramount for protecting the perineum. In both the Finnish and Viennese techniques, support is provided across the entire perineum.
- Active management of the third stage of labour significantly reduces the risk of postpartum hemorrhage. The first two hours postpartum are critical for early identification and management of postpartum hemorrhage. During this time, the healthcare team closely monitors for bleeding or other concerns.
