Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Make sure you have plenty of clean sheets or other bed coverings (newspaper will do in a
pinch) and change them as soon as they get soiled. If the mother has a bowel movement, wipe
from front to back. Have a sterile unopened razor blade or a pair of boiled scissors on hand for
cutting the cord. The midwife should not massage the belly and the mother should not push
during this stage. Deep, slow breathing can help to ease the pain. Walking helps to speed the
delivery and labor.
The second stage starts when the baby has dropped into the birth canal and finishes when
the baby is born. This stage is often easier than the first stage and is usually finished within a
couple of hours. Cleanliness is of the utmost importance. Hands should be washed frequently in
sterile water, and surgical gloves should be worn if available. For normal births, the midwife or
attendant should never insert hands or fingers into the birth canal, as this is the major cause of
severe infections in the mother. The mother should push hard with each contraction until the
child's head shows about 3 inches across. At that point the mother should try not to push too
hard and should breathe with short fast breaths. This helps to avoid tearing the vaginal opening.
The third stage lasts from the birth until the placenta (afterbirth) has been expelled and
bleeding has stopped or reduced to a trickle. This usually happens between five minutes and
one hour after the birth.
Warning
: If there is severe bleeding or the placenta does not come out, seek medical atten-
tion immediately.
Emergency Childbirth Supplies
• Flashlight in case of poor lighting or power outage.
• Plastic sheet, tarp, or large garbage bags to place under the mother on top of the bed-
ding.
• Clean sheets, towels, newspapers, and so on to place under the mother and on top of
the plastic sheet. Change as soon as soiled. Have at least three extra, clean, dry tow-
els on hand.
• Sanitary napkins (several).
• A rubber suction bulb for suctioning the newborn's mouth. A turkey baster with a
fine tip will do in a pinch.
• Sterile gauze dressings.
• Sterile gloves.
• Sterile razor or scissors for cutting the umbilical cord.
