Childbirth

Labour and baby delivery are just the beginning of an incredible adventure of motherhood. However, it is equally vital to be sensitive and careful during this time in order to have a safe baby delivery and put a good healthy foundation for your baby. Dr Kwabena is an experienced obstetrician with expertise on all aspects of quality and safe childbirth and will answer all your questions no matter how big or small.

Your physician or midwife may help you to determine if you are in labour. Active labour occurs when your contractions last one minute, coming three to five minutes apart, and you are three to four centimetres dilated.

If you think your water has broken, you have abnormal bleeding or are not feeling the baby move, and you should seek medical attention immediately. When in active labour, do not eat a heavy meal, and take clear liquids only.

When you arrive for the delivery, a nurse, midwife or the obstetrician will discuss the progress of labour with you. Dr Essel will encourage fathers and partners to participate in the childbirth actively. A nurse will check your blood pressure, breathing, contractions, pulse and the baby's heart rate.

The nurse or Dr Kwabena will help you with breathing techniques and positions. If you are anticipating natural childbirth, the nurse or the gynaecologists and or the obstetrician will help with relaxation techniques such as walking, sitting, rocking or a shower, whatever makes you comfortable. The amount of delivery pain that women experience during childbirth differs. It depends on factors such as the size and position of the baby, the strength of the uterine contractions, your level of pain tolerance and prior birth experiences.

Dr Kwabena Essel will examine you internally to see how wide the cervix has dilated. The second stage of labour begins when the cervix is dilated to 10 centimetres. Dr Essel will then invite your partner to accompany you, or otherwise if required, for the actual delivery process.

If a caesarean birth is needed, you will give birth in an operating room, after which you will be taken to the recovery room.

FAQ

Your nurse or doctor may decide to use an instrument to guide the baby out after one hour of good pushing while you continue to push. A vacuum extractor is an instrument that can be utilised in these situations. They should only be used if the baby can be easily seen and approached. The baby will not be "pulled" out by your doctor. While you continue to push, the baby will be guided.

Early labour usually lasts 6 to 12 hours for most first-time mothers.

It can take months to heal from pregnancy and childbirth fully. While many women feel mostly recovered within six to eight weeks, it may take longer to feel like yourself again.