How to
deliver a baby
Sometimes
it happens that babies are born before mom can get to the hospital. Babies have
been known to be born in supermarkets, parking-lots, at home, in the taxi and
even on the airplane. During the Mozambique floods a few years ago, a baby-girl
was born in the tree – and survived to tell the tale.
Once the
mouth of the womb (cervix) is fully dilated (open), babies are born very
quickly. If you’re the only person around to help the woman about to give birth,
you may have no choice but to ask someone to bring you a basin of hot water,
some towels, cotton thread and scissors – and to call 911 or 0911, 10177 or
Netcare 082 911 countrywide in South Africa.
Keep calm.
Shouting and panicking is only going to make the situation worse! Remember that
in most instances, babies are born on their own. Let nature do its thing and
keep reassuring the mother.
Make her
comfortable. Use newspaper, black utility bags or towels to spread over the area
where the baby will be born. When the mother’s waters break, there will be a
gush of straw-coloured
fluid. Place a clean towel under mom’s bottom, use warm water to sponge the
vulva. Wear disposable gloves – any type will do.
When the
mother starts to push, encourage her to push slowly – especially if you suspect
that the baby is premature. It may help her to get her into a squatting or onto
all-fours. In this way, the baby’s head will simply slip out the vagina. This
position also helps to minimize tearing the perineum (the area between the
vagina and the rectum).
Once the
head is out, support it with one hand while checking around the baby’s neck for
the cord. It’s rare for the cord to be wrapped around the baby’s neck, but if
it is, gently slip this over baby’s head. The cord is long and slippery so it’s
quite easy to do.
While
supporting the baby’s head, you will notice that the baby’s body will turn (it’s
called the ‘dance of birth’). This is in preparation for the birth of the
shoulders. Gently ease the shoulder out closest to you, then the second
shoulder. After this, the baby’s body will slip out quite easily with a gush of
remaining amniotic fluid (called the hind waters).
Quickly
wrap the baby into a towel and place skin-to-skin between the mother’s breasts.
Cover mom and baby with a blanket and give the baby a chance to recover and
familiarize him/herself with mom. Baby will recognize mother by her smell – the
newborn’s sense of smell is strongest immediately after birth.
If help has
not arrived, don’t stress too much about the placenta (afterbirth). You can
leave it in place, but it may come away on its own after about 30 minutes, or
if the baby starts suckling. If the placenta comes away, you need to cut the
cord. This is painless for mom and baby because there are no nerves in the
cord. About a thumbs length from baby’s navel, tie cotton thread in two places,
then cut the cord between the two ties. Wrap the placenta in a plastic bag. The
doctor will need to see it.
Place a
clean towel between the mother’s legs. If she is bleeding heavily, encourage
her to suckle her baby. Make sure mom and baby keep warm when they are
transferred in the ambulance to the hospital.
Ask
somebody to make you a sweet cup of tea after the ambulance has left! You may
feel significantly elated when it’s all over! The miracle of birth.
