Post by Kirsten on Jan 18, 2007 14:48:02 GMT -5
Kirsten went to her locker and got her white coat on. She ran up the stairs, two at a time, until she reached the maternity ward. Susie brisked walked over to her.
"How's she doing?"
"Good."
"When did her water break?"
"About, ten minutes ago," Susie looked down at her watch.
"Well, how are we doing?" Kirsten asked Paula.
"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, god these contractions are bloody painful!" she anwered in pain.
"Let's see how dialated you are then!" Kirsten checked."Well your in the first stage of giving birth so your not that far along."
"Pardon?" Paula looked confused.
"Giving birth in the first stage can be divided into early labor, active labor, and transition. In early labor, contractions start the work of dilating (opening) and effacing (thinning) your cervix. It may be hard to tell if these are real contractions or Braxton Hicks, but in general, true contractions usually become longer, stronger, and closer together. Some women may be in early labor for hours without knowing it!" Kirsten explained.
Paula groaned. "Well are these real contactions or not?"
"Well how far apart have her contractions been so far?"
"About 5-6 minutes," Susie answered.
"Well it's a bit hard to tell. Kepp watch on her." she turned as if to walk out of the room when Paula called her back.
"Wait, what are the second and third stages of giving birth?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't."
"Ok well the second part of the first stage of giving birth is, when the cervix is dilated 3 to 4 centimeters, you're in active labor. This can be an exciting time - this is it! Contractions become stronger and closer together, opening your cervix to 7 or 8 centimeters, and you probably won't be able to talk through the contractions now. If you haven't called your practitioner already, this is the time to do so and to move to wherever you'll be giving birth. Support from your coach becomes crucial in this phase, which can last about 6 hours.
Transition opens the cervix to a full 10 centimeters. Contractions come hard and fast, often on top of each other, and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Hang on through transition - when it's done you'll be giving birth." She took a breath and looked at Paula who was listening carefully but was becoming a bit scared.
"With the cervix fully dilated, you enter the second stage of labor, pushing - the part we usually think of as giving birth. For about an hour (probably longer if you have an epidural, shorter if this isn't your first birth) you'll work with the contractions to push your baby through the birth canal.
After the baby is born, expect a few more contractions to deliver the placenta. This is the third stage of giving birth - but you may be too absorbed in your baby to notice."
Paula looked kind of horrified at all of this news.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I.. I think so. That's a lot of information."
"I know but don't be scared. Do you want me to ring your hubby?"
"Yes please,"
"Ok, call me when she's in the second stage of labour ok."
"Ok." Susie said.
Kirsten walked out of the ward and over to the desk which a nurse was sitting working through paper work.
"Hey, Joy would you get me Mrs. Hope's husbands number please?" she asked.
Joy looked up from her paper work and looked at Kirsten, she looked exhausted.
"Are you an intern?"
"Yeah how do you know?"
"I remeber that only to well. Look if you get me his number I'll help you through all of that." she said.
"You will thank you. I'm only having trouble on what to do in a Caesarian section," she sighed.
"Well get me his number an I'll help you with that. Page me once you get it." she walked down the corridor and around the corner.
She needed the toilet so she went on the lift down to the floor with the canteen on it.
"How's she doing?"
"Good."
"When did her water break?"
"About, ten minutes ago," Susie looked down at her watch.
"Well, how are we doing?" Kirsten asked Paula.
"Fiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine, god these contractions are bloody painful!" she anwered in pain.
"Let's see how dialated you are then!" Kirsten checked."Well your in the first stage of giving birth so your not that far along."
"Pardon?" Paula looked confused.
"Giving birth in the first stage can be divided into early labor, active labor, and transition. In early labor, contractions start the work of dilating (opening) and effacing (thinning) your cervix. It may be hard to tell if these are real contractions or Braxton Hicks, but in general, true contractions usually become longer, stronger, and closer together. Some women may be in early labor for hours without knowing it!" Kirsten explained.
Paula groaned. "Well are these real contactions or not?"
"Well how far apart have her contractions been so far?"
"About 5-6 minutes," Susie answered.
"Well it's a bit hard to tell. Kepp watch on her." she turned as if to walk out of the room when Paula called her back.
"Wait, what are the second and third stages of giving birth?"
"Do you really want to know?"
"I wouldn't be asking if I didn't."
"Ok well the second part of the first stage of giving birth is, when the cervix is dilated 3 to 4 centimeters, you're in active labor. This can be an exciting time - this is it! Contractions become stronger and closer together, opening your cervix to 7 or 8 centimeters, and you probably won't be able to talk through the contractions now. If you haven't called your practitioner already, this is the time to do so and to move to wherever you'll be giving birth. Support from your coach becomes crucial in this phase, which can last about 6 hours.
Transition opens the cervix to a full 10 centimeters. Contractions come hard and fast, often on top of each other, and can last from a few minutes to a few hours. Hang on through transition - when it's done you'll be giving birth." She took a breath and looked at Paula who was listening carefully but was becoming a bit scared.
"With the cervix fully dilated, you enter the second stage of labor, pushing - the part we usually think of as giving birth. For about an hour (probably longer if you have an epidural, shorter if this isn't your first birth) you'll work with the contractions to push your baby through the birth canal.
After the baby is born, expect a few more contractions to deliver the placenta. This is the third stage of giving birth - but you may be too absorbed in your baby to notice."
Paula looked kind of horrified at all of this news.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah, I.. I think so. That's a lot of information."
"I know but don't be scared. Do you want me to ring your hubby?"
"Yes please,"
"Ok, call me when she's in the second stage of labour ok."
"Ok." Susie said.
Kirsten walked out of the ward and over to the desk which a nurse was sitting working through paper work.
"Hey, Joy would you get me Mrs. Hope's husbands number please?" she asked.
Joy looked up from her paper work and looked at Kirsten, she looked exhausted.
"Are you an intern?"
"Yeah how do you know?"
"I remeber that only to well. Look if you get me his number I'll help you through all of that." she said.
"You will thank you. I'm only having trouble on what to do in a Caesarian section," she sighed.
"Well get me his number an I'll help you with that. Page me once you get it." she walked down the corridor and around the corner.
She needed the toilet so she went on the lift down to the floor with the canteen on it.