Childbirth is a miracle of life. Each year in the United States, nearly four million women.
bring a little bundle of joy into the world. Each newborn is the result of a fascinating nine-month.
developmental process. When this process is complete, the body goes through several steps to.
complete the system of childbirth.
The labor process seems to result from an interplay between the fetus and the mother. .
When the fetus reaches a certain point of maturation, it sends a signal to the mother that says it is.
finished growing. Therefore, the body starts to produces oxytocin. This hormone signals the.
uterus it is time to expel its contents: fetus and placenta. The uterus begins to contract causing.
the expecting mother pain. As time passes, the contractions become closer and more intense. .
Contractions cause the cervix, the end of the uterus, to become thinner and begin opening. Once.
the cervix is 100% thinned and 10 centimeters open, the body alerts the woman it is time to push. .
Using muscles of the abdomen and rectum, she bears down until the doctor is able to see the.
head, which is called crowning. After the head crowns, the physician assists the birth by.
supporting the delicate tissue surrounding the vaginal opening. Following the delivery of the.
head, the physician aids with the delivery of shoulders and eventually the entire infant. The cord.
is cut and the baby is whisked away to be thoroughly examined and cleaned. During this time, the.
placenta is expelled and the birth process is complete.
The pain of childbirth is rewarded with a beautiful newborn baby. A new life enters into.
the world not knowing what life lays ahead. For the next two decades, what is once a innocent,.
helpless baby develops into a mature, capable adult. All of this is accomplished because of the.
process of the miracle called birth.