Serious complications are rare during labor. But some problems can happen during this
time. Some of the more common ones are listed below.

Delivery is the moment when the fetus and the placenta leave your body. To get ready
for the delivery, you may be moved into a birthing room or delivery room. Or you may
stay in the same room for both labor and the birth. Fathers or partners are encouraged
to be actively involved in childbirth by helping with relaxation methods and breathing
exercises.

Positions for delivery may vary from squatting, sitting, to semi-sitting positions
(between lying down and sitting up). With semi-sitting positions, gravity can help
you push the baby through the birth canal. The type of position for birth depends
on your preference and your healthcare provider’s. It also depends on the health of
the fetus.

During the delivery process, the
healthcare staff will continue to keep an eye on your blood pressure, pulse, and other
vital signs, and the fetal heart rate. The healthcare provider will check the cervical
opening to see the position of the fetus’ head. They will continue to support and
guide
you in your pushing efforts.

Delivery can be done either vaginally or by C-section.

During a vaginal delivery, the
healthcare provider will help the fetus’s head and chin out of the vagina when it
becomes visible. Once the head is delivered, the healthcare provider puts gentle
downward traction on the head to deliver the shoulder. The rest of the body follows.
The
baby turns itself as the last movement of labor.

In some cases, the vaginal opening
does not stretch enough to fit the fetus. Delivery may need to be sped up. This might
be
needed if the baby is in distress. In such cases, the healthcare provider may do an
episiotomy. This is a cut through the vaginal wall and the perineum. The perineum is
between the thighs, extending from the anus to the vaginal opening. An episiotomy
is
done to help deliver the fetus. Episiotomies are not needed for every birth. They
are
not routinely done.

After the birth of the baby, you will be asked to continue to push during the next
few uterine contractions to deliver the placenta. Once the placenta is out, the provider
will fix any tear or episiotomy. You often will be given oxytocin. This is by shot
into the muscles or as an IV. This medicine is used to contract the uterus. The uterus
is then massaged to help it contract. This also helps prevent too much bleeding.

If you aren’t able to deliver the fetus vaginally, the fetus is delivered in surgery
with a cesarean section. These are often done in an operating room or a designated
delivery room. Some C-sections are planned and scheduled. Others may be done because
of problems that occur during labor.

Once the anesthesia has taken
effect, the provider makes a cut in the abdomen and makes an opening in the uterus.
The
amniotic sac is opened, and the baby is delivered through the opening. You may feel
some
pressure, a pulling sensation, or both.

After the birth of the baby, the
healthcare provider will stitch the uterus and the cut that was made in the abdomen.
After a C-section or vaginal delivery, you will have some bleeding.

Several conditions may make having a baby by C-section more likely. These are:

• Previous C-section

• Fetal distress

• Abnormal birth position such
  as breech, shoulder, or face

• A labor that fails to progress or doesn’t progress normally

• Placental problems such as placenta previa. This is when the placenta blocks the cervix.
  It raises the risk that the placenta will become detached too soon from the uterus.

• Twins or other multiples