4. Once your baby's head is out, the head and shoulders again turn to face your side. This position allows your baby to easily slip out.
Delivery and what to expect
When your baby is delivered he/she is not going to come out looking like the Gerber Baby. Keep in mind your baby has been soaking in a sac full of amniotic fluid for nine months. He/she has been through contractions, and your very narrow birth canal. The results of this journey include:
- Cone-shaped head
- Vernix coating (cheesy substance that coats the fetus in the uterus)
- Puffy eyes
- Lanugo (fine downy hair that cover the shoulders, back, forehead, and temple that will shed by the end of the first week)
- Enlarged genitals
Third Stage
The third stage is the delivery of the placenta and is the shortest stage. The time it takes to deliver your placenta is anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes.
What to expect & what to do:
After the delivery of your baby, your healthcare provider will be waiting for small contractions to begin again. This is the signal that your placenta is separating from the uterine wall and ready to be delivered. Pressure will be applied by massage to your uterus; and the umbilical cord will be gently pulled on. The result will be the delivery of your placenta, also known as afterbirth. You may experience some severe shaking and shivering after your placenta is delivered. This is common and nothing to be alarmed about.
You have now completed all the stages of childbirth and will be monitored for the next few hours to make sure that the uterus continues to contract and bleeding is not excessive.
Now you can relax and enjoy your little bundle of joy!
CONGRATULATIONS!
Reprinted with permission from American Pregnancy Association
