Prenatal Development & Birth

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The Normal Birth - The baby is born, on average, after 12 hours of active labor for first births & after seven hours for subsequent births although it is not unusual for labor to be from half to twice as long.

(a) Position as the birth process begins.
(b) The 1st stage of labor: The cervix dilates to allow the head to pass.
(c) Transition: The head moves into the "birth canal".
(d) The 2nd stage of labor: The head move through the opening of the vagina ("crowns")
(e) The head emerges and is turned, the rest of the body emerges.

Apgar Scoring for Newborns

A score is given for each sign at one minute and five minutes after the birth. If there are problems with the baby an additional score is given at 10 minutes. A score of 7-10 is considered normal, while 4-7 might require some resuscitative measures, and a baby with an apgar of 3 and below requires immediate resuscitation.

Sign

0 Points

1 Point

2 Points

A

Appearance (Skin Color)

Blue-gray, pale all over

Normal, except for extremities

Normal over entire body

P

Pulse

Absent

Below 100 bpm

Above 100 bpm

G

Grimace (Reflex Irritability)

No Response

Grimace

Sneeze, cough, pulls away

A

Activity (Muscle Tone)

Absent

Arms and Legs Flexed

Active Movement

R

Respiration

Absent

Slow, irregular

Good, crying

Prenatal Development & Birth- The Normal Birth -

The Normal Birth - The baby is born, on average, after 12 hours of active labor for first births & after seven hours for subsequent births although it is not unusual for labor to be from half to twice as long.

Apgar Scoring for Newborns

A

P

G

A

R

Growth & Development Robert C. Gates

Prenatal Development & Birth
- The Normal Birth -

Growth & Development
Robert C. Gates