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分娩 |
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分娩與助產
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第一產程
第一產程所需時間最長（通常初產婦需要約16個小時，經產婦約8個小時）。在這個產程裏，可以開始感受到分娩陣痛，隨後陣痛頻率漸漸地變快，疼痛強度逐漸地增強。這種一再重現的陣痛由子宮肌節律性收縮所引起。
起初，子宮肌收縮持續約30秒，15-20分鐘重複出現。隨著分娩進程的發展，子宮肌鬆弛的時間縮短到3-4分鐘，而收縮時間持續60秒或更久。為分娩已經做過各種適當練習準備的產婦通過身體放鬆和調節呼吸能夠減輕身體疲勞，而不是象未經訓練的產婦那樣掙扎著強忍身體的痛楚。
產婦經歷這個產程，可以擴張子宮頸口，直到能夠讓胎兒頭顱通過、娩出到陰道的那種程度。一旦完成了這個過程，分娩的第一產程便宣告結束，而實際的分娩也就迫近了。
臨盆時，子宮收縮持續約1分鐘，每隔約5分鐘重現，這就是向醫院緊急進發的充足理由。分娩即將到來的另外徵象是在子宮與陰道之間作為屏障作用的宮頸粘液栓（會沾染上淡淡的血跡）被排除（在中國，此為“見紅”——譯者注）。還有另外的徵象是羊膜囊的破裂（通常稱為破水），此時會從陰道流出清亮的水狀液體。 |
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Birth |
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Labor and Delivery
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The First Stage of Labor
The first stage of labor takes the longest time. (In general, about 16 hours for women delivering their first baby and about 8 hours for the others.) During this period, labor pains begin to be felt and slowly become more frequent and more intense. These recurring pains are caused by rhythmic muscular contractions of the uterus followed by complete relaxation.
At first, the contractions last about 30 seconds and occur about every 15 to 20 minutes. As labor progresses, the periods of relaxation shrink to about 3 to 4 minutes while the contractions last 60 seconds or more. A woman who has prepared herself for childbirth by appropriate exercises can ease much of the physical strain by relaxing and breathing in certain ways which support rather than fight the process taking place inside her body.
This process is aimed at dilating the cervix to the point where the baby's head can pass through it into the vagina. Once this is accomplished, the first stage of labor has come to an end and the actual birth is near.
Labor contractions lasting close to a minute and which recur about every five minutes are reason enough to proceed to the hospital. Another sign that birth is at hand is the expulsion of the cervical mucous plug which acts as a barrier between vagina and uterus. (It will be flecked with some light red blood.) Still another sign is the rupture of the membranes of the amniotic sac (commonly called bag of waters). This rupture will produce a flow of clear, water like fluid from the vagina. |
