Emergency Birth Skills Training

Prepare

Even though childbirth is an event that has taken place since humans have walked the Earth, being prepared for it does make a difference, emergency or otherwise. Emergency birth skills training for medical professionals and midwives is offered online through Aviva Institute. Books such as "Birth Emergency Skills Training" by Bonnie U. Gruenberg and "Emergency Childbirth" by Dr. Gregory White are available for parents and lay people who may not be able to take a course. Many childbirth classes, books and organizations discuss emergency childbirth in addition to basic understanding of birth itself to help parents prepare for the unexpected. Knowledge is power and safety when it comes to emergency childbirth.

Whoever attends a mother in childbirth does her best to remain calm. The process of birth unfolds naturally when the mother is calm, comfortable and physically taken care of. Emotional support is needed by most women and a confident demeanor with trust in the process of birth helps the woman stay focused on delivering safely. While it may feel difficult to stay calm initially, this emergency birth skill is one of the most valuable.

In the first stage of birth, the mother's uterus is stretching the cervix back to open for the baby through the birth canal. Mothers may want to move around, receive firm massage on the back, and benefit from being encouraged to relax. Toward the end of the first stage when her cervix fully opens, the mother may need to be reminded that she can give birth, as women have done since the beginning of time.

The second stage allows the baby to pass through the birth canal into the world. Many women experience the urge to push and need little or no coaching. Massage of the area at the bottom of the vagina may help prevent tearing and a difficult birth may become easier if mom gets on her hands and knees. The use of sterile and clean supplies to assist the mom and baby, such as blankets, towels and scissors to cut the cord after it stops pulsating, can prevent infection later. When the baby's head reaches the opening and the mother feels a burning sensation, she should wait to push and allow the head to come out slowly to avoid tears. As baby emerges, be careful to lift slightly onto mother's stomach, but not high enough to stretch the umbilical cord.

The placenta is delivered during the third stage and this usually happens within a few minutes to a few hours after birth. There is no need to pull on the placenta to remove it from the uterus. Some blood and clots will follow, but if hemorrhaging occurs the mother should lie flat on her back, have ice applied, and gentle massage of the uterus until it feels like a firm grapefruit. Nursing the baby will also cause the uterus to contract and should be encouraged.

In the event birth does not go smoothly or more emergency help is desired, call 911 or the local emergency number. Explain the situation and details while helping the mother to stay calm. Most babies and mothers do very well after emergency births, but shock and hemorrhage can occur so it is important to be prepared and stay with the mother.