Fourth Stage of Labor
(Rest, Repair, Relaxation)
This stage is really more about getting back to normal than
anything else. Your blood pressure, temperature and heart
rate will stabilize in much the same way a marathon runners
does: a little at a time during the hour after the placenta
is delivered. Contractions will cease. Your uterus will
harden, doing its job to tighten around the blood vessels
that had supplied the placenta and your baby with nutrients.
Your midwife or doctor will keep an eye on you, make sure
the entire placenta was expelled and take a look at the
umbilical cord. If you had an episiotomy, this is when
you'll get a few sutures.
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Your medical person will make sure you didn't suffer any tears
in delivery and will repair them if you did. You probably won't
be paying much attention, since once your baby is checked out
for health and admired for his or her beauty, wiped down,
weighed and identified, you will most likely be spending this
time getting to know each other. The fourth stage is typically
the time parents spend counting fingers and toes and wondering
at the fact that their newborn is much more gorgeous than anyone
else's could ever be. And that's just the way it should be. |
Stages of Labor Sections of Interest
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