The Human Labor Process
Prolonged Latent Phase
If you have been contracting regularly for a period of 20 hours (14 hours if you’ve had a baby before) without a measurable change in your cervix, your midwife or doctor may make a diagnosis of “prolonged latent phase”. Under these difficult circumstances “patience” should be the guiding principle. Overly aggressive treatment (by rupturing the… »
Problems involving the Powers
The uterus is essentially a hollow muscle. When this muscle contracts it transmits its force in the direction of the vagina. Thus, anything inside the uterus is pushed down and out. Problems involving this force are some of the most common causes of problems during labor. Efficient contraction of the uterus is dependent on several… »
Problems involving the Passage
Generally, problems with the passage involve restrictions in the size of the hole through the bony part of the pelvis. Although the muscles and ligaments inside the pelvis may present some obstacle, this “soft tissue” (as opposed to bone) will almost always yield to the powers of the uterus.
Very few women actually have a pelvis… »
Problems involving the Passenger
Size and position of the baby are the factors involved in problems with the passenger. Simply speaking, the passenger’s size must be somewhat smaller than the hole through the bones of the pelvis (the passage). Nature provides some mechanisms (both maternal and fetal) to provide for tight fits. The soft bones of the fetal head… »
The Progress of Normal Labor
What is “normal labor”? That’s a tough question. The answer probably lies within the answer to another question, “What is a normal human being?” In an effort to define normal labor, an overly simplistic model has emerged. The model is good enough, however, to frame the issue. However, remember, when scientists look for ways to… »
The Course of Labor
Midwives and doctors commonly divide labor into 2 phases, Latent Phase (also known as, early labor) and Active Phase. This is a gross oversimplification of the entire process. This model which largely negates the preparatory process (described above) as a phase of labor. The idea that women are in “false labor” when painful, irregular contractions… »
The Body Prepares for Labor
Days and weeks before you go into labor, your body is preparing the uterus and cervix for the process. One way to think of this is that the uterus needs to be awakened from its 10-month slumber. It is this process that brings about so many of the symptoms which women experience in the days… »