Lesson 3: Basic Birth Terminology
"If we are to heal the planet, we must begin by healing birthing."
~ Agnes Sallet Von Tannenberg
introduction
In this class we begin to learn some basic birth terminology by completing a fun "pre-test" in the form of this Birth Terminology Quiz. Before joining us for a review of the answers, try completing the quiz for yourself.
Don't worry - this is just a "pre-test" to get a feel for what you already know...you aren't expected to get all of the answers correct, that's why you're here!!!
Don't worry - this is just a "pre-test" to get a feel for what you already know...you aren't expected to get all of the answers correct, that's why you're here!!!
learning goals & focus guide
Right click to download, print and fill in this Focus Guide as you complete the lesson!
After viewing and completing Lesson 3 - "Birth Terminology", students will be able to:
- Locate the glossary in their childbirth manuals to find definitions for common birth terminology.
- Describe the role of effacement and station of the baby as necessary components of dilation of the cervix.
- Summarize why natural stretching and/or tearing is preferable to an episiotomy in most normal births.
- Identify the purpose of Braxton-Hicks contractions.
- Locate the glossary in their childbirth manuals to find definitions for common birth terminology.
- Describe the role of effacement and station of the baby as necessary components of dilation of the cervix.
- Summarize why natural stretching and/or tearing is preferable to an episiotomy in most normal births.
- Identify the purpose of Braxton-Hicks contractions.
video lesson
Please go ahead and take the "Birth Terminology Quiz" included under Resources. Then join us for a review of the answers below!
Audio Only:
Visual Aids:
And this is how mums give birth, amazing!
Posted by Small Steps Magazine on Saturday, October 17, 2015
Click for Larger Image
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"Gray242" by Henry Vandyke Carter - Henry Gray (1918) Anatomy of the Human Body
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resources
Birth Terminology Quiz
~ "Prepared Childbirth: The Family Way", By Debby Amis and Jeanne Green (Your Purple Book, pages 6-7)
~ Birth Terminology Quiz
~ Birth Terminology Quiz
diving deeper
Want to Dive Deeper? Let's Go!
~ "The Ultimate Pelvic Anatomy Resource" by Pelvic Guru
Web It! Resources from The Family Way®:
What’s Going On During Pregnancy (page 4)
~ Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy (videos for each month of pregnancy-preceded by advertising)
~ Fetal Development (photographs)
~ Life’s Greatest Miracle (videos of how a baby develops from conception to birth)
~ Singing to The Baby (in utero) (video)
Anatomy of Pregnancy (page 7)~ Your Growing Body & Baby: Pictures
~ Ultimate Guide to Pregnancy (videos for each month of pregnancy-preceded by advertising)
~ Fetal Development (photographs)
~ Life’s Greatest Miracle (videos of how a baby develops from conception to birth)
~ Singing to The Baby (in utero) (video)
Anatomy of Pregnancy (page 7)~ Your Growing Body & Baby: Pictures
reflection opportunities
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Student Poll: |
Journal Entry:
Please visit the forum below under "Unit 1: Preparing Your Birth Foundation - Birth Terminology" to reflect on the following question:
- Describe the role of effacement and station of the baby as necessary components of dilation of the cervix.
- Describe the role of effacement and station of the baby as necessary components of dilation of the cervix.
Please note you must log in to the forum at the beginning of each online session, even after you have already logged into the Class Portal. Click below on "Powerful Mamas Online Student Forums" to access this feature:
inspiring birth stories!
"Our son, Levi, was delivered by an Ob/Gyn in a Baby-friendly hospital in Austin, TX after 7 hours of medication-free labor. Levi's birth story, however, starts 3 weeks prior to his birth when I went in for my 34 week appointment. I had been feeling some pressure in my pelvic area and had lots of Braxton-hicks contractions. They weren't regular, but I certainly noticed them that day and asked my doctor about them. Just to see what was going on, she did a very gentle cervical check. I was three cm dilated and 50% effaced. They hooked me up to a contraction monitor and I was contracting pretty regularly even though I couldn't feel it. I was promptly admitted to L&D because I was in early labor. Stopping labor was successful and I'm thankful for all of those drugs I had pumped into me that day. I left the hospital that night on bed rest, 4 cm dilated and 50% effaced.
I stayed on strict bed rest for 3 weeks (with one more swing into L&D for another round of contractions) and was released from bed rest at 37 weeks, 3 days. The morning after I was released from bed rest, I headed to the chiropractor. I was under chiropractic care for my entire pregnancy, and eager to get my body aligned for birth as our goal was a medication and intervention-free labor and delivery.
About five minutes after I was adjusted, I went into active labor. I told my husband to keep his phone close, but I thought it would be a while and would labor at home until I hit the point when I was supposed to call my doctor. I didn't last long. I was in the doctor's office by 10:00 am (labor started at 8:30 am), 6 cm and fully effaced.
I was admitted to hospital and the nurses and my doctor were on-board with my labor/delivery plan. My labor stalled around 12:30 pm despite my walking, bouncing, swaying, and squatting. I was having strong contractions, but they were too far apart to make any progress. My doctor offered to break my water and since we were only three cm from the finish line, my husband and I agreed that it would be a wise and fairly small augmentation. After she broke my water, I hit the transition stage of labor almost instantly.
The rest of labor is a blur. I remember my husband and an awesome L&D nurse were right there helping me focus, breathe, and move to find the most "comfortable" position. I was so glad we took a six-week class on laboring and birthing. Everything my husband and I learned in that class I needed to keep me in control through the last stage of labor and delivery.
I hit 10 cm by 1:30 and pushed for an hour (although it did not feel that long to me). As Levi was crowning, my doctor noticed that Levi's head was in an odd position and his hand was on his head. She asked if she could do an episiotomy to redirect a potentially nasty tear and help him get out a bit quicker due to his positioning. I agreed... and at that point- just get the baby out for heaven's sake!!
After his head and shoulders were out, my doctor told me to open my eyes, reach down, and finish delivering my baby. And I did. I reached down, pulled Levi out and put him right on my chest. That was the most incredible and indescribable moment. The feeling of relief and sheer awe of seeing and feeling my firstborn enter the world is just beyond words. He was a beautiful, tiny boy weighing 6 lb. 8 oz. and a great distraction to the placenta delivery and stitching going on down below. I escaped with only a small episiotomy (equivalent to a 2nd degree tear). Levi stayed on my chest until after his first feeding. Nursing did not come naturally to Levi. He did not seek out the breast while on my chest following birth, but the amazing L&D nurses gave us both our first lesson in breastfeeding. After we got Levi latched, I remember looking at my husband and saying, "I can definitely do this again! That was awesome!".
I was up, walking around, and feeling fairly normal within an hour of my delivery. I could not have imagined a more perfect laboring and birthing scenario. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to fully experience and enjoy Levi's birth." ~ Lisa G.
I stayed on strict bed rest for 3 weeks (with one more swing into L&D for another round of contractions) and was released from bed rest at 37 weeks, 3 days. The morning after I was released from bed rest, I headed to the chiropractor. I was under chiropractic care for my entire pregnancy, and eager to get my body aligned for birth as our goal was a medication and intervention-free labor and delivery.
About five minutes after I was adjusted, I went into active labor. I told my husband to keep his phone close, but I thought it would be a while and would labor at home until I hit the point when I was supposed to call my doctor. I didn't last long. I was in the doctor's office by 10:00 am (labor started at 8:30 am), 6 cm and fully effaced.
I was admitted to hospital and the nurses and my doctor were on-board with my labor/delivery plan. My labor stalled around 12:30 pm despite my walking, bouncing, swaying, and squatting. I was having strong contractions, but they were too far apart to make any progress. My doctor offered to break my water and since we were only three cm from the finish line, my husband and I agreed that it would be a wise and fairly small augmentation. After she broke my water, I hit the transition stage of labor almost instantly.
The rest of labor is a blur. I remember my husband and an awesome L&D nurse were right there helping me focus, breathe, and move to find the most "comfortable" position. I was so glad we took a six-week class on laboring and birthing. Everything my husband and I learned in that class I needed to keep me in control through the last stage of labor and delivery.
I hit 10 cm by 1:30 and pushed for an hour (although it did not feel that long to me). As Levi was crowning, my doctor noticed that Levi's head was in an odd position and his hand was on his head. She asked if she could do an episiotomy to redirect a potentially nasty tear and help him get out a bit quicker due to his positioning. I agreed... and at that point- just get the baby out for heaven's sake!!
After his head and shoulders were out, my doctor told me to open my eyes, reach down, and finish delivering my baby. And I did. I reached down, pulled Levi out and put him right on my chest. That was the most incredible and indescribable moment. The feeling of relief and sheer awe of seeing and feeling my firstborn enter the world is just beyond words. He was a beautiful, tiny boy weighing 6 lb. 8 oz. and a great distraction to the placenta delivery and stitching going on down below. I escaped with only a small episiotomy (equivalent to a 2nd degree tear). Levi stayed on my chest until after his first feeding. Nursing did not come naturally to Levi. He did not seek out the breast while on my chest following birth, but the amazing L&D nurses gave us both our first lesson in breastfeeding. After we got Levi latched, I remember looking at my husband and saying, "I can definitely do this again! That was awesome!".
I was up, walking around, and feeling fairly normal within an hour of my delivery. I could not have imagined a more perfect laboring and birthing scenario. I am incredibly grateful that I was able to fully experience and enjoy Levi's birth." ~ Lisa G.