The main illustration shows the movement of the baby down the birth canal. The small inset shows the ways in which the baby’s head moves so that it can easily pass through the mother’s pelvis.
The part of labour shown is the second stage during which the baby is actually born. At the start, the mother’s cervix is shown fully opened (dilated).
Before reaching this stage she would have already experienced the first stage of labour during which contractions have been progressively thinning out and opening up her cervix. She is now ready to push with the contractions and give birth to her baby.
The woman shown in this illustration is lying down however women may often give birth in other positions.
During the animation you may notice how uterine contractions gradually push the baby down the birth canal. The baby is not a passive passenger however and moves and adapts so they can negotiate the birth canal.
Their head may also alter shape to help with this process. Moulding of the head usually resolves in the days following birth.
At the start the baby is shown facing toward the mother’s side. As the baby has started to descend the head has started to flex with the chin tucked firmly onto the chest. This process is called flexion and is beneficial because it means the smallest possible diameter of the baby’s head is likely to pass through the pelvis.
Regular contractions are causing the baby to descend further down the birth canal. The baby then proceeds to turn so that their back is facing upward and away from the mother’s spine.
This internal rotation movement occurs when the baby’s head meets the resistance of the mother’s pelvic floor muscles, which may guide the baby’s head into this new position.
The baby’s head then slips out underneath the mother’s pubic bone. The crown of the head is born first followed by the face and chin. After the baby’s head emerges notice how it moves to again line up with the shoulders.
With the following contractions the baby’s top shoulder slips out under the pubic bone followed by the rest of the baby’s body. This may be accompanied by a gush of amniotic fluid.
At this stage the baby may be lifted up onto the mother’s abdomen by the mother or healthcare professional assisting. They may then dry and cover the baby, checking they are breathing well and adapting to the circulation changes that take place at birth.
Following birth the umbilical cord may be clamped and cut, though the timing and ways in which this is done vary. Your healthcare professional may be able to give you individual advice on this.
As the bag of waters surrounded the baby during pregnancy may break at any stage of labour or delivery, the animation does not show a specific time.
Although the animation does not show this, a third stage of labour
occurs after the birth of the baby in which the placenta is born.
This usually occurs quite soon after the birth of the baby and
is aided by continuing uterine contractions. The placenta may be
passed spontaneously or by assistance from healthcare professionals.
