Pregnancy, Child-Labor, Pregnancy Drugs, and Postpartum Depression

Childbirth is one very interesting phenomenon in the life of women. While some people do not want to have children, a lot of women want to have their own children, especially in Africa. The process of childbirth is beautiful and I have been opportune to witness one and I have been very amazed. Let me explain a little about pregnancy and labor.

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First, females have a uterus which is not found in the male gender. When a woman gets pregnant, they start to experience morning sickness which usually has to do with nausea and vomiting. Morning sickness can begin at anytime and its cause is not specific but it is likely that the hormone Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (HCG) is responsible. It is secreted by the blastocyte and it would be secreted as the fetus form by the placenta. During the first trimester, HCG level increases and doubles and after the that, it will begin to reduce. Progestorne and Estradiol also plays a role in morning sickness.

Just as progesterone has an influence in morning sickness, it is responsible for fatigue and drowsiness. This is as a result of the progesterone metabolizer known as Allopregnanolone which increases GABA affinity. GABA is the inhibitory neuron in the brain and spinal cord and is responsible for activating GABA receptors which causes fatigue and drowsiness. Pregnant women also have this bitter or metallic mouth taste, also pregnant women change their diet during the first trimester of pregnancy and Estradiol play an important role in the metalic taste. Pregnancy, as the uterus increases, it pushes other internal organ. The fetus is termed as matured or full term when it reaches 37 weeks or 42 weeks, and a labor is regarded as premature when the baby is delivered below 37 weeks.

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When it comes to labor, there are four stages of labor where the first stage starts with Utirine contraction where the cervix dillates to about 10cm for the baby to be able to pass through, followed by the process of pushing the baby out to deliver the baby to the outer world, then the placenta is delivered. After this stage is the postpartum care where the client is prevented from bleeding to death. This process can take 12 to 18 hours. Labor always come with signs which includes bloody show such as mucus and blood, the rupturing of the amniotic sac (water breaking), labour contraction then takes place which would be regular and rhythmic and regular. Its duration and intensity increases as time. The contractions is what increases the cervix size where it reaches 10cm. During labor, there are false contractions which is known as Braxton Hicks Contractions which usually disapear with walking or changr in position. This contraction doesn't lead to the dilation of the cervix.

Women use Estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy, but these medications can lead to blood clotting, and CVA stroke. This blood clot risk is common with people who take the drug and smoke. Taking Contraceptives with Carbamazepine would prevent the drug from functioning properly. Now for labor drugs, are Terbutaline (which is given to women to delay labor if the child is coming too soon [pre-term labor]. It activates Beta-2 receptors which activates the sympatetic nervous system). Another drug of use is Oxytocin which is used to induce labor ansd stimulate contraction. Before birth (prenatal), women are given folic acid and betametasome. The folic acid is given to prevent Spina bifida, and it can be taken before pregnancy. Betamethasome is given to pregnant women to reduce swellings in the body of the woman and helps to increase the development of the baby lungs.

As beautiful as child bearing is, one very difficult condition associated with postpartum delivery is depression. Postpartum depression usually cause a lot of mothers whom have had a desire to bond with their infant to grow a kind of hatred for their children, as they begin to suffer from a lot of depressing symptoms including psychosis which could make them do terrible things at that point if not properly watched and cared for. It is caused by drastic changes in the woman's hormones after child birth and it can lead to hallucinations which would make the mother want to do a lot of harmful things. Itt is a life treatening condition and in the case of psychosis, they can experience bipolar disorder as well. Risk factors to have postpartum depression and psychosis would include sleep deprevation, difficult childbirth, family history, sexual and/or physical abuse, and trauma from other things.

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Citation

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