What happens during a normal vaginal childbirth in the hospital?
In a normal vaginal delivery, with an epidural, the paitent will present to labor and delivery when she believes she is in labor and she will be dilated, and admitted to a room. When she has sufficent discomfort that she wants pain relief, an anesthesiologist will administer an epidural. During labor, the epidural will allow for some rastence and relief, and she will be allowed to continue to contract. If her contractions remain regular, on her own volition, she will be examined periodically until she achieves ten centimeters dilated, and at that point in her childbirth she will start to push. If her contractions are not adequate, sometimes we have to supplement the childbirth with some additional medications to increase the frequency of contractions. This medication is pitocin, and this medication is given so we can expedite delivery, whether there's a medical reason to expedite it or for a timing factor to expedite it. When you get to complete dilatation, you begin to push. With an epidural, the average pushing time in a first-time mom is anywhere from one and a half to three hours. In a second or beyond pregnancy, pushing time with an epidural is more likely an hour, sometimes even less, but that's the average. Some women can push for ten minutes, and some women might have to push for more than three hours during childbirth. Your doctor will use their judgment, based on the baby's safety, as to how long they'll allow you to push.
