Vaginal Delivery

Contractions will signal the beginning of labor.  In the first stages, your cervix opens (dilates)  and it also becomes thinner (effacement).   Delivery of your baby during vaginal delivery starts when your cervix is fully dilated.  Shortly after your baby’s scalp comes into view (crowning), your baby will be born, followed by the placenta.

Labor and post-delivery instructions.

 If for some reason, you need to deliver your baby surgically (cesarean section), typically you will receive anesthesia to block the nerves from your waist down so you can remain awake and feel no pain during the delivery of your baby.  The doctor makes an incision in your abdomen and uterus and delivers the baby and placenta.

Depending upon your situation, if you have future pregnancies, you may or may not be able to deliver vaginally.  Your doctor will provide this information to you.

Your doctor may decide that you and your baby would benefit from delivering sooner rather than later.  If so, she may schedule a date to induce your labor.  Some reasons for inducing labor:

• There's an infection in your uterus.
• Your baby has stopped growing at the expected pace.
• There's not enough amniotic fluid surrounding the baby
• You're one to two weeks beyond your due date, and labor hasn't started naturally.
• Your water has broken, but you're not having contractions. 
• Your placenta has begun to deteriorate or separate from the wall of your uterus.
• You have a medical condition that may put you or your baby at risk, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Ob-Gyne Associates of Libertyville physicians have staff privileges at Condell Medical Center, Libertyville.