Birth is Inherently Safe - 6 of 10

Bismillah al-Rahman al-Rahim

In the last six articles we explored the Mother's Role in maximizing the many safety nets that Allah (SWT) has built into the childbearing year, as well as the First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth of ten that we will discuss in this series. This time we will take a look at the safety nets of second stage labor, which is the time when the mother is pushing the baby out into the world. 

First of all, the contractions of second stage labor space out, giving the mother decent rest periods between contractions. This is quite a relief, as the contractions prior to second stage are often hard and strong and close together. Once the mother is fully dilated and ready to push, the contractions tend to space to 5, 10, or even 15 minutes apart, subha'Allah (glory to God). This is a real blessing and mercy from Allah (SWT), as the pushing phase takes a lot of energy and a short power nap between contractions can be considered a godsend, as she recoups her energy during this phase of physical exertion, subnha'Allah (glory to God).

Additionally, the mother and baby are both working together during this stage of labor to effect the birth. The mother typically will have an urge to push to compliment her contractions and the baby will twist, wiggle, and push with his/her feet to help his or her own way out. This is a mother baby dance and both participants function best if the labor has been undrugged, meaning that the mother can feel her contractions and control her own body and the baby is alert and active in the womb during the birth, Subhan'Allah. In fact, in this stage of labor, it is best if the mother be free to choose her position of choice, upright is usually best, so that she can best utilize the effects of gravity.

Next, the process of the baby passing through the tight birth canal will effect the "Fetal Heimlich Maneuver." This means that the intact (uncut) vaginal walls will push in as the baby's ribcage passes though and the effect will be that the baby will spit up much of the fluid in his/her lungs from the squeezing effect. Babies born over an intact (tight and uncut) perineum will likely just breath upon birth and typically won't need invasive suctioning to clear their lungs, subhan'Allah (glory to God). 

Finally, as baby passes through the birth canal, he/she will pick up the vaginal flora. This is important to establishing a healthy gut flora. The flora of the newborn's gut is just now coming into study and there are amazing things being discovered about the "microbiome." When a baby is born via C-seciton, he/she misses out not his beneficial flora and it seems to take about six months for the child to catch up with the gut health of a vaginally born baby, if he/she ever does. 

The amazing interplay between mother and child is constantly being discovered in more and more depth and truly Allah knows where we know not.