During a traditional hospital birth, the process typically follows these stages: Arrival and Triage: On arrival at the hospital labor and delivery unit, a nurse assesses the mother’s contractions and the baby’s heart rate using fetal monitoring. The mother may undergo a cervical exam to check dilation and a test to confirm if her water has broken. If labor is not yet established, she might be sent home or admitted depending on the findings. Labor and Delivery: Once admitted, labor progresses with continued monitoring and support. The first stage involves contractions and cervical dilation. The second stage is pushing and the actual birth of the baby. At delivery, the baby's head is usually born slowly to allow the perineum to stretch, sometimes with an episiotomy if necessary, followed by the birth of the rest of the body. The baby is typically placed on the mother's chest for immediate skin- to-skin contact and the initiation of breastfeeding. Delivery of Placenta and Recovery: After the baby is born, the placenta is delivered within about 30 to 60 minutes. The medical team monitors the mother's vital signs, controls bleeding, and checks for tears that may require stitches. Recovery continues in the labor and delivery room for a few hours, then the mother and baby are moved to a recovery or postpartum room where they stay for the next couple of days depending on hospital policies. Hospital births may include various interventions such as IV lines, pain relief (like epidurals), electronic fetal monitoring, and others depending on the mother's needs and hospital protocols. The care team also supports the mother with breastfeeding and monitors both mother's and baby's health closely during labor and after birth.
