10 Curiosities about Childbirth You Didn't Know

Reviewed and approved by the doctor Nelton Ramos.

Written by Macarena Esperanza Marina

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Discover some curiosities about childbirth that you may not have known about. Childbirth is the most wonderful moment in a woman’s life. It is the only blind date where you are guaranteed to meet the love of your life.

It is magic capable of materializing all of the work and the pain into the purest love. It is a sacred moment when the most immaculate, unshakable and eternal bonds begin to be woven.

However, there are also endless myths surrounding it which are not necessarily true. The reality is that there has been a lot of information on this topic over the years.

So, in this article of You Are Mom, we want to tell you some curiosities about this milestone in every family’s life.

5 Curiosities: Before Childbirth

• Dilation measures.There is no such thing as “five finger widths” when it comes to childbirth. Dilation can be accurately measured with one or two fingers. From there you can begin to take centimeters into account, until it reaches 10 cm.
• Dilation times. In obstetrics it is said that, with few exceptions, “There is no woman who does not dilate.” Ultimately, it can be concluded that there are professionals who are not very patient when it comes to waiting for the proper physiological conditions for childbirth.

• What really dilates? It is commonly said that the vagina is what dilates. Big mistake. What should be “enlarged” is actually the cervix. In fact, the vaginal canal is made out of elastic tissue which, at the time of birth, is “stretched,” and then recovers its original form.
• Dry Labor: is it possible? When a future mother’s water breaks, the baby continues to produce amniotic fluid through urine. In addition, the position and location of its head causes it to act as a stopper, which temporarily seals the cervix. So, the child always has amniotic fluid.
• Does drinking amniotic fluid or swallowing meconium pose a risk to the baby? Absolutely not. In fact, embryos drink fluid all the time during at least half of pregnancy. They also ingest meconium, which is a sterile and risk-free substance for their digestive system.

5 Curiosities: After Delivery

• The embryo chooses when to arrive. The one who determines the onset of labor is usually the baby. When the last organs to mature (the lungs) are ready, a substance is released into the amniotic fluid. This creates a reaction in the woman’s body. Then, if the baby does not arrive, they are simply not prepared to stay in the womb beyond the gestational age.
• “He was born purple because he stayed in there too long,” is a total myth. In fact all babies come into the world with that coloring to some degree. In fact, that is the color that they are in the womb, because there is not a lot of oxygen in the uterus. Once the child begins to breathe outside of the womb, their complexion will become more pink.
• The dreaded physiologic jaundice. Did you know that after delivery all newborns actually have this to some extent? For example, they may have some yellow in their skin and eyes. Eventually the liver naturally begins to metabolize the bilirubin in their system, so that their color returns to normal. Very few cases require light therapy.
• The APGAR test. This is when a score is given to the newborn baby. The test can easily be carried out while the mother is allowed to have skin-to-skin contact with her baby. The first score is given 1 minute after birth, and the second reflects the child’s condition after 5 minutes. A score greater than 7 is considered excellent.
• Once your child is in your arms, the rest can wait.The umbilical cord can be cut at any time. This does not affect your child’s health. In fact, scientific studies show that it is advantageous to do it once it stops pulsating. The length and weight measurements of a newborn are not more important than strengthening the mother-child bond.