16.4.8

Birth - Labour

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Labour

After roughly 38-40 weeks of pregnancy, human women go through labour to give birth:

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Amniotic sac breaks

  • The amniotic sac surrounding the foetus breaks and the amniotic fluid in it leaves through the vagina.
  • This is often known as 'waters breaking'.
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Muscle contractions start

  • The muscular walls of the uterus contract repeatedly, preparing to push the baby out.
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Cervix dilates

  • The cervix (the opening at the bottom of the uterus) gets wider so that the baby can pass through.
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Birth through the vagina

  • The baby is born.
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Umbilical cord cut

  • The baby is still attached to the mother by the umbilical cord when it is born, so this is cut and tied.
  • The remnants of the umbilical cord will eventually fall off the baby, leaving behind a 'belly button'.
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Afterbirth delivered

  • After the baby is born, the placenta is delivered through the vagina.

Jump to other topics

1Classification of Living Organisms

2Organisation of the Organism

3Movement Into & Out of Cells

4Biological Molecules

5Enzymes

6Plant Nutrition

7Human Nutrition

8Transport in Plants

9Transport in Animals

10Diseases & Immunity

11Gas Exchange in Humans

12Respiration

13Excretion in Humans

14Coordination & Response

15Drugs

16Reproduction

17Inheritance

18Variation & Selection

19Organisms & Their Environment

20Human Influence on Ecosystems

21Biotechnology & Genetic Modification

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