Pregnancy and Childbirth Emergencies

Introduction

Emergency childbirth occurs when a child is born at an unplanned time or in an unplanned location. This may happen when there is a sudden, premature delivery or when the mother cannot get to the hospital for a full-term delivery. An average pregnancy is 40 weeks. If the baby is born before the 37th week, it is considered premature. Miscarriage is the loss of the fetus before the 20th week of pregnancy.

The following illustrates the anatomy of pregnancy.

It is important to note that prior to advanced maternity care, and in parts of the world without advanced maternal care, the death rate of the mother or baby during the pregnancy or the delivery period is about 1 in 10. Pregnancy and childbirth is a natural process, is associated with higher risk, and hidden complications. Obtaining medical care early in the pregnancy process and calling 9-1-1 for support during the early stages of delivery is extremely important to mitigate these possible risks.