Labor
Labor is defined as the physiologic process of the birth of a baby. This is the moment when the mother and the family see their baby for the first time. All arrangements should be made so that this special moment is safe both for the mother and the baby, and both receive the care of the best healthcare professionals.
During labor, the expelling of the fetus, fetal membranes, umbilical cord and the placenta occurs.
According to obstetricians, labor is divided into three stages. The first stage starts with the uterine contractions and ends with a cervical dilatation of 10 cm. The second stage refers to the expelling of the fetus. And the third stage is the time period between the delivery of the fetus and the delivery of both the placenta and fetal membranes.
Continuous care during pregnancy is important because it allows predicting more precisely the date of birth and the most adequate way for the baby delivery. During the process of labor, women suffer from intense pain. That is why many women want to take anesthetics to relieve those unpleasant sensations. The uterus contractions cause visceral pain and the pressure of the baby causes somatic pain. Controlling the pain during labor means to control these two types of pain, through the administration of drugs and anesthesia. The regional anesthesia, called epidural is frequently used and allows for a partial or total block of the pain sensation, with various levels of movement block.
The experience of labor is remarkable for a woman. Bonding and trust between obstetrics healthcare professionals, the pregnant woman and her family are fundamental. The mother-to-be should be able to concentrate in the baby and trust those professionals around her in every stage of the labor, as well as before and after it.
Born with safety and comfort
The Obstetrics Units of Hospital Lusiadas Lisboa and Hospital Lusidas Porto have experienced medical and nurse teams with proved skills and experience that strive everyday to give the best labor experience to their patients.
Medical Port teamed up with Hospitals Lusiadas Lisboa and Porto – both with international accreditation by Joint Commission International – to offer mothers-to-be the best delivery experience.
Giving birth with anesthesia is one of the options where both the mother and the baby will have the best conditions of health, safety and comfort. If you would like to learn more information about labor with anesthesia contact us through email, by calling +351 220 973 751, +351 211 379 718, +351 911 046 197, by filling out our form, or using our free call service to your right.
The major goal of prenatal care is to ensure the birth of a healthy baby with minimal risk for the mother. There are several components included in this goal:
- Accurate estimation of the gestational age at the earliest time
- Identification of possible risks for the mother and the baby
- Ongoing evaluation of the heath status of both
- Anticipation of problems and intervention when needed
A pregnant woman may travel by plane on the first and second trimesters without restrictions, when there isn’t a high-risk pregnancy.
In order to travel by plane in the third trimester it is necessary to have a medical certificate, stating the health status of the mother and the baby as well as the predicted due date. When there’s no high risk involved in the pregnancy, the woman can travel by plane up to the 36th week of pregnancy, or later if needed and approved by a doctor and the airline. It is not allowed to travel the 10 days proceeding the due date.
Although it is advisable to wait for the baby to complete 1 month before travel, newborns and their mothers can travel by plane 7 days after the birth, when no complications occur.
Doctors who perform this medical procedure
Coordinator of Gynecology and Obstetrics Unit
He is the coordinator of Gynecology and Obstetrics unit at Hospital Lusiadas Lisboa. Dr. Fonseca has a degree in Medicine by Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa and is a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology by the Portuguese Medical Board. He is also a specialist in Obstetrics and Gynecology by Maternidade Dr. Alfredo da Costa and has a Consultant degree in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Dr. António Fonseca’s main areas of interest are: obstetrics and labor, and he is the responsible for the unit of urogynecology, vaginal surgery and gynecologic oncology.
