Chapter 4: Birth and the Newborn Baby Childbirth takes place in three stages: (1) dilation and effacement of the cervix; (2) delivery of the baby; and (3) birth of the placenta. Production of stress hormones helps the infant withstand the trauma of childbirth. The Apgar Scale permits assessment of the baby's physical condition immediately after birth. Natural or prepared childbirth and delivery in a birth center or at home are increasingly popular alternatives to traditional hospital delivery. Social support during labor and delivery can lead to more successful childbirth experiences. Nevertheless, childbirth in the United States is often accompanied by a variety of medical interventions. Although they help save the lives of many babies, these procedures can cause problems of their own when used routinely. Although most births proceed normally, serious complications sometimes occur. Among the most common are oxygen deprivation and prematurity. Fortunately, many babies who experience severe birth trauma recover with the help of favorable child-rearing environments. Infants begin life with a remarkable set of skills for relating to the surrounding world. Newborns display a wide variety of reflexes. In the early weeks, babies frequently move in and out of different states of arousal, although they spend the most time asleep, including important REM sleep, which stimulates the brain. Crying is the first way that babies communicate. With experience, parents become better at interpreting the meaning of the infant's cries. Newborns' senses of touch, taste, smell, and sound are well developed. Vision is the least mature sensory capacity. The baby's many capacities have been put together into tests that permit the behavioral assessment of the newborn. The baby's arrival is exciting, but it brings with it profound changes. Special interventions exist to ease the transition to parenthood. Husbands and wives who support each other in their new roles typically adjust well. ab_webmaster@abacon.com ©2001 Allyn & Bacon