How to Deliver a Baby

The contractions are coming faster and the baby's not waiting.
Whether you're the father, a friend or just an innocent bystander, you
need to know that there's more to do than boil water and get towels.
But remember, women have been having babies for millennia without
much help, so don't try to do too much.

Instructions

1. Call 911. Rally passersby to help (if you're really lucky, one will be a midwife or a doctor). Even if help is far away and you'll be on your own during the birth, you will want someone to walk you through it.

2. Do not freak out. Childbirth is designed to be noisy, messy and scary as a deterrent to the less committed. Your role is to be comforting and reassuring no matter how awful you feel.

3. Ask the woman if there are any problems you should be aware of in order to tell emergency personnel. Is she having twins? If the baby is oriented with its head up (a breech delivery), renew your efforts to get help quickly. In the meantime, wash your hands.

4. Talk to the woman. Tell her to breathe. If she feels like pushing, encourage her to pant instead. Wait until the contractions are strong and the baby is emerging (crowning). Have her push when contractions are strong and rest at other times.

5. Spread out a shower curtain, clean towels or newspaper. Help the woman sit at the edge of a bed or table with her hips hanging off and knees apart. If labor is too far along or it's too painful to climb on a bed or table, place a stack of newspapers or towels under her hips to raise them high enough to help deliver the baby's shoulders.

6. Cup the baby's head in your hands once it starts to come out and move it slightly downward as the woman pushes. If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the head or neck, gently work it free and clear the baby's mouth of any obstructions. Help the shoulders to ease out one at a time. Once both shoulders are clear, the baby should slip right out--so hang on!

7. Wipe the baby's face with a towel and check that the nose and mouth is clear. Suction the mouth if you have a syringe or bulb.

8. Wrap the baby in a clean towel or shirt and gently lay it on the mother's abdomen or at her breast (depending on how long the cord is). Nobody slaps newborns anymore.

9. Do not try to pull the placenta out. If it comes out on its own, wrap it in a newspaper or towel and keep it above the level of the baby's head until help arrives. Do not cut the cord.

10. Keep the mother and baby comfortable, warm and dry, and do nothing else if help is on the way. If help is not coming, get them to a hospital as soon as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Many people choose to have a baby at home. Do plenty of research before you commit to this so you know both the risks and benefits and the amount of work involved. See 261 Prepare for Childbirth.

• If you're in a car, have the woman lie down with one foot on the floor and the other on the seat.

• Collect towels and blankets (or a shirt or jacket) to dry off the baby and keep everyone warm afterward.

• A woman's water can break hours before birth actually occurs. However, if contractions are less than two minutes apart, get ready. Irregular contractions could mean she's in false labor, and she probably has time to wait for help.

• Don't drop the baby.