Final answer:
Labor is the process of childbirth and is articulated through three stages: dilation and effacement of the cervix, expulsion of the baby, and delivery of the placenta. Oxytocin plays a vital role in regulating contractions during labor, and a 'bloody show' can indicate its onset. If needed, Pitocin can be used to induce or maintain labor.
Step-by-step explanation:
Labor is the physiological process by which a pregnant person delivers their baby. The term labor is so-called because of the intense work and effort involved in the birth process. To understand the procedure of labor, it's essential to identify the stages of labor that ensure proper birth.
There are three stages to labor. During the first stage, the cervix thins and dilates, a necessary step for the baby and placenta to be expelled during birth. The cervix will eventually dilate to about 10 cm. In the second stage, the baby is expelled from the uterus through contractions and pushing from the mother, who compresses her abdominal muscles to aid the delivery. The final stage involves the passage of the placenta after the baby has been born and has completely separated from the uterine wall.
Oxytocin, a hormone, plays a crucial role in labor. It is part of a positive feedback loop that causes the uterus to contract more forcefully, which further dilates and effaces the cervix. An interesting sign that labor will soon begin is the "bloody show," where a mucus plug in the cervical canal is expelled, indicating that labor could be imminent. If labor should stop before reaching the second stage, synthetic oxytocin, known as Pitocin, can be administered to restart and maintain labor progress.