Now his kidneys must take charge of balancing his bodily fluids. Then he's carried beneath the harsh lights, through the dry air, toward a new destination. Who knows what the proud, encouraging sound waves mean, but they play like music to his ears. He nuzzles close in his mother's arms. Cervix dilates to 3 to 7 centimeters.
Baby descends through the last part of the birth canal.
Contractions slow to every 2 to 5 minutes and last 60 to 90 seconds. Placenta separates from the uterine wall and gets expelled by mild, irregular contractions. More pushing may be necessary to expel it completely. Copyright 2001, The Parenting Group.