Premergency First Aid, CPR and AED Manual

9 Other Emergencies

First aid for emergency childbirth focuses on calming and reassuring the mother while helping her to deliver the baby and placenta. Protect the mother, child, and any afterbirth, the placenta, umbilical cord, and amniotic sac until medical care takes over. Your actions depend largely on what stage of labour the mother is in and how long it will take to get medical help or transport her to the hospital. Assess the signs and symptoms of labour to determine your course of action. If you are not sure, always assume and prepare for the delivery. If this is not the mother’s first child, listen to what she tells you. Believe her if she says the baby is coming. Activate 911 and get medical help and remain where you are.

Complications of emergency childbirth include severe pain, inability to deliver the baby through the vaginal canal, and internal bleeding or infection affecting both the mother and child.

383

www.preohs.com