Opinions, please - etiology and pathophysiology of childbirth

[dauphins3]

I have a research paper due and am struggling with the etiology and pathophysiology of labor and childbirth. I guess I am having a problem wrapping my head around the idea that pregnancy, labor, & delivery are "disease conditions". I mean, do I start with the obvious preconception to conception to gestation to release of oxytocin to contractions to dilation and effacement to expulsion? Where is the line drawn between etiology and pathophysiology?

[jnick31]

I might do a little stint about the conception, and maybe a little more time on the patho of the womans body as the fetus develops. then concentrate the majority of the paper on what happens to her body in the last week or two in order to prepare for labor.

As for thinking of it as a "disease condition" keep in mind that throughout the pregnancy the baby is a parasite of sorts. It relies on the mother for everything. Just because it is/can be such a beautiful journey, remember that from a purely scientific standpoint... There is a tremendous number of stressors acting upon the womans body and mind.

[Jonathank]

Etiology of childbirth? Conception/genetics, mitosis/growth/development, endocrine pathways that induce labor...

Patho might be a little more complicated...

[link51411]

I thought the same thing when I read the overhead of your post. I was thinking when did childbirth become a disease. anyways that would explain why our country has about a 30% csection (surgery) rate when research has shown that it is only needed 5% of the time. I guess about the same time our country thought that being fat was also a disease and not a result of overeating. Just do the paper and get through it. It will be hard though because there really is no Patho in a normal childbirth. I would ask the teacher.

Ive actually had coworkers get on to me for supporting my wife in having a natural childbirth. crazy to think that an obviosly natural process would be viewed as a medical problem.

[Despareux]

If its the etiology of labor and birth then you could write about the physiological and anatomical processes that occur weeks to days prior to giving birth and after birth. But if it's the etiology of pregnancy, then you could focus on conception, the physiological and anatomical changes that occur through out the pregnancy.

Since pregnancy is a temporary condition as we are not born pregnant, nor do we stay pregnant. In a sense, it is abnormal for a woman's body to endure the effects of pregnancy. I haven't had OB yet, so I could be way off base here.