Lesson 7 of 8

Birth

Goal: Describe the stages of birth.

Puzzles for this lesson

Word search0 of 8 foundCrossword0 of 41 letters
A newborn baby’s hand holding an adult’s finger

After about nine months of gestation, the baby is ready to be born.

  • The muscles in the wall of the uterus contract. The cervix slowly widens. The amniotic fluid drains away.
  • Stronger contractions push the baby out through the vagina, usually head first.
  • The umbilical cord is cut. Then the placenta comes away from the wall of the uterus and is pushed out. It is called the afterbirth.

Your turn

This lesson’s activity starts here in a moment.

Check yourself

Knowledge organiser

This lesson on one page. Tap it to make it bigger.

Key words in this lesson

Uterus The organ where a baby develops, also called the womb

Vagina Receives sperm, and is the way out for a baby at birth

Gestation The nine months when the baby develops in the uterus

Placenta Organ where substances pass between mother and foetus

Umbilical cord Joins the foetus to the placenta

Amniotic fluid The liquid around the foetus that protects it

For teachers: AQA 3.10.2