Sudden Childbirth: the birth of a child under unplanned circumstances without the assistance of trained medical personnel. Do not panic. A natural childbirth will require minimal help for the mother and the baby. The contractions of the uterus will open the cervix and force the baby through the birth canal (vagina) to the outside. Labor can last several hours and is hard work. The mother needs privacy, periodic rest, reassurance, and as clean an environment as possible under the circumstances. Give her walerand fruit juices. Contractions begin in the lower back and are later felt in the lower abdomen. As labor progresses, contractions will come every two minutes and last 40-60 seconds. Tell the mother to push down with each contraction to help force the baby into the world. The water bag in which the baby is enclosed throughout pregnancy may have broken at the beginning of labor, or sometime after contractions have started. If it does not break by itself, it will have to be torn with your fingers as the baby emerges. Support the baby’s head as it comes out. Do not be alarmed if something other than the baby’s head comes out first. Simply help feed out whatever comes. If the head comes last, a gentle pulling action may be required if the head does not come out within three minutes after the baby’s shoulders are out. Otherwise, do not turn, pull, or push the baby. Do not try to hurry the delivery. The baby’s head will probably turn to the side by itself if it comes out first - which is the usual case. Use your other hand and arm to support the baby’s back as he emerges further. Keep him out of the fluid or other materials.  As the baby fully emerges, grasp his ankles with one hand and elevate to aid drainage of mucus from chest and throat. The baby’s color will be a reddish purple at this point in time. Hang on tight because he will be slick until dried. Put the baby on his side (on the mother’s abdomen) with his head slightly lowered. Ask the mother to hold him in place. Do not pull on the cord and do not let it wrap around the baby’s neck. The mother should now have further uterine contractions to expel the placenta. This will usually occur within 20 to 30 minutes after delivery. Should the baby have any problems breathing, stroke his throat with your fingers moving from the base of his throat to his chin. Clear air passages. If there is still a problem, use mouth-to-mouth breathing. Breathe gently into the baby’s mouth every five seconds until he can breathe on his own.  Tie a square knot in the cord about four inches from the baby. A second knot is then tied about eight inches from the baby. Cut the cord between the two knots with sterilized scissors, knife, or razor blade. Beware because the baby could bleed to death if the cord is broken or cut before using this procedure. Paint the cord with iodine and tape to keep clean. Record the date, time, place, and circumstances of the birth.