Stages of Labor - The time has come for childbirth

When a woman is in labor, she typically experiences three stages of labor. It is a good idea for expectant mothers and their loved ones to learn about these different stages so that they can be prepared and know what to expect during labor. Every woman has a unique experience while in labor, but these stages are the basics that most women should expect as long as everything is going smoothly. Stage One Stage one is typically the longest of the stages of labor, which is actually two sub-stages, called early labor and active labor.

• Early Labor During early labor, the cervix opens and gets thinner, which permits the baby to move to the birth canal. One of the early signs of labor is that you may have mild to moderate labor contractions that last betwee 30 and 60 seconds every five to 20 minutes. These contractions will be different from the Braxton Hicks Contractions that you may have been experiencing in the early stages of your pregnancy. A thick, stringy, slightly bloody, vaginal discharge may also be present. Early labor can last for as short as a few hours or as long as a few days, so you will need to be patient and flexible. Fortunately, most women are not uncomfortable during early labor.
• Active Labor During active labor, your cervix will dilate to 10 centimeters and your contractions will get longer and stronger. This is usually accompanied by pressure in your back. At this point, you need to get to your labor and delivery facility. During this time, you may experience some pain but may be able to take anesthesia or pain medication. Breathing and relaxation exercises may help you to deal with the pain. The average time for active labor is eight hours, but it varies greatly depending on the person.

Stage Two Stage two of the stages of labor is the stage where your baby is born. This stage can take anywhere between a couple minutes and several hours. During this stage, you will need to push to get the baby out. There are many different positions you can use to do this and it may take some experimentation to find the best one for you. Once your baby's head is out, your doctor will clear the baby's airway and check to make sure the umbilical cord is free. At this point, you will be able to push out the rest of the baby's body. Stage Three Stage three of the stages of labor is the delivery of the placenta. This generally takes from five to ten minutes, but may take as long as 30 minutes. Your health care provider will take care of delivering the placenta and making sure that any bleeding is under control. During this period, you may continue to have mild contractions. Your health care provider may ask you to push or massage your lower abdomen in order to help your uterus deliver the placenta, which will come out with a little bit of blood. The placenta needs to come out intact or fragments in the uterus may cause infection. At this point, it is time to sit back and enjoy the new child you have brought into the world.