Stages of Labor
Labor and Delivery

• How can I know if I've already started with stages of labor?
• Should I go to the hospital once I know the process of labor has started?
• How does the labor feel like?
• What are the pains that I will feel?
• How long do I have to wait till childbirth?

It seems that getting to the end of this nine months journey increases the number of questions, right?

You have to be relaxed, the less frightened you feel during labor, the shorter the time of childbirth. With less fear will also be more likely that you have a healthy baby.

If you are frightened during labor, you may respond by clenching your teeth, grabbing the side rails of the bed. You will be definitely against pain; even it would look like you were fighting.

A tip to be prepared for labor is to practice yoga during pregnancy . Yoga is a relaxing natural exercise.

When a woman is in labor, she typically experiences three stages of labor.

It is a good idea for you and your loved ones to learn about these different stages so you 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.

Click here to share with us your own experience while you were in labor. I believe they will be of great help for our visitors to this page!

Stages of Labor

Stage One

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 between 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 go to the hospital.

During this time, you may experience some pain and your doctor may be able to give you anesthesia or some 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

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

During this period, you may continue to have mild contractions. Your doctor 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.

Stage Four

At this point, it is time to sit back and enjoy the new child you have brought into the world.

Remember that you need to be relaxed; the fear of pain during labor can prevent your body from doing the work it needs to move your baby through the birth canal and into the waiting arms of the people who already love him/her.

So do you have a...

Story About Your Own Labor Experiences?

Would you like to tell us how you went through the different stages of labor, what did you feel? Would you like to ask a question or simply make a comment? Share it with us!