With gaining as much knowledge as you can in mind the 3 stages of labour are as follows
- the dilation of the cervix,
- the delivery of the baby,
- and the delivery of the placenta.
For first-time mothers, labour takes around 12 to 24 hours. Women who have undergone childbirth before can expect about
seven hours of labour.
Some of the signs and symptoms of going into labour may include:
- Period-like cramps
- Backache
- nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- A small bloodstained discharge as your cervix thins and the mucus plug drops out
- A gush or trickle of water as the membranes break (if your waters break it is best to call the midwife as they will usually
call you in)
- Contractions - lasting more than 30 secs that feel stronger than before.
When to go into hospital
If your waters have broken you will normally be advised to go in to hospital straight away, but if your waters haven't
broken and you live near a hospital then it is worth waiting until the contractions are 5 mins apart and last around 60 secs,
if the journey to the hospital is likely to take a long time or this is not your first baby then it is best to go sooner to
be sure you don't have it on the way. Phone the hospital before you set off so they know you are on the way and remember
to bring your notes. If you are worried then phone the hospital and get professional advice.
The first stage of labour
The first stage of labour is concerned with the thinning
of the cervix and its dilation to around 10cm. The different phases include:
- The latent phase
- generally, this stage is the longest and the least painful part of labour. The cervix can thin
out over weeks, days or hours and be accompanied by mild contractions. The contractions may be regularly or irregularly spaced,
or else you might not even notice them at all.
- The active phase
- the next phase is marked by strong, painful contractions that tend to occur around three or four
minutes apart and last up to a minute or so. The cervix dilates to around 7cm.
- The transition phase
- the contractions become more intense, painful and frequent. It may feel like the contractions
are no longer separate but running into each other. The cervix may take around an hour or so to dilate the final 3cm. It is
not unusual to feel a strong urge to go to the toilet as the baby’s head pushes against the rectum, and you may have
a bowel movement, remember that passing a bowel motion during labour is normal and nothing to be concerned about.
The second stage of labour
Once the cervix is dilated to around 10cm, the second
stage of labour can begin. The contractions should now be regular and spaced apart, so that you can relax between them (as
best as you can). As each contraction builds to a peak, you may feel the urge to bear down and push. The sensation of the
baby moving through the vagina is described as a stretching or burning, particularly as the baby’s head crowns (appears
at the vaginal entrance). Once the head has emerged, the delivery staff will turn the body to deliver the shoulders. The rest
of the baby will then slip out. The second stage of labour typically lasts around 15 minutes to one hour.
The third stage of labour
The placenta is then delivered, usually five to 30 minutes later.
Your uterus gently contracts to loosen and push out the placenta, although you may not be able to feel these contractions.
It may be argued that there is a fourth stage that is often discounted, this is where you are checked for tears and they are
repaired. If you pay attention to your midwife and push at the right times then your chances of tearing are reduced.
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