STAGES OF LABOR
All of the excitement and preparation of these nine months will culminate in the delivery of a beautiful baby girl or boy. To get there, most of you will have to travel through labor and delivery. Now each mother's labor and delivery is different and might even differ between children with the same mother, so don't believe the horror story your sister-in-law insists represents all births. Now, while every birth is different, all births typically follow a pattern through labor and delivery. Here is what you can expect:
The process of labor and delivery is typically divided into three stages.
First Stage - Labor
The first stage is the beginning of the process and is comprised of early labor, active labor and what is called transition. Early labor is the first part of the stage. Your contractions will start and become regular during this time. This is the period where your cervix will dilate from 0 centimeters to 3 centimeters. Some women don't even know they are in early labor and may only find out at their next obstetrician appointment (when they are told they have started to dilate). During this stage, you should try to stay at home and continue with your normal activities. You can do housework, watch TV or read a book, anything that will distract you from your contractions. Just make sure you don't just sit there and time them. You will drive yourself nuts as early labor can last for days. When the contractions begin to get more regular and more frequent, you can start taking breaks in your activities to time them. Again, don't make this the major focus of your attention; just take a short time out every few hours.
The second portion of the first stage of labor is active labor. At this point, you will know you are in labor. Your contractions will become longer and more frequent. During this time, your cervix will dilate from 3 centimeters to 7 centimeters. This is the time when most expectant mothers head to the hospital or birth center. Active labor typically lasts 3 to 7 hours. While the pain during this period is more intense, you will build up to it gradually so it won't be as difficult as if it arrived suddenly.
The third portion of the first stage is transition. Your contractions will become even more intense, with only a short break in between. This is when your cervix will complete its dilation to 10 centimeters. Since the contractions are so intense and so close together, there is not much you can do between contractions. Devote yourself to getting through the contractions, one at a time. Some moms don't want anything to distract them at this point so you may want to turn off the TV or music. Transition typically lasts between 15 minutes and 3 hours.
Second Stage - Birth of the Baby
The second stage is when you will actually deliver your baby. This is the stage where you will push. You will need to follow your healthcare provider's instructions especially carefully during this stage. She will tell you when to push and when to rest for the safest delivery for you and the baby. After your baby's head is delivered, your healthcare provider will clear the airway and make sure the umbilical cord is free. Then the rest of the baby's body will arrive.
Third Stage - Delivery of the Placenta
If you choose to save your baby's cord blood, this is when it will be collected. During the placenta delivery, you will usually be able to hold the baby so you may not even notice what is happening below. The doctor will be focused on delivering the placenta and collecting the cord blood. You may be asked to push once more as the placenta is expelled. Your doctor will inspect the placenta to make sure it has been delivered. In addition, after the placenta is delivered, the doctor will repair any tears that took place during delivery. Delivery of the placenta can last anywhere from 5 minutes to half an hour. |
