From First Contraction to First Embrace: The Stages of Labor

The anticipation of meeting your little one is a unique and powerful feeling. As your due date approaches, understanding the process of labor can bring a sense of preparedness and empowerment. While every birth story is beautifully individual, labor generally unfolds in three distinct stages, each with its own purpose and milestones.

Doula Maggie offers gentle support and comfort to a client during labor in the tub.

Stage 1: The Longest Chapter - From First Contractions to Full Dilation

This first stage is often the longest and is marked by the onset of regular contractions that gradually open the cervix to completion, usually 10 centimeters, for your baby to make their grand descent. Stage 1 is further divided into three phases:

• Early Labor (The Latent Phase): This phase can be unpredictable in length, lasting anywhere from hours to even days, especially for first-time parents. Contractions are usually mild, irregular, and relatively short. You might feel them as period-like cramps or backaches.

  • What's happening: Your cervix is starting to soften (efface) and thin out, and it's beginning to dilate (open) to about 4 centimeters.

  • How you might feel: You might feel excited, anxious, or just generally aware that things are starting.

  • What to do: This is a good time to rest, hydrate, and eat a large protein packed meal. You can engage in calming activities like walking or sitting on the birth ball. Now is a good time to call and update your birth team.

• Active Labor: This is when things typically ramp up. Contractions become more regular, stronger, and longer, usually lasting 60 seconds and coming every 3-5 minutes. This phase often occurs once you reach around 5 centimeters of dilation and continues until you are 8 centimeters dilated.

  • What's happening: Your cervix is dilating more quickly, and contractions are working hard to move your baby further down into the pelvis.

  • How you might feel: You'll likely need to focus to breathe through each contraction and rest inbetween.

  • What to do: Utilize coping techniques such as breathing exercises, movement, vocalizations, and pain management techniques like being in the shower or using a TENs unit. This is often when you'll head to your chosen birthing location.

• Transition: Often considered the most intense but also the shortest part of Stage 1, transition is the final stretch before you can start pushing. Contractions are at their peak intensity, lasting 60-90 seconds and coming every 2-3 minutes.

  • What's happening: Your cervix is dilating from 8 to a full 10 centimeters. Your baby is moving further down the birth canal, preparing for delivery.

  • How you might feel: This phase can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. You might experience strong urges to push, nausea, vomiting, shaking, or feelings of being overwhelmed. This is when most people ask for an epidural but this stage tells us you that you are so close to meeting your baby! Lean heavily on your support team.

  • What to do: Lean heavily on your support team. Utilize pain management techniques like counter pressure on your sacrum, being in the shower or birth tub, and nitrous gas.

    
    

Stage 2: The Pushing Phase - Meeting Your Baby

Once your cervix is fully dilated, you may feel an overwhelming urge to push with each contraction. Your birth team can guide you on when and how to push effectively. This stage can last anywhere from a few pushes to a couple of hours, or sometimes longer, especially for first-time parents or with an epidural.

• What's happening: Your uterine muscles and your active pushing efforts are working together to move your baby down and out through the birth canal.

• How you might feel: You'll likely feel a sense of purpose and focus as you actively participate in bringing your baby into the world. It can be physically demanding but also incredibly rewarding. You might feel the urge to push and a burning or stretching sensation as your baby's head crowns (becomes visible) and stretches your perineum.

• What to do: Listen to your body, only push if you feel a sense of relief. Listen to your birth team, specifically your provider who is catching the baby to guide you when and how hard to push to reduce tearing. Really use the time in-between pushes to fully relax your body and take deep cleansing breaths.

  
  

Stage 3: Delivering the Placenta

This final stage is relatively short, usually lasting from 5 to 30 minutes. After your baby is born, you'll experience mild contractions again as your uterus continues to contract and expel the placenta (the organ that nourished your baby during pregnancy).

• What's happening: The placenta detaches from the uterine wall and is delivered. Your healthcare provider will ensure that the placenta is intact.

• How you might feel: You'll likely feel a huge sense of relief, joy, and exhaustion. The contractions for the placenta are usually milder than labor contractions.

• What to do: Listen to your provider, they may have you change positions or locations to deliver the placenta and monitor your bleeding better. You may have to push your placenta out but it is much easier than delivering your baby.

Remember: This is a general overview, and every labor experience is unique. The length of each stage can vary, and you might experience things differently. The most important thing is to trust your body, listen to your healthcare team, and embrace the incredible journey of bringing your baby into the world.

What are your thoughts or experiences with the stages of labor?

Share your stories in the comments below!