Labor can take over a day, and delivery can be hours of intense, excruciating pushing -- not the five minutes you’re expecting from sitcoms or other staged birthing videos. Even so, the whole process can be a lot easier if you know what to expect, and how you want to approach it. Talk to your doctor, take to other mothers, research on the internet, and then make a birth plan. Wherever your information comes from, remember that the labor experience is different not just for every women, but for every birth. Here’s a look at the general labor process.
The Stages of Labor
Clinically speaking, the process of labor and delivery is divided into three main stages. Stage one is full dilation of the cervix at ten centimeters -- this can take several hours, and even longer than day. Stage two is the actual process of pushing the baby down the birth canal and out of the body. Some fortunate women have no problems getting the baby out, but for most women, especially first time mothers, expect this to take at least 30 minutes if not an hour, and potentially longer if you get an epidural. Stage three is detachment and delivery of the placenta. The placenta usually arrives fairly quickly -- and isn’t nearly as difficult as the delivery, namely because you’ll be so busy staring blissfully at your baby.
Stage One
During the first stage, the cervix dilates -- a part of the womb that has been sealed is now opening through muscle contractions. How it begins varies from woman to woman. Some women start dilating days before they head to the hospital. Some contract and move to delivery quickly, while others need a little time for their bodies to get ready. Contractions usually start off mild and sporadic -- in fact, you may spend most of that time at home. As delivery time gets closer, contractions become more intense, frequent, and regulated. Instead of wasting your energy tensing up during each contraction, do your best to breathe regularly, relax, and focus.
Stage Two
Most hospitals and obstetricians have moms wait until contractions are closer to five or ten minutes apart before checking in (unless your water breaks). If you’re being induced or having a cesarean section, you’ll be checked in before your contractions even begin. Once your body is ready, most (but not all) moms start to feel an intense need to push with each contraction. Your doctor can monitor this, letting you know when you can expect to start getting ready for the real pushing. Your doctor, nurse, and/or partner will help you find a good position, encourage you to push at the appropriate times, and watch for any irregularities that might cause changes in your birthing plan (i.e. if you’ve been pushing for too long without success, your doctor may decide you need a cesarean).
Stage Three
The third stage of labor is often overlooked, because it occurs after the baby is delivered. You aren’t paying much attention when you’ve got that new little person to meet! The presentation and detachment of the placenta is a critical aspect of delivery -- this is a signal from your body that the pregnancy is complete. Once your partner or doctor cuts the umbilical cord, and your newborn is handed to you, your obstetrician will quietly coach you on expelling the placenta. It may require a little pushing, but the placenta is now a flat sack of blood, waste, and hormones and won’t be nearly as hard to push out compared to a baby.
