The Stages of Birth

1.    First Stage: Labour

Contractions make your cervix soften and gradually dilate. This is usually the longest stage of labour. irregular.

 It can take hours or days before you enter establish labour.  Established labour occurs when your cervix dilates to about 4 cm and your contractors are becoming more regular and consistent.

During early labour, it is a good idea to eat and drink if you feel up to it.  If it occurs at night, try get as comfortable as possible and sleep if you can.

Once labour becomes established, your cervix will be fully dilate to 10 cm for the baby to pass through. You may feel persistent contractions become stronger and more regular. These contractions cause the cervix to begin to open and often as well as shorten (efface), allowing the baby to move into the birth canal.

The first phase is usually the longest of the three stages it can be divided into two parts; early and established active labour.

Early Labour

During early labour your cervix begins to dilate and efface with mild irregular contractions.  As your cervix, opens you may notice a slightly red mucus, your mucus plug to come away.  The mucus plug blocks the cervical opening during pregnancy.

 Becoming fully dated usually happens in 8 to 12 hours for a first-time batter and around 4-8 hours for people who have given birth before.

 To promote early labour is your comfort you can;

·      Go for a walk

·      Use water therapy in the server bath

·      Try hypnotherapy tracks or relaxing music

·      Change positions; kneeling over your coats opening your pelvis positioning yourself on the stairs, against the wall, moving positions in bed or pushing against the wall.

You will likely spend most of your early labour at home until your contraction significantly increase or intensify.  This would then be the time to go to the hospital if you are intending on having a hospital birth.

Active Labour

During active labour your service will dilate from 6 to 10 cm.  Contractors may become stronger and consistent and intense you’re likely also can and you may feel more nauseated.

 Your waters may break and you may feel more back pain and rectal pressure.  Active labour can last from 4-8 hours. On average a service will dilate 1 cm every hour. This also may take longer for first-time birthers.

 Things that can help during active labour are;

·      Squat

·      Change positions

·      Push against the wall

·      Water therapy or birthing pool

·      Counter-pressure administered

·      Trying to go for a walk or being a bit more mobile

Transition

The last part of active labour is often known as transition.  Hey can be particularly intense contractions become closer together and can last 60 to 90 seconds.  You may feel pressure in your lower back and wrecked him any may feel I need and an urge to push.

 Transition is also known as the final stage of the first stage of labour. When your cervix is fully dilating you experience the huge surge of adrenaline.  Your uterine muscles working pairs where your long uterine muscles contract during the first stage of labour and your round uterine muscles causes the cervix to draw up and behind the baby’s head or bum.

 In the second stage of labour, the roles reverse and your round cervical muscles squeeze to encourage the baby down and through the birth canal. While this is happening, your longer cervical muscles relax out of the way. The period of this muscle swapping is known as transition.

Transition can happen in here in either one or two ways. Things may begin to feel like they are slowing down. Your body is restoring and rebuilding energy for the next point of labour. This is when a huge surge of adrenaline occurs. As this is occurring, try to boost your oxytocin as much as possible by turning the lights out, kiss, cuddle, utilise hypnobirthing etc.

The other thing that can happen is your body might hit a wave of panic. You may not notice it happening yourself bur your birth partner, doula or midwife, may notice the signs. You may exclaim that you can’t do it anymore, you want to go home or you want to seriously up your pain relief. You may also instinctively move closer to the floor, not want to be touched or distracted and you may start to make more guttural and primal mooing or moaning noises.

Your body produces nor-adrenaline. Release of this hormone and that of the other hormones present at birth such as oxytocin, endorphins etc. can trigger stronger expulsive contractions. Nor-adrenaline wakes your body up and spikes your energy at the most intense part of labour.

Contractions are at their longest and very close together during transition. Occurring every 2 minutes for 60-90 seconds. Contractions can begin to surge into one another or occur in double peaks.

If your waters haven’t gone by then they may go due to the surges of the contractions. This the brings your baby’s head directly into the cervix. This also then releases a spike of oxytocin.

Even though nor-adrenaline makes you more alert. You’re your body is still producing oxytocin and endorphins. The interlinking and altering effects of the hormones are more so what cause the panicky sensation during transition rather than something going wrong in labour.  

They baby then moves deeper into the pelvis and completes a rotation before the second stage, birth begins.

2.    Second Stage: Birth and Delivery

The second stage of birth is the delivery of your baby. It can take from a few minutes to a few hours. It may take longer if it’s your first birth. Birth begins once your cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby.

Your contractions can last from 45-90 seconds with intervals of 3-5 minutes. You may begin to have a strong urge to push. There is also a strong sense of pressure on your rectum. There is a likelihood of minor bowel and urination movements which is a completely natural part of the process. You may also feel a burning sensation while your baby is crowning.

It’s a good idea to get into an optimum pushing position – UFO where you are Upright, Forward and Open. There is 28% more room in your pelvis when you are in an upright and forward facing position rather than laying on your back.

What is your baby doing at this stage?

1.     Your baby’s head will turn to one-sided and their chin will rest on their chest.

2.     Once your body is fully dilated, your baby’s head leads the way and their head and torso begins to rotate to face your back as they enter your vagina.

3.     The baby’s head will begin to crown through your vaginal opening.

4.     Once your baby’s head is out, their head and shoulders will again turn to face your side. Allowing the baby to easily slip out.  

After the birth if mucus is suspected, your baby may need suction their mouth and nasal passages. If there are no complications, your baby will be lifted on to your front for skin-to-skin contact and hopefully delayed chord clamping.

3.    Third Stage: Delivering The Placenta

During the third stage of labour, you deliver the placenta. The delivery of which usually takes 30 minutes to an hour.

You will continue to have mild uterine contractions that come close together. These contractions work to move the placenta down and through the birth canal. You will be asked to gently push to deliver the placenta. If the process is taking a long time, you may be offered medication to bring on contractions and help to minimise bleeding if it occurs.

Your delivered placenta then is examined by your medical team to ensure it looks intact. Any remaining fragments will be removed from the uterus to prevent bleeding and infection.

After your placenta is delivered, your uterus will still contract as it begins to return to normal size.

You may then be checked to see if there is any tearing of your vaginal area and if stitches are needed.

4.    Stage Four: Recovery

The fourth stage, recovery begins after the delivery of the placenta. Your body beings to stabilise and your baby begins to get used to life outside the womb.  It is a great time to try to rest, eat and drink and for the baby to be fed, weighed, checked and measured.

It can feel like an intense period with varying feelings or emotions to process.

The fourth stage occurs in the place you gave birth whether at home, at a birthing centre or a hospital. If you have had a c-section, the fourth stage of labour will start in the operating theatre as your incision is repaired and end on the recovery room.

The recovery period is the time to check in on the birthing person’s physical wellbeing to check blood pressure, blood loss, the uterus has contracted and to check for any tears or grazes.

How your recovery in the first hour or so after birth will depend on how long or short your labour was, the type of birth you had, if any complications occurred and how your baby’s recovery was after birth.