Your pregnancy: the stages of labour
Labour is one of the most feared aspects of the pregnancy process, as some women dread what they have been told is excruciating pain.
But if you understand the process fully from start to finish, it may help you know what to expect and what you can do to ease the discomfort.
Labour can be divided into three stages — early labour, which can go on for hours and hours; active labour, where the baby is delivered; and then delivery of the placenta.
Early labour
At this stage your cervix begins to thin and dilate so the baby can move into the birth canal. This can be a lengthy process, and through it, you will feel occasional discomfort or mild contractions.
At this stage, you do not need to be at the hospital yet, but you should be prepared to go. You may have a brown or slightly bloody discharge, known as a ‘bloody show’, which is just the extraction of the mucus plug that blocked the opening if the cervix.
Moms, especially first-time moms, can prepare for this part of labour to last long hours. Those moms who are being induced can go days in this early part of labour before they are dilated enough to move to delivery.
To speed up labour, you may try deep breathing exercises or taking a walk.
Active labour
In active labour, the cervix will dilate to 10 centimetres. This is the indication that the baby is ready to come. Another indication is that the contractions will be stronger and more painful, and closer together.
If your water hasn’t broken yet, it will happen in active labour. If you are being induced, the water may break on its own, or the doctor will break it.
This is where pain medication is offered if you need it.
Active labour can also last for hours. You can again try breathing through the contractions, taking a warm shower or getting a massage from your partner to ease the discomfort.
The doctor will tell you when you need to push. This pushing process may also take a long while. It’s important that you follow the directions of the doctor or midwife so you know when to push, and when to stop. At the last part of active labour you will deliver the baby.
After your baby’s head is delivered, the doctor will pause to suction his airway and make sure the umbilical cord isn’t around his neck. You will then be directed to push again to deliver the rest of the baby.
Delivering the placenta
This is the third stage of labour. At this stage the doctor will deliver the placenta and check you for problems. You will be stitched if necessary.
The doctor will examine the placenta to ensure that all of it was delivered. Any remaining portion must be extracted from the uterus to prevent infection
