Labour, EXPLAINED!
Labour is medically split up into 3 stages, Each stage forms a very complex sequence of events which all play a part in meeting your baby.
Stage one I like to think of as the warm-up, the start of a marathon, effacement, and dilation begins (Up to 4cms). This can happen days even weeks before birth and is even more likely if this isn't your first baby. Once you have dilated past 4cms you are considered in ‘active labor’ which is from 4 -7cm of dilation, this is when most people are advised to go to the hospital if they are choosing a hospital birth. Once you are past this you are considered in the transition phase, this is generally when mothers are tired they say things like ‘ I can't do this’ they request pain relief ect. This just means they are so close to stage two. In the birthing stage, Once you are fully effaced and dilated and your body is ready you may feel the need to bear down or like you need to poo, this is when the heads dropped down and pushing on your rectum. Some women also call it the ring of fire as they can feel the baby coming and their perineum stretching, your baby's head will appear then a shoulder, then the other shoulder and the rest of the baby comes out behind it. But that’s not all, Stage 3 is birthing the placenta, which can happen anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after your baby is born depending on your body and birth. It will vary in every birth as no two births are the same.
Stage one I like to think of as the warm-up, the start of a marathon, effacement, and dilation begins (Up to 4cms). This can happen days even weeks before birth and is even more likely if this isn't your first baby. Once you have dilated past 4cms you are considered in ‘active labor’ which is from 4 -7cm of dilation, this is when most people are advised to go to the hospital if they are choosing a hospital birth. Once you are past this you are considered in the transition phase, this is generally when mothers are tired they say things like ‘ I can't do this’ they request pain relief ect. This just means they are so close to stage two. In the birthing stage, Once you are fully effaced and dilated and your body is ready you may feel the need to bear down or like you need to poo, this is when the heads dropped down and pushing on your rectum. Some women also call it the ring of fire as they can feel the baby coming and their perineum stretching, your baby's head will appear then a shoulder, then the other shoulder and the rest of the baby comes out behind it. But that’s not all, Stage 3 is birthing the placenta, which can happen anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour after your baby is born depending on your body and birth. It will vary in every birth as no two births are the same.