The stages of labor

The stages of labor

The stages of labor Reviewed by the BabyCenter Medical Advisory Board Last updated: November 2011 En espa /> Highlights What are the stages of labor and birth? First stage: Early labor First stage: Active labor Transition Second stage: Pushing Third stage: Delivering the placenta After delivery: Now what? What are the stages of labor and birth?The process of labor and birth is divided into three stages:The first stage begins when you start having contractions that cause progressive changes in your cervix and ends when your cervix is fully dilated. For first-time moms, labor often takes between ten and 20 hours. For some women, though, it lasts much longer, while for others it's over much sooner. But unless your labor starts suddenly and you go from no contractions to fairly frequent and regular contractions right away, it can be tricky to determine exactly when true labor starts. That's because early labor contractions are sometimes hard to distinguish from the inefficient Braxton Hicks contractions that may come right before, contributing to so-called false labor. Video Inside pregnancy: Labor and birth A 3D animated look at the stages of labor from contractions to birth. Inside pregnancy: Labor and birth See all videos (By the way, if you're not yet at 37 weeks and you're noticing contractions or other signs of labor, don't wait to see if your contractions progress. Call your caregiver immediately so he can determine whether you're in preterm labor.)Assuming your pregnancy is full-term, though, time will tell: If you're in early labor, your contractions will gradually become longer, stronger, and closer together. Eventually they'll be coming every five minutes and lasting 40 to 60 seconds each as you reach the end of early labor. You may even feel like taking a short walk. This is perfectly normal, but if you see more than a tinge of blood, be sure to call your caregiver. (When to call your midwife or doctor and when your caregiver is likely to have you go to the hospital or birth center are things to discuss ahead of time at your prenatal visits.)Early labor ends when your cervix is about 4 centimeters dilated and your progress starts to accelerate. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Previous Next Show All
I'm planning to give my baby up for adoption, is it still recommended that I breastfeed directly after birth even though I won't be during his infancy? It's a completely open adoption and I'll be able to spend time with him before his new mommy and daddy get their chance. Also, his adoptive mother is planning to take hormones that will help her to breastfeed once she gets the baby, so she could do it, but I was worried that my body wouldn't then produce enough oxytocin to seal the blood vessels that were opened during placental detachment. Would appreciate any advice, thanks =)
This Internet site provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.