Are you familiar with the three stages of labor, let me help.
As your pregnancy approaches the 40 weeks from the date of your last menstrual period, the pace quickly speeds up and your body will soon know that it is time for the baby to be born. Labor is traditionally divided into three stages. Usually, the entire labor process lasts about 12-14 hours for a first birth and about 7 hours for subsequent births.
Nurses and a physician or midwife will assist in the delivery of your baby. But your body will perform the main work through contractions of your uterus which will open the cervix and allow the baby to pass out of the womb. The medical team can best assist you if you understand your body's signals and work with them from the first contraction right through labor to the delivery.
You should discuss ahead of time with your doctor what you should do when you think you are having uterine contractions and are in labor. You will also discuss plans for either natural childbirth or medication.
In the first stage of labor, the cervix dilates (or opens) and contractions begin. For a woman having her first baby, Stage One usually lasts from six to eight hours, or more. Uterine contractions become regular and keep coming at regular intervals lasting about 60 seconds or less. Then several minutes will elapse between contractions when you can rest comfortably, catch your breath and regain your breathing rhythm if it has become irregular. As this stage advances, the time between contractions gradually becomes shorter. You should not push during these early contractions as the baby will not be in the proper birthing position, let the contractions do their own work. At this time it will be determined by your doctor if you can receive any pain medication.
As Stage Two begins there will be a major change in your contractions. They will become harder, longer and qualitatively different and also more frequent, about three to four minutes apart. There will be considerably more pain and now you may be ready for a little relief with
medication or you may choose to have your baby natural. The task of Stage Two is to complete the descent of the baby, so that its head is lying on the pelvic floor. Once your baby's head is on the pelvic floor, contractions will gain a new quality. You will automatically feel an instinctive urge to push but do not until your doctor advises it is okay. These contractions will accomplish the second task of Stage Two labor, the complete delivery of your baby. The final event in labor, the climax of the entire procedure is the most rapid as your baby's head appears and, with a few more strong pushes from you and assistance from the doctor your baby will be born. The doctor will then suction the baby's nose and mouth and then clamp the umbilical cord and your baby will draw it's first breath.
Shortly after delivery, the Third Stage of labor takes place. Following several uterine contractions, the placenta, or "afterbirth," emerges. Usually this happens quickly. the placenta is then examined to make sure it is intact and all of it is out.
Labor and delivery are now complete. You will have worked very hard and now it will be time to get some rest and to enjoy your new baby.
