For 40 weeks, you wait for a single day—the day you have your baby. You may well look back at it as one of the greatest days of your life, but you are probably not looking forward to it with such enthusiasm. You may be scared. You may be impatient. You may be nervous. You are guaranteed to be in some pain and discomfort on the day in question. But it won’t last nearly as long as your memories or your love for your baby. And it’s easier to get through when you know what to expect.
It is completely normal for you to wonder how much pain or discomfort you will feel during childbirth. Each woman has her own unique childbirth experience; most women don’t even remember the actual pain, they just remember the moment they hold their baby for the first time. The best way to prepare yourself for labor is to attend a childbirth education class with your partner. The goal is for you to become as comfortable as possible using relaxation techniques and educating yourself on what to expect during labor.
Childbirth is divided into three stages, and though their character varies just as much as individual women do, there are some things you can anticipate. The first stage of childbirth is labor and it ends with the full dilation of the cervix; the second stage is delivery of the baby; and the third stage is delivery of the placenta. Below you will find a description of the stages of labor, what each does, the parameters, and some average events of that stage. Remember, however, that very few women will follow this to the letter; there will be some variation.
First Stage
The first stage of labor is usually the longest part of labor where you are having contractions and your cervix is dilating. This stage is broken down into three phases. The early phase of labor is marked by very light contractions that may be 20 minutes or more apart, gradually becoming closer, possibly up to five minutes apart. The key to this stage is to go about your normal schedule or if it’s the middle of the night go back to bed! Most women will be very comfortable during this stage and with a few exceptions those having a hospital birth will not be in the hospital at this point.
The active phase of labor is where many women are getting serious and withdrawing to do the hard work of labor. Contractions generally are four or five minutes apart and may last up to 60 seconds long. Remember this still gives you a big break in between. For women who desire medication in labor they will usually go to the hospital in this stage of labor, while those desiring little or no medications will go towards the end of this stage or the beginning of transition. Mobility and relaxation are the keys to getting through active labor.
Later, your contractions may be two or three minutes apart, lasting up to a minute and a half. Some women will shake and may vomit during this stage. This is normal. Remember that this stage usually doesn’t last more than an hour or two. Partners, your support is crucial here. Remind her how well she is doing, and help her find a comfortable position, use cold rags for her face and give her sips of water or ice in between contractions.
Second Stage
Pushing usually feels better for most women. They have spent the first stage of labor relaxing and letting their body do all the work, now they can actually do something to help. This stage can last three or more hours, but for many women it will not. The length of this stage is dependent upon the positioning of the mother (upright = faster), the positioning of the baby, whether medications have been used, etc. The contractions will usually space out a bit, going back to about four minutes apart. This stage ends with the birth of your baby!
Now is the time to start your breathing exercises. Also, make a concerted effort to relax between contractions. This will become difficult yet important as the delivery proceeds. The most important aspect of this stage is to forget about the fatigue, and stay focused on the wonderful end result of this stage.
Third Stage
After you are holding your beautiful baby, you may be asked to push again at some point, and you might be puzzled. This stage involves the passing of the placenta. Delivery of the placenta may take anywhere from five minutes to thirty, but most deliver within a few minutes. Don’t worry about it, this is the time you can spend bonding with your new little one.
Postpartum
Postpartum is generally accepted as the fourth stage of labor. Your body is going through many changes now that the baby has been born. Not to mention the large changes your family is going through adding a new person to your family. Be sure to ask for help. Your body will slowly change and become more like your pre-pregnancy self, but not exactly.
Enjoy your labor, believe it or not it’s the hardest work you’ll do, but it yields the most rewards. You can prepare for labor by taking childbirth classes at your hospital to get an idea of what to expect. But overall, writing down questions and thorough discussions with your doctor in the office can prepare you for the experience of a lifetime.