The Stages of Labour

Stages of Labour

What are the signs of early labour? You may feel backache or some Braxton Hicks surges - tightenings which last a few minutes or longer. Other early labour signs include a show, soft bowel movements, shivering/shakiness or nesting. Some women will experience pre-labour surges for a day or more, these are mild frequent surges which may go on for a few hours before stopping.

What You Can Be Doing? Relax, relax, relax….. eat if you’re hungry, particularly carbohydrates (rice, pasta, bread) for energy. If you have a Doula or homebirth midwife update her on what is happening and how you are feeling. Get the final things ready, relax and try to go on doing normal things. The prelabour stage may last a day or more, so try not to get too frustrated or anxious. Keep a few DVDs handy that you’ve wanted to see.  Resist the temptation to tell everyone you’re in labour…or you’ll find yourself answering 50 texts an hour from friends wondering if you’ve had your baby yet…

Early Labour – What’s Happening?

The cervix effaces (thins) and dilates (open) to 4cm, surges should be regular and start building up slowly in length and frequency.

What are the signs? Sometimes the waters release, you may have more show, or the surges may feel stronger and start to become more frequent and intense. Labour surges should build up over the labour, generally lasting from 30-45 seconds at the start of labour to 90 seconds until baby is being born. At this stage the surges are usually between 20 minutes to 3 minutes apart.

What You Can Be Doing? Have your birth partner keep a casual eye on the frequency of surges, depending on the time of the day and how you feel you may want to try to rest, eat (easily digested foods), relax between surges. This stage can last from a few hours to around 20 hours so try to make the environment as pleasant and relaxed as possible, allowing yourself to settle down emotionally and find your own rhythm, without any pressure to progress or perform. Keep in mind the same romantic atmosphere that got the baby in – will get the baby out J  The more relaxed you are the quicker and easier labour tends to progress. If labour begins at night try to get as much sleep as you can.

Active Labour - What is happening to your body?

The cervix dilates from 4cm to 10cm, the cervix opens more steadily and quickly than before, and surges become stronger lasting 45 seconds to 1.5 minutes and coming 2-10 minutes apart. Surges are regular and start building up slowly in length and frequency.

What are the signs? As surges get more intense, you will need to focus completely on just being in labour, taking long slow rhythmic breaths.

What can the birth partners do? Encourage mum to try different positions or movements such as walking, standing, rocking, swaying, slow dancing, squatting, kneeling or side lying if tired. Mum – follow your body’s lead, rest in-between surges.  Use the shower or bath…warm water is wonderful in labour. A hot water bottle applied to the back or abdomen can be wonderful.  Cool wash cloths for your face and neck are a must. If you are hypnobirthing listen to your relaxation CD or try some light touch massage or help mum deeper her relaxation with a deepener. Focus on slow rhythmic breathing. Remind Mum to go to use the bathroom often, keep mum well hydrated with sips of water and stay relaxed. 

The Birth of Your Baby - What is happening to your body?

Your cervix is fully dilated at 10cm and the nature of surges change as your body shifts gears and starts to push your baby downwards. Sometimes the surges will ease off for a time….just to give your body a rest before the next stage. With each surge your baby moves downward slightly, then slips back up at the end of each surge. The baby’s head slowly stretches the vaginal tissue & the perineum as your baby’s head, then body, is born, it rotates.

What are the signs? You will usually feel a strong urge to breathe down or bear down, which becomes stronger and more frequent. The intensity feels involuntary and uncontrollable. This stage can take 10 minutes to a few hours, with surges lasting 90 seconds every 2-5 minutes.

How Your Partner Can Help: Encourage Mum to relax and remind her to focus on her breathing…keeping it rhythmic and comfortable.  Shallow breathing is a sign of panic and anxiety. Encourage mum to use a position comfortable to her (upright - hands and knees, supported squat, kneeling, standing or if the mother is tired - side lying), and take it nice and slowly as the head emerges.

Third Stage of Labour - Birth of the Placenta - What is happening to your body?

After your baby is born, it still receives oxygen from the placenta through the umbilical cord until it stops pulsating (about 5 minutes). This helps your baby adapt to using his lungs. Allowing the cord to finish pulsating has significant benefits to your newborn.  As your uterus contracts, the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus and is birthed (this can take a few minutes to over an hour).

What are the signs? You may feel uterine cramps as opposed to strong surges, although the after-birth sensations with subsequent children are often stronger. Some mums will be shaky with all the excitement, keep Mum and baby warm together with skin to skin contact.

Enjoy these first few magical moments as you prepare for your first feed. And remember to keep your baby warm with as much skin to skin contact as possible. For more information on preparing for the birth of your baby visit http://www.DoulaIreland.com or pick up a copy of The Better Birth Book.