The Three Stages Of Labor

Stage One
The first and longest stage of labor begins with the onset of contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated. The first stage is also divided into three phases: latent, active, and deceleration (transition).

In the latent phase, the uterus thins (effacement) and contractions become more frequent, stronger, and more regular. The length of this phase varies from woman to woman and from labor to labor, but it usually lasts 10 to 12 hours for women who have had children and longer for first-time mothers. Onset of the latent phase is sometimes mistaken for Braxton Hicks contractions. If membranes spontaneously rupture during the latent stage, the labor process usually speeds up.

The active phase of labor is marked by rapid opening of the cervix (dilation). This stage usually takes about five hours for first-time mothers, two hours for women who have had children. Cervical dilation increases from about 4 centimeters to about 9 centimeters.

In the deceleration (or transition) phase, cervical dilation continues at a slower pace until full dilation is reached. The baby moves lower into the pelvis and deeper into the birth canal.

Stage Two
The second stage is the time of actively pushing the baby out through the birth canal. First time mothers may need two to three hours for this stage. For women who have had children, the second stage often takes less than an hour.

Stage Three
The third stage is passage of the placenta. This stage may take as long as thirty minutes. Breastfeeding releases oxytocin and can be a natural way to speed up this stage. You may also be given a drug called pitocin to speed this process.