Childbirth
- Article
- 2021-02-28
"Labor" and "childbirth" describe the process of childbirth. Contractions of the uterus and changes in the cervix (opening of the uterus) prepare a woman's body for delivery. Then the baby is born and the placenta follows.
NICHD studies many aspects of labor and delivery: their basic biology, birth practices and the management of related problems.
What are the stages of labor?
Phase 1
The first stage of labor proceeds in two stages: early labor and active labor. This is usually the longest phase of the process.
During early labor:
- The opening of the uterus, called the cervix, starts to thin and open or widen.
- Contractions get stronger, last 30 to 60 seconds, and occur every 5 to 20 minutes.
- The woman may have a clear or slightly bloody discharge called a "show".
A woman can go through this phase for up to 20 hours, especially if she is giving birth for the first time.
During active labor:
- Contractions become stronger, longer and more painful.
- Contractions are closer together, which means the woman may not have much time to relax in between.
- The woman may feel pressure in her lower back.
- The cervix begins to dilate more quickly.
- The fetus begins to enter the birth canal.
Phase 2
At this stage, the cervix reaches full dilation, which means that it is as open as needed for delivery (10 centimeters). The woman will start to push (or sometimes be told to 'bend') to help the baby move through the birth canal.
During phase 2:
- The woman may feel pressure on her rectum as the baby's head moves through the vagina.
- She may feel the urge to push, as if she is having a bowel movement.
- The baby's head begins to appear in the vaginal opening (called a "crown").
- The healthcare provider escorts the baby out of the vagina.
This phase can last anywhere from 20 minutes to several hours. It usually takes longer for new moms and those who are on certain pain medications.
Phase 3
Once the baby comes out, the healthcare provider cuts the umbilical cord, which connects the mother and fetus during pregnancy. At stage 3, the placenta is delivered. The placenta is the organ that provided food and oxygen to the fetus through the umbilical cord during pregnancy. It separates from the uterine wall and also exits the birth canal. The placenta may come out on its own, or delivery may require the help of a provider.
During phase 3:
- Contractions start 5 to 10 minutes after the baby is delivered.
- The woman may have chills or feel shaky.
It usually takes less than 30 minutes for the placenta to leave the vagina. The health care provider may ask the woman to push. The health care provider can gently pull on the umbilical cord and massage the uterus to help the placenta come out. In some cases, the woman may be given medication to prevent bleeding. 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7
- Office for Women's Health. (2017). Labor and birth. Retrieved on February 21, 2017, from https://www.womenshealth.gov/pregnancy/childbirth-and-beyond/labor-and-birth
- López-Zeno, LA and Harrington, L. (2004). Normal labor and delivery. In JJ Sciarra (Ed.), Gynecology and Obstetrics (Volume 2, Chapter 68). Hagerstown, MD: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Retrieved July 22, 2013 from http://www.glowm.com/resources/glowm/cd/pages/v2/v2c068.html
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. (2011). FAQ: How do you know when labor will start . Retrieved February 13, 2017 from http://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/How-to-Tell-When-Labor-Begins
- American College of Nurse-Midwives. (2012). Second stage of labor: pushing your baby out . Retrieved on February 13, 2017, from http://www.midwife.org/ACNM/files/ccLibraryFiles/Filename/000000001793/
Second% 20% 20Stage% 20of% 20Labor% 20-% 20Pushing% 20Your% 20Baby% 20Out.pdf (PDF 125 KB) - Joy, S., Lyon, D., & Scott, PL (2015). Abnormal delivery . Retrieved on February 17, 2017, from https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/273053-overview#showall
- World Health Organisation. (2007). Coping With Pregnancy and Childbirth Complications: A Guide for Midwives and Physicians . Retrieved on February 21, 2017, from https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43972/9241545879_eng.pdf (PDF 5.5 MB)
- Maughan, KL, Heim, SW, and Galazka, SS (2006). Preventing Postpartum Bleeding: Managing the Third Stage of Labor. American Family Physician, 73, 1025-1028. Retrieved April 25, 2017, from http://www.aafp.org/afp/2006/0315/p1025.pdf (PDF 172 KB)
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