The Pregnancy Labor Stages

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If this is your first pregnancy you probably have a lot of questions about the pregnancy labor stages, what they feel like and how long they last. Unfortunately, the first pregnancy typically has the longest labor, although it can help to understand the stages to get you through it. Here’s a look at what you can expect during the pregnancy labor stages and what’s happening during each one.

Pregnancy Labor Stages: First Stage
During the first stage of pregnancy labor, your cervix will slowly efface, or thin out, and dilate, or open. As your contractions begin to come at regular intervals you’re officially in labor. It’s important to understand, however, the difference between true labor and false labor, which is caused by Braxton Hicks contractions. If your labor seems to stop abruptly or your contractions are not at regular times, you’re probably experiencing false labor. Early labor is further divided into two stages: early labor and active labor. You move into active labor when your contractions are longer, closer together and much stronger. Here are the highlights of the first stage of labor:

• Contractions are at regular intervals
• As you move into active labor, contractions get closer together, stronger and longer
• Increase in vaginal discharge, which may be tinged with blood, may or may not happen
• Your water may break, even without contractions, and you should call your doctor
• 1st stage of pregnancy may last 6-12 hours during the first pregnancy, although this varies wildly
• Active labor goes until you’re fully dilated at 10 centimeters
• Active labor may last 4-8 hours
• During active labor you may receive pain medication like an epidural
• Last stage of active labor is transition, the most intense part of labor with strong, painful contractions
• Transition lasts from a few minutes to hours

Pregnancy Labor Stages: Second Stage
The second stage of labor begins when you’re fully dilated and ends with the baby’s birth. This is also the pushing stage of labor. At the start of the second stage, contractions lessen up a bit and become easier to handle. Because the baby is very low you may feel the need to push early. As your uterus contracts, your baby will be pushed farther down the birth canal. If you’ve had an epideral you may not feel contractions, so just be patient and push when you feel the need to.

• Second stage is characterized by a fully dilated cervix and easier contractions
• During the pushing stage your baby will move down the birth canal until it crowns and you push him out completely
• May last for a few minutes to hours, with longer times for after epiderals or for a first-time mother and shorter times if you’ve previously delivered vaginally

Pregnancy Labor Stages: Third Stage
During the third stage of labor you’ll deliver the placenta. A few minutes after your baby’s birth your uterus will begin to contract to separate the placenta from the uterine wall. You should just need to push gently while your uterus is manually massaged from the outside to deliver the placenta.

• Third stage is delivery of the placenta
• Lasts less than ten minutes