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Lamaze for Parents : Blogs : Stages of Labor LoginRequest LoginToggle navigationHome Healthy Pregnancy Healthy PregnancyPregnancy NutritionSex During PregnancySigns of PregnancyFinding a Healthcare Provider10 Healthy Pregnancy TipsKnow the FactsTips for Pregnancy PartnersDue Date DanceBed Rest Planning for Labor Planning for LaborBirth TeamStages of LaborBirth PlanLabor Positions10 Labor TipsMaternal InstinctsBirth Day, Your WayThe Waiting GameLamaze BreathingCesarean Awareness Resources Birth Day Birth DayHealthyLineagePracticesBirth Decision GuidesBirth Partner Cheat SheetMedical InterventionsEstablishing Breastfeeding New Parents New ParentsBeyondLineageDayNursing SchoolPacifiersSleep TightBaby BluesGettingWhento WorkBaby's Developmental MilestonesPlayful ParentsFun FacesReach for the Stars Lamaze Classes Find a Local ClassOnline ClassesPurchase Lamaze Guide Your Resources Lamaze Mobile AppOnline ClassesBirth BlogOnline Spanish Resources for ParentsParent Resource RoundupHealthyLineagePracticesBirth Decision GuidesWeekly EmailsPush for Your BabyVideo LibraryOther Parent Resources About Lamaze About LamazeThe Lamaze DifferenceHealthyLineagePracticesShop For a CauseMythsWell-nighLamazeHistoryMarketing & AdvertisingContact Us In the News News ReleasesLamaze in the News Planning for Labor Stages of Labor Stages of Labor    April is Cesarean Awareness Month  LineageTeam       - Tips for Finding a Doula   Stages of Labor  LineagePlan   Labor Positions       - Movement in Labor   10 Labor Tips   Maternal Instincts  LineageDay, Your Way   The Waiting Game   LamazeZoetic LineageTeam       - Tips for Finding a Doula   Stages of Labor  LineagePlan   Labor Positions       - Movement in Labor   10 Labor Tips   Maternal Instincts  LineageDay, Your Way   The Waiting Game   LamazeZoeticLabor Day Your step-by-step guide to giving lineage By Judith A. Lothian, RN, PhD, LCCE, FACCE, and Kathryn McGrath, MW, LSW, CD(DONA), LCCE, FACCE For increasingly information: Recognizing the Signs of Labor Penny Simkin’s discussion of elapsed string clamping Initiation of breastfeeding by Breast Crawl World Health Organization Guideline:ElapsedUmbilicalStringClamping Think of this as your “childbirth manual,” a step-by-step guide to prepare you for what lies ahead. We’ve divided the process into stages to describe the typical changes that occur as labor progresses. The first stage encompasses the very whence of labor, when contractions begin, all the way through zippy labor, when your cervix is scrutinizingly fully dilated. The second stage covers transition, when your soul shifts from dilating to pushing, and the movement of your victual through the lineage waterway and into the world. Finally, there’s the third stage, when all of your nonflexible work is washed-up and your soul begins to recover. You will most likely move from one stage to flipside fairly seamlessly. Although every labor and childbirth is unique—yours will unfold in its own way—the process is remarkably constant. Trust that your soul will know just what to do. Stage One Prodomal Labor WHAT'S HAPPENING The cervix begins to soften, thin and move forward, and it may uncork to open. The victual settles into the pelvis. At this point of childbirth, contractions may be noticeable as an achy sensation or as pressure in the lower stomach or back. Contractions in this phase are usually irregular—starting and stopping; sometimes strong, sometimes mild. This is your body’s natural way of gearing up. This phase can last from a few hours to a few days. WHAT HELPS Don’t worry whether or not this is really labor. For the vast majority, labor sooner makes itself very clear. Try to be patient and have conviction that your soul is doing exactly what it needs to do. Take good superintendency of yourself. Eat, drink plenty of fluids, and rest or take a walk. Surround yourself with people that help you finger well-appointed and safe. Your support team can alimony you visitor and provide reassurance. Early Labor (Latent Phase) WHAT'S HAPPENING The cervix continues to thin out and open, dilating up to 6 centimeters. Labor is meant to be gradual, so this phase may take quite a while—usually well-nigh two-thirds of the total labor time. Over a period of several hours, contractions will wilt longer, stronger and increasingly regular (about 5 minutes apart, each one lasting 25 to 45 seconds). A pinkish vaginal venting (called “show”) usually increases as labor progresses. WHAT HELPS It can be nonflexible to believe that this is it. Take time to settle lanugo and work with the labor. Once again, the weightier thing to do is to take superintendency of yourself. Alternate rest and worriedness (for instance, take a nice walk followed by a relaxing shower), eat hands digested foods and drink plenty of fluids. Many women find that the weightier place to be during this phase of childbirth is at home, where you can move well-nigh and do things for yourself. - When contractions wilt so strong that you can no longer talk yourself through them, try using relaxation and zoetic strategies. Your support people should be nearby, helping you to stay wifely and confident.Alimonythe environment pleasant—perhaps listen to music, ask your partner for a shoulder massage or prepare the baby’s room.  Most women throne to a birthing facility as they progress from early labor to zippy labor. You may want help to decide when to go to the birthing center. Traditionally women have used the 5-1-1 rule; that is, when contractions come every 5 minutes, each lasting a full minute, and have been that way for an hour.Increasinglyrecent recommendations are 4-1-1 (four minutes apart) or plane 3-1-1 (three minutes apart). However, listen to your soul and trust your instincts. If you finger it is time to go to your birthing center, follow that instinct.ZippyLabor WHAT'S HAPPENING Contractions protract to wilt longer and stronger, until they’re sooner well-nigh 3 minutes untied and last for well-nigh a minute or more. During this phase, which often takes from 2 to 6 hours, the cervix effaces and dilates to well-nigh 8 centimeters. Women in zippy labor usually get very focused as the nonflexible work begins. WHAT HELPS Now labor has real momentum. Listen to your soul and develop a rhythm with it. Do something zippy during the contractions, such as zoetic in a pattern or moving around, and rest between contractions. As the strength of the contractions increases, so does your need for support. All present should focus their sustentation on you. Changing positions commonly not only helps you stay increasingly comfortable, but moreover enhances progress. The environment can influence your labor. Make it peaceful and personalize it with music and dim lights. Transition WHAT'S HAPPENING The cervix finishes dilating and effacing. Contractions are now powerful and efficient, so this phase is usually quite short (less than an hour). Some women finger nauseous, shaky, restless or irritable during this phase of childbirth. WHAT HELPS To alimony from feeling overwhelmed, focus on one wrinkle at a time.Protractwith breathing, vocalization (if it helps) and rhythmic movement.Planethough rest periods are short, they indulge you to relax tightly and restore yourself. Those providing labor support should offer tropical undivided attention, unwavering encouragement and praise. If you’re using a zoetic pattern, your team should try “conducting” to help you focus or moving with you in rhythm to your breathing. Stage TwoLineageWHAT'S HAPPENING Your soul shifts from dilating to pushing. The victual makes his way lanugo through the pelvis and lineage canal. This phase can last from 15 minutes to several hours. Although it may take several contractions without full dilation to be noticeable, most women get an urge to withstand down. Your soul is giving you well-spoken instructions on what to do. The urge to push usually gets stronger as the victual descends. Many women finger increasingly clearheaded and have a renewed sense of optimism when pushing begins. Just surpassing the victual is born, you may finger a burning, stinging, stretching sensation at the vaginal opening: A sure sign that you’re scrutinizingly there! As the baby’s throne emerges, it turns to one side to indulge the shoulders to uncurl and then the rest of his soul slips outs. WHAT HELPS The urge to push usually feels strongest at the peak of the contractions and then fades toward the end. Just follow withal and do what feels right. For most women, this ways taking normal breaths as the contractions build and then pushing when it becomes irresistible. It may help to make sounds (much like athletes do) in response to what you’re feeling. Labor supporters should provide quiet, reassuring encouragement. There’s no need for yelling. If progress is slow, transpiration positions. Squatting, all-fours and side-lying are all good options. Let go of any tension in your perineum. Applying warm compresses there may help you push. Rest tightly between contractions. Stage Three Recovery WHAT'S HAPPENING Your victual can be placed on your stomach so you can be skin-to-skin immediately without birth. There should be a wait of at least one minute (preferably 1-3 minutes) surpassing the umbilical string is cut to indulge the thoroughbred delivering iron-rich hemoglobin in your placenta to transfer to your baby. . What a mix of feelings—excitement, joy, awe, and relief! The placenta is delivered, usually within the first 10 minutes. Your health-care provider will make sure you are comfortable. Cold compresses are often unromantic to the perineum to ease discomfort and reduce swelling. Many women get after-pains or “the shakes” without childbirth. WHAT HELPS Touch, frivol and petting your victual without time constraints.Alimonyhim skin-to-skin with you from the moment of birth. This is a good time for your first breastfeeding, which tightens the uterus and decreases bleeding. All routine infant procedures can be washed-up without removing the victual from your side. Request that measuring, weighing and applying eye medication be elapsed for a few hours.   Released: April 24, 2012 02:50 PM | Updated: May 18, 2018 05:38 PM Keywords: Planning for Labor | Labor Day | Stages of Labor 5 Likes To leave a comment, click on the  icon on the left side of the screen.   Recent Stories Getting the Most from Your Hospital Tour Updated 11:21AM EST, Tue Mar 7th, 2017 A hospital tour is a unconfined opportunity to gather important information to help make sure your baby's inrush is as smooth as possible. Cesarean Awareness Updated 10:43AM EDT, Tue Oct 18th, 2016 Did you know April is Cesarean Awareness Month? LamazeZoeticUpdated 10:01AM EDT, Wed Oct 12th, 2016 Finding the time, energy, and peace to squatter your fears—or do anything that requires mental focus—is a rencontre in our culture. One pregnant woman shared that without years of working at her... Copyright © 2018 Lamaze International. All rights reserved. Privacy Statement | Terms of Use×OKCancel