So after nine months of headaches, trouble sleeping, and the occasional mood swing, Baby is finally about to be here! Now, there’s just one more big event before Baby is in your arms.
What is labor?
Labor is the process through which you give birth to Baby, and is broken down into three stages:
- The first stage is comprised of two phases: early labor and active labor
- Pushing
- Delivering the placenta
Early labor
This phase of labor can be full of unpredictable stops and starts. For some it spans a few hours, while for others – it lasts for a few days. Irregular contractions mean it’s hard to time them or know whether they’ll be mild or breath-takingly strong. Often you’ll have a few hours of contractions, and then a long break or sleep before they start up again.
Some folks pass their mucus plug or have spotting at this point as well. It’s also possible for your water to leak or break during early labor, so there are many reasons you might want to throw on a pad. If you think you’re in early labor prior to 37 weeks, you should call your OB provider immediately. The same is true if there’s continued or heavy bleeding, decreased fetal movement, or if your water breaks and has a brown or greenish look.
Active labor
Active labor begins when your cervical dilation starts to pick up, and you’re past the 4-5 centimeter mark. Although the exact speed of dilation is different for everyone, first timers are much more likely to go slowly than people who have had a vaginal birth before. Still, we’re talking hours at this point – not days. Yay! Contractions will be regular, consistent, and will require your concentration and breathing. Many people will lose their appetite, feel a shift in their mood, or consider pain control, like an epidural or nitrous gas.
Pushing
Once you’ve reached a full 10 centimeters of dilation, it’ll be time to get Baby on out of there! Pushing can be tough, so it’s important to lean on the support of your team. You might try different positions like laying on your side, squatting, or sitting on the toilet. It can take time to get the hang of how to use your pushing energy in the right ways to move your baby down and out. In fact, it can take a few hours to push Baby out, particularly if this is your first vaginal delivery or you have an epidural.
Delivering the placenta
Once Baby is born, you’ll still need to deliver the placenta, also known as the afterbirth (get it?). This usually only takes a few minutes, and its exit may be accompanied by a bit of blood. Because the placenta is soft and squishy, it’s usually a relief to push it out.
This is also the time that your OB provider will monitor your bleeding, check for any tears, and make sure you’re transitioning safely into this new phase! You’ll be holding Baby skin to skin and basking in your new baby glow.
The bottom line
Nobody ever said labor was easy, but take comfort in the fact that it’s something your team does every day- supporting new parents to birth babies safely. Every birth is different, and we hope yours is filled with joy. If you’re a bit worried about labor and delivery, writing a birth plan and taking childbirth classes can be excellent tools.
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
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Sources
- “Labor Induction: FAQ154.” ACOG. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, 1/12/2015. Web.
- “Labor and birth.” Womenshealth.gov. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, n.d. Web.
