Did you know that giving birth is actually a process of three stages? No wonder it can take quite a bit of time! Understanding the role of each stage can help to soothe some of those labour and birth worries you might be feeling. Here’s the lowdown on each one. Stage 1: Contractions and dilation The first stage of giving birth is all about cervix dilation. This happens when your uterus contracts, making the wall of your cervix thinner and wider. Initially, the contractions will tend to be short, with long durations in between. Later, the contractions will become longer and more intense. You’ll probably already feel like pushing during this stage. That said, you usually need to wait until you’re 10 cm dilated before your gynecologist or nurse will give you the go-ahead to bear down on contractions. Stage 2: Down the birth canal When your cervix is dilated to 10 cm, your gynecologist or nurse is usually able to give you the go-ahead to push. After holding back, you’ll probably feel relief to be able to take an active role and bear down on your contractions. It’s also handy to know that compared to the first stage, this second stage of labour is much quicker. It can take around an hour, although sometimes as a little as ten minutes! Stage 3: Delivering the placenta Hooray! Your baby is out in the world! You’ll probably be pretty exhausted by now, but there’s one more stage: delivering the placenta. Most of the time this happens automatically and you’ll find that further contractions naturally push the placenta out. If need be, your gynecologist or nurse may also massage your uterus or gently pull on the umbilical cord to encourage the placenta to come out. And now it’s time to get to know your little one! When your baby arrives a gynecologist or nurse will usually place them on your stomach or chest so you can spend time skin-to-skin and try for a first feed. Enjoy! © Philips 2017 All rights reserved.
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