Preparing for labor: What will happen during labor?
Labor is the way your body helps move your baby out of your uterus, through your birth canal, and out into the world.
The cervix, or neck, of the uterus thins and opens, and the powerful muscles of the uterus contract, pulling the cervix up and shortening your uterus, rather like pulling a turtleneck down over your head.
Your uterus continues to contract, pushing your baby through the pelvis and down and out through the birth canal.
After your baby is born, the placenta separates from the uterine wall and is expelled.
Think of labor as being divided into stages and phases.
Stage(phase)
What happens
How it feels
First stage (early)
Cervix effaces (thins) and dilates (opens).
May occur gradually over several days.
Most effacement, and dilation from 0 to 4 centimeters, occurs.
Lasts 8 to 10 hours or more for first baby.
Contractions last 30 to 40 seconds and begin every five minutes or so.
You may have hiccups, nausea, vomiting, shaking, and pelvic pressure. You may feel like giving up.
Take one contraction at a time.
Second stage (pushing)
Uterus pushes baby out.
Typically lasts 30 minutes to 3 hours or more.
Contractions last about 60 seconds, with 2 to 5 minutes from the end of one contraction to the beginning of the next one.
You may experience a "rest period" before you get an urge to push. You might get a surge of energy.
Pushing can feel like pressure, stinging, burning or pain. Pushing can take a long or short time, depending on how well you push, the position of your baby, and the effects of medicine.
Focus on helping your uterus push your baby out.
Third stage (after birth)
The placenta separates from the uterine wall and is expelled.
Typically lasts 3 to 30 minutes after your baby's birth.
Contractions are less intense and may even be easy.
Push gently when your health care provider asks you to do so.