Depending on who you ask there are a number of different stages of labor. Some say 3, some 4, I personally see of there being 6 stages of labor.
Here I want you to understand these different stages of labor by knowing what happens during each stage, the type of contractions and sensations you will feel, as well as some of the emotional and behavioral signs during each stage of labor. I will also explain the Natural Alignment Plateau (NAP), how labor is not always perfectly consistent.
Pre-Labor
What happens in Pre-Labor
Towards the end of your pregnancy you will experience some more changes within your body. Some are noticeable and some are not. Most common is Braxton-Hicks contractions, but there is more.
Your body will start producing hormones such as Relaxin and Hyaluronidase. You will start to produce Colostrum and immunities that you baby will need and receive through nursing. You blood volume will increase by 40-50%. The cervix will also began to soften and you will loose the mucous plug.
Contractions and Sensations during Pre-Labor
Braxton-Hicks
The feeling of Braxton-Hicks is a little different for everyone. Some describe it as feeling like menstrual cramps while others describe it as a tight hard feeling around their stomach and uterus. They are typically not painful but can be very uncomfortable. I find it best to remember to smile each time I feel them. Remembering my body is amazing and giving birth, although painful, is beautiful and something to look forward to.
Note: I’m 30 weeks pregnant and was having some very uncomfortable consistent Braxton-Hicks, I was asked by my sister “are you dehydrated?”. Yes, I was. Water and electrolytes (and a nap) calmed everything down.
With Braxton-Hicks there is no rhythm or consistent timing with them at all. They come and go and can be short or long.
Braxton-Hicks are sometimes called practice contractions or false labor. It true that they are not labor contraction but they are preparing you for labor. These practice contractions are conditioning or warming up and strengthening your muscles for the real workout. Braxton-Hicks also help with effacement, the thinning of the cervix before dilating.
Relaxin and Hyaluronidase
These two hormones will start to increase naturally in your body as you get closer to giving birth. Relaxin will help soften your joints and ligaments towards the end of your pregnancy. You might feel some hip or pelvic pain, due to slipping of joints. It can be uncomfortable but you can smile at this as well knowing while you push out your baby your joints and ligaments will be able to stretch accordingly.
If you have joint or hip pain try some easy stretches and lots of little movement to help keep everything aligned. If needed you can also receive chiropractic care or massage therapy.
Hyaluronidase is a natural enzyme that helps soften the cervix. You will not likely notice this happening but be glad that it is. Dilation and effacement is depended on it.
Colostrum
Colostrum is the first milk you will produce for baby. It is high in protein, antibodies, vitamins and minerals all designed to give your baby the best nutrients to develop a strong immune system right away.
You will start to produce colostrum towards the end of your pregnancy as the rest of your body gets ready for labor you will also be getting ready to feed and provide everything your baby needs through your milk. Amazing! You may notice some tenderness, some colostrum discharge or a fuller shape in your breast as you near the end of your pregnancy.
Emotional Signs and Behavior During Pre-Labor
Those last few weeks of pregnancy can an emotional roller coaster! You are so excited yet so tired. Ready for whats next, yet not able to cause anything to happen. Anxious, excited, eager, while nesting.
Take your time to relax and enjoy the time. Also, give yourself plenty of little things to do and look forward to doing the next day to distract yourself. Go on walks, get your hair cut and nails done. Wash all those little baby clothes and fold each one with a prayer. Take you time to do things and have things to do.
Early First Stage Labor
What happens in Early First Stage Labor
It begins. This is it, although most of the time you still are not sure its truly happening. You will start to experience labor contractions. If you haven’t loosed you mucus plug you will now, possibly have some bloody show, and you may experience diarrhea. You will begin to dilate and you cervix will thin with effacement.
It is possible for you water to brake during any stage of Labor. For my first my water broke 45 minutes before I started experiencing any contractions. It was my first sign of Labor starting. With my second child my water broke with first (out of a total of two) pushes.
Contractions and Sensations during Early First Stage Labor
Contractions during early first stage labor are generally 10 or more minutes apart. They can range between 30-60 seconds long. They can feel a lot like strong Braxton-Hicks but the difference will be that they don’t go away with a change of activity or position. Sometimes it will be hard to tell if its true labor or false labor.
As the contractions get a little stronger you may also feel some cramping or pressure with your contractions. Moving around, walking will typically feels good. The more your move around gently, like walking, the more relaxed your muscles and ligaments will be. Tight muscles and ligaments will cause more pain. Walking also helps open up the pelvis, letting baby move down with ease.
You may get hungry or very thirsty, eating and drinking is important to remember during this stage. Later you may loose your appetite and you need the energy.
False Labor
I had false labor with my 3rd child. For 8 hours I experienced contractions that ranged from 10 eventually to 3 minutes apart. They were never very strong but were consistent. I went to the hospital and within a few minutes of being monitored they stopped. The nurse was very nice. Confirmed to me that I was having contractions, she saw them on the monitor. The day before at an appointment I was checked and was dilated at a 4. When the nurse check me after my 8 hours of contractions I was still at a 4.
These contractions were not true labor but paved the way so that 5 days later my body was so ready, my true labor was less than 2 hours. I almost gave birth in the car. Its a great story for another time.
My experience with false labor is that felt a lot like early stage labor but then stopped. The contractions did get stronger or harder as they got closer together.
Emotional Signs and Behavior During Early First Stage Labor
When in early labor you will be guessing, “is this it?”, “is this true labor or false?”. You may feel anxious, unsure, excited and nervous. You may be unsure if you should start keeping track of contractions.
Active First Stage Labor
What Happens in Active Labor
In first stage active labor you will dilate to about 6 or 7 centimeters. Effacement will also continue to progress. Contractions will be consistent typically around 5 minutes apart and 60 seconds long. They will become more powerful. You might become very thirsty, and loose your appetite. If you are hungry, eat.
You will also loose your sense of modesty. Nothing crazy, you just wont care. You will make yourself comfortable.
You baby will be dropping in ‘station’. ‘Station’ is how they measure how low you baby has dropped according to your pelvic ischial spine.
Contractions and Sensations During Active Labor
Contractions will become very close during active labor. The will be powerful, lasting about 60 seconds and around 5 minutes apart. You may be able to talk and move around during contraction but it will get a lot harder to do so.
You will feel more pressure on your bladder during contractions and might have to pee a little with each contraction. A lot of women may find themselves wanting to sit on the toilet or be in the shower during this stage.
You may also want to feel counter pressure on your lower back, feet, or shoulders or even your cervix. With my second birth my husband spent a lot of time massaging my feet and with each contraction he would squeeze them or push on my heel. It felt like relief. As the contraction got stronger I felt more out of control. The counter pressure was grounding and I gained my control and ability to relax through the pain.
Emotional Signs and Behavior During Active Labor
You will become more focused. Less talkative. You will not want to be disturbed but will be focused on what is happening inside your body rather than what going on in the room around you.
You may want music or some sort of background noise for relaxation. For some that is too much and you will want perfect silence.
You might still want to move or walk around but it will be slow and deliberate movements. A birthing ball is very helpful for that little but needed movement. Or, you may want to lie down very still as if you were sleeping. Resting and conserving your energy. You do not now how long your labor will be so conserve your energy physically and mentally.
The Natural Alignment Plateau (NAP)
Although this is typically not a “Stage” of labor it is very important to know and remember. The natural alignment plateau simply put, is that, labor does not always progress consistently.
For example, you may get checked to see how far you are dilated. The Dr/nurse says you are at a 4. After an hour you are now at a 5! So in your mind you may think “I’m dilating 1 cm every hour, I have 5 hours left.” NO, it may take 3 hours to get to a 6, or 30 minutes.
Depending on how soft the cervix is, the physical alignment of the baby in the birthing canal, your hormones, if you muscles need a break (they will take the break they need), production of immunities for baby. All these things can speed up or slow down contraction and labor.
Some people have even taken naps after they have gone through transition. There body needed a rest before they began pushing so contractions got easier and further apart and they were able to take a 10-20 minute nap before they felt the natural urge to push.
So remember that everyone’s body has a different timing for each and every thing that happens in her body during labor. So if things seem to slow down, don’t get discouraged. Remember you body knows when it needs a break in order to be 100% ready for the next part of labor. Labor is not a sprint, its a marathon. Conserve energy when you get the chance.
Transition
What Happens in Transition
Transition is an intense time between first stage labor and second stage labor. You will typically dilate from about an 8 to 10 very quickly during this stage. Transition is typically the hardest part of labor, pushing is not easy task, but with transition comes self-doubt and confusion. Remember, transition is the beginning of the end. Your baby will be here soon!
Contractions and Sensations Transition
Contractions are close together and long, 60-90 seconds. The can are often back to back giving you no rest in between. You may feel the baby moving down low into the pelvic with a lot of pressure.
Sweating, vomiting, hot and cold, nausea are all very common during this time. If your water has not broken it is likely to at this time.
Emotional Signs and Behavior Transition
This stage is the most emotional. You may experience self doubt, a feeling of giving up and surrender. This is the time most women ask for pain medication. This is also often the time the nurses will tell you an epidural is out of the question, its too late. If that is the case don’t be mad, be encouraged its almost over. You can do it!
Due to all the intense sensations you may experience a lot of emotional response that you don’t understand. You may experience panic, quick changes of mood, anger, laughter, sadness all within moments of each other.
Funny Story: I was walking in a park down the street from the hospital while in labor with my 4th. As we were headed back to the car to go to the hospital we were passing by lots of little kids practicing soccer. I started going through transition crying hysterically, barely able to walk and then the cry turned into laughing like a mad women! I was very loud and probably scared lots of children but I didn’t look back just got into the car and drove away.
The good news is that transition does not last long. It is normally between 10-30 minutes. Remember transition is a normal part of labor. You may be feeling out of control but that does not mean there is anything wrong. You may feel fear but you fear is not based on facts. Let others know how what you are feeling so they can help reassure you that everything is okay. Believe them and surrender. Let your body relax, cry and remember you get to hold your baby soon.
Second Stage Labor
What Happens in Second Stage Labor
Second stage labor means it just about over. This stage can still be as short as 15 minutes to around 4 hours. You will feel a calmness (after the storm of transition) and a determination. This is the stage that you will feel a natural urge to push with your contractions. You may have some bloody discharge. If you water has not broken it will.
In second stage labor you might feel everything slow down. Contractions might calm down a lot for a while in order to rest your muscles. After going through transitions this might seem wrong, like your taking a step back. You might feel the need to move along, lets get this done! Remember NAP. You are not taking a step back, your body is just preparing for the next big thing at the right time.
Contractions and Sensations During Second Stage Labor
Unless you body decides to take a break contractions typically get stronger. With your contractions you will feel a pressure so strong it will make you push naturally. When this starts do not push anymore than your body naturally pushes. Conserve your energy and let you body determine how strong and how long to push. Do not push if you do not feel a contraction. You might not feel the urge to push at every contraction. If you don’t feel it, don’t push. Conserve your energy. Relax.
When you baby is crowning, and you cervix is at its widest (13-14cm) you will feel a burning sensation we call “The Ring of Fire”. This feeling is typically for only a few moments. Once you push the head out it will go away like it was never there. Then the most satisfying feeling of release as the baby comes out. This is my favorite part! The feeling out the baby sliding out with so much release of pressure and pain bring my so much joy!
Emotional Signs and Behavior During Second Stage Labor
At this point in labor, modesty is gone. You will not care or even notice how much of you is exposed or covered. Often you will experience a feeling of determination. After the self-doubt of transition you will feel like new person. You will know you can do this and sometimes get a second wind. You might be more talkative and alert during this stage or you might concentrate inwardly with an intense focus.
But don’t forget or be discouraged if you feel so tired you take a nap in between contractions. This does not mean you are regressing, this is still progress. Remember NAP.
Post Labor
What Happens Post Labor
Your baby is born! You are done! Well… almost. Post Labor is the last stage of labor. This is different from postpartum, which is a whole other article.
In post labor you will continue to experience contractions. You still need to push out the placenta. This is so much easier than all your other labor.
The nurses or midwife will come and push on your belly, feeling the uterus. This can be very painful and uncomfortable. They want to feel the uterus and make sure it continues to contract to reduce the risk of hemorrhaging. As it contracts it will help slow down your bleeding so you don’t loose too much blood too quickly.
Contractions and Sensations During Post Labor
Typically the contraction are not as bad as they just where. I personally have barely notice them in comparison to what I just went through with pushing and transition. Others say they were horrible and unexpected. Often Dr’s will give Pitocin (oxytocin) after you deliver to make sure you continue to contract and don’t hemorrhage. Pitocin induces contractions and can cause them to be more painful than necessary. It is sometimes needed but often can be avoidable.
Try to nurse your baby right away. I always try to get my babies latched before as soon as I’m holding them. When you start to nurse you will release your own natural oxytocin that will help with contractions and slowing down bleeding.
By nursing right away you will also be giving you newborn the natural antibodies with the colostrum that you just made. This gives your baby the needed nutrients it needs to protect its self from all the new elements it will be coming into contact with as they enter our world.
Emotional Signs and Behavior During Post Labor
Other sensation and behaviors you may feel after birth is sweating, shaking or shivering, lots of adrenaline. You might also feel dizzy or nauseous due to the loss of blood. Let people take care of you and relax. You body needs rest, so rest and relax.
A feeling of relief along with so many other emotions as you get to see and hold your new born baby. The best thing to do is stay warm, drink water and juice or electrolytes. Eat if hungry. Relax and enjoy your new born baby!
Leave a Reply