Is your baby due soon? Let's learn exactly about the stages of labor!

As the baby's due date approaches, you may feel a lot of emotions, such as great joy on one side, a little fear, and curiosity on the other. All of this is very normal. The most important stage of your journey as a mother is the day your baby comes into this world. So, it is very important that you are clearly aware of how this process happens, that is, the stages of labor. Then you can face it well. Let's talk about this simply, in a way that you understand.

What are the Stages of Labor?

Simply put, labor is the natural process your body goes through to deliver your baby from your womb into the world. For a first-time mother, this process can usually take between 12 and 24 hours. However, with a second or third child, this time can be much shorter.

This entire process is divided into three main stages:

1. First stage: The time from the time you start having regular periods until your cervix is ​​fully dilated to allow for the birth of your baby.

2. Second stage: The moment when the baby is actually born into this world.

3. Third stage: The stage where the placenta is expelled after the baby is born.

Now let's look at each of these cases separately in detail.

First time: From the beginning to the end of the festival

This is the longest stage of labor. It can last up to 20 hours. This stage begins when your cervix begins to dilate. It ends when your cervix is ​​fully dilated to 10 centimeters. This first stage is further divided into three stages.

Early or Latent Phase

This is the beginning of labor. During this time, your contractions will not be as intense. They will come about every 15 to 20 minutes and last about 60-90 seconds. Over time, the intervals between contractions will gradually decrease, and they will start coming about every 5 minutes. These contractions are caused by your cervix opening (dilating) and effacing (effacing) to make way for the baby to come out. During this stage, your cervix will open from 0 to 6 centimeters. You may also have a clear or light pink discharge from your vagina.

Things you can do at this time:

• Take a walk.
• Change your posture frequently.
• Continue to practice the breathing and relaxation techniques you have practiced.
• Sit in a tub or take a bath in lukewarm water. However, if your water breaks (your water bag breaks), do not sit in a tub without first consulting your doctor.
• Get some rest if possible.
• Drink plenty of water and fluids. Eat a light meal.
• If you haven't prepared your hospital bag, get it ready.

Active Phase

At this stage, when your cervix is ​​6 to 8 centimeters dilated, the pain will start to get a little more intense. It will come about every 3 minutes and last about 45 seconds. You may have backaches, and you may also have a little more vaginal discharge (“bloody show”). If your amniotic membrane ruptures at this point, which is when your “water breaks,” the pain can suddenly become more intense.

This stage usually lasts between 4 and 8 hours. You may feel a little anxious at this point as your focus is entirely on managing the pain. You may become more dependent on your support person.

When you go to the hospital, your pulse , blood pressure, and temperature will be checked. A monitor will be placed on your abdomen to monitor your baby's heartbeat and uterine contractions. The doctor will check your cervix to see how far along you are in labor. If necessary, an IV line may be placed in your arm to give you medication or fluids.

A few tips to make this step easier:

• Try changing your posture.If your back pain is severe, getting on all fours may provide relief.
• Walk a little while you are pain-free.
• Urinate frequently. This will allow the baby's head to descend.
• Continue breathing exercises.
• Ask the person with you to massage you regularly.
• Listen to calm music.
• Think about just one pain. Remember, every pain brings you closer to your baby.

Transition Phase

This is the shortest, but most painful, stage of labor. It takes about 15 minutes to an hour for the cervix to fully dilate to 8 to 10 centimeters. The pain comes every 2-3 minutes and lasts about a minute. You may feel a pressure in your rectum, and your back pain may increase.

At this point, you may feel a strong urge to push . But don't push until your doctor or midwife tells you to. Pushing before your cervix is ​​fully dilated can cause it to swell and tear, delaying delivery even further.

Second stage: Delivery

The second stage begins when the cervix is ​​fully dilated to 10 centimeters. This stage lasts until the baby is born. This can take 2 hours or more.

The pains that come this time are a little different from the first time. They come every 2-5 minutes and last about 60-90 seconds. You will feel a strong urge to push each time the pain comes. You should push properly according to the doctor's instructions. Rest as much as possible while there is no pain.

If necessary, you may be given pain medication or have a small incision called an episiotomy made to enlarge the vaginal opening. This incision is made to help the baby come out quickly or to prevent the vagina from tearing abnormally.

There is a way to measure how far down the baby's head has descended at this point, called station . When the baby's head reaches the center of the pelvis and becomes stuck, it is called 'station 0'. This can be used to measure the progress of labor.

When the baby is born, the doctor will hold the baby's head slightly down. This is to prevent the baby's lungs from getting filled with fluid, mucus, and blood. Then, the doctor will clean the baby's mouth and nose with a small bulb syringe and place the baby on your stomach. After a while, the umbilical cord will be cut.

Third stage: Placenta detachment

The third stage begins after the baby is born. This is when the placenta (or “afterbirth”) that was attached to the uterine wall separates and comes out through the vagina. This is the shortest stage of labor. It can last from a few minutes to about 20 minutes. You will still feel some pain, but it will not be as intense as before. If you had an episiotomy or a small tear, it will be sewn up at this point.