Childbirth Pages

Labor and Delivery

The Stages of Birth

I am only going to give a once over lightly here, since I know there are many writers who have covered this far more expertly. This page will give a framework outline, however. Basically, there is the first and, usually, longest time frame and that is the entertainment stage.In this, the beginning contractions of labor start. They might be quite mild and sporadic.

The rest times between contractions give an idea of how labor is progressing, which is why your physician or midwife instruct you to call them when contractions are a certain number of minutes apart. I don't know why it's termed entertainment, except it can be a little boring waiting for matters to escalate. Entertainment in the form of doing some housework or taking a shower is in order, I think. Although it is a good idea to get some rest, I always found that hard to do; the anticipation of the big event was too much!

The second part of labor is the transition, the length of this phase and the intensity of contractions varies widely with individual women. This is the phase where you need your breathing methods, your coaches, and your resources of patience and confidence.

The real work of moving the baby into the birth canal is accomplished during this phase. The contractions become stronger and closer, thinning out the cervix and widening its opening in stages which are measured in centimeters- when you are a ten, all systems are go. The transition contractions are the most demanding, and several different breathing exercises are used. Some women get very irritable and it is common to feel frustrated and doubt ones capability.

The birth coach is really helpful at this point, in encouraging concentration and giving comfort. If you have chosen a hospital birth, their agenda is for a particular intensity and duration for these contractions, so pitocin is adjusted to accomplish this within a set time framework.

In my homebirths, I have experienced both intense transition and a mellow one. Both were fine births, the intense one was quicker because that is what those nice strong contractions do.

The third portion of labor is the pushing or expulsion phase, the stage is either a great relief or the final challenge- depending on your point of view. I took the latter. After experiencing the pushing phase, I knew why it was called `labor`. It was the hardest work I'd ever done! But I felt the same sense of relief and accomplishment when it was over as with a job well done, and that incomparable feeling of a tiny warm baby on the outside of my stomach.

During the pushing, there are different positions and helps for giving birth. A new idea I have heard of was a water-filled chair; birth stools and beanbag chairs, even `water` births are possibilities. There are many options, the 'on the back' position is the worst- prolonging and increasing difficulty of pushing.

The final phase of your birth experience is the expulsion of the placenta. After all the work of getting that baby out, this is simplicity for you. There will be some more contractions with which you will push the placenta out, without too much trouble.

The important matter with this is that the placenta be whole and intact, something that the person helping with the delivery concerns themselves. As long as no one tugs too hard on the cord, all should be well.

Strictly speaking, the stages of birth are divided up differently: entertainment and transition in 1st stage, pushing (expulsion) 2nd, and placenta is third. That never made much sense to me from the woman's point of view. When you are experiencing labor there is usually a division of characteristic feelings between the beginning of labor and the transition phase. A marked change in the process of labor and birth. So, I hope you'll excuse me for bending the definitions a little.

Birth Positions


Birth positions can help with managing the challenge of the later part of labor, changing positions, and moving around help maintain comfort and control. Some women want to walk, some feel better in a squat position, and there are choices such as water birthing and using a large 'birth ball' during the time when contractions increase in intensity. These are all significant in helping women to have a good birth experience. The one position that is least helpful is unfortunately the one which is most often employed in hospital births, the supine position called the "lithotomy position ".

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