Pregnancy Lounge

Tag: stages

  • The Second Stage of Labor

    During the second stage of labor, your cervix is fully-dilated to 10 centimeters and as your baby makes his or her way down the birth canal, your contractions may actually space out to about 2-4 minutes apart and become more regular. This may allow you to rest and take a breather briefly between contractions. Although it may be difficult, rest and save your strength for pushing.

    Pushing and Delivery

    At this point, the pressure on your rectum increases and the urge to push becomes overwhelming, as your baby descends. You may feel more in control once pushing begins, as well as a sense of relief to be able to play a more active role in the birth process. You may also experience a burst of renewed energy as delivery draws ever-so-close. The urge to push usually feels the strongest at the peak of a contraction, then fades toward the end.

    Positioning and breathing will impact your pushing. Unless you are making significant progress, you may be advised to change positions about every half hour, which may enhance progress. Allow your partner (or support person) to help you into a semi-sitting or a semi-squatting position, which allows gravity to work for you, not against you. Squatting utilizes gravity, helping your pelvis to open up and make more room for your baby. It can also take some pressure off your back. Some hospitals even have squat bars that you can hold onto, or you can use your partner for added support.

    The side-lying position may also help ease back pressure, if you are experiencing “back labor” during pushing. For this position, you or your partner may hold up your top leg. A common position for pushing is having your feet in stirrups, while lying on your back. This position is most convenient for your doctor or midwife if you need an episiotomy, although gravity doesn’t help you out much while using this position.

    Whatever position you choose when pushing, take a deep breath, hold it in, bear down and concentrate. Curl into the push as much as you can, rounding your shoulders, putting your chin to your chest, allowing all of your muscles to work to help ease your baby into the world. Don’t be alarmed if you pass small amounts of urine or feces during the pushing stage, because many women do and it’s completely normal. It can even mean you are pushing effectively. Remember, every push brings you that much closer to holding your baby in your arms.

    Birth

    Some women want to use a mirror to see their baby’s head and may want to touch it as well. Seeing or feeling your baby’s head crown may give you added inspiration to keep pushing. Just before your baby is born, you may feel a burning, stinging or stretching sensation at the opening of your vagina. This often happens as your perineum widens to allow your baby’s head to descend (often called “crowning”) and your baby to pass through the birth canal.

    As your baby’s head emerges, it typically turns to one side to allow the shoulders to align. Once your baby’s head is delivered, you may be asked to stop pushing, so his or her airway can be cleared of excess mucus, by suctioning your baby’s nose and mouth. After that’s done, your doctor or midwife may assist the rest of the body out, usually with one last push. Congratulations! You have a brand new baby!

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  • Stages of Labor

    Every woman’s labor is different, following it’s own pattern (even from pregnancy to pregnancy) and there are some things that can’t be anticipated. Although every labor and birth is unique and your labor will unfold in a very special way, the process is remarkably and beautifully constant. You can expect a sequence of events, when everything goes smoothly.

    Labor is typically divided into three distinct stages. The first stage being when your cervix softens, dilates and thins out (effacement), ending in full dilation.

    The first stage can be divided into three “phases”: the early (or latent phase), the active phase and the transition phase. The second stage of labor is when your baby passes through the birth canal and is born. During the third stage, the placenta (afterbirth) is delivered.

    —Signs of Labor
    —Preterm Labor
    —Preterm Complications
    —Preterm Labor Causes
    —Preterm Prevention and Treatment
    —First Stage: Phase I
    —First Stage: Phase II
    —First Stage: Phase III
    —Second Stage
    —Third Stage
    —Induction of Labor
    —Induction of Labor Procedures
    —Labor Induction Risks
    —Do It Yourself Labor Induction

  • The First Stage of Labor – Active Labor

    During the second part of the longest stage of labor, your cervix really opens up, continuing to dilate from about 4 centimeters up to 8 centimeters. Your contractions continue to become more intense, more regular and last longer, as your labor progresses. They get closer together, eventually about 3-5 minutes apart and may last over a minute each, as your baby gets in position for birth. Read more on labor below:

    Active Labor

    Physically, you may be feeling increasing pressure and pain in your back. You may be much less comfortable than the earlier phase, as your labor pains intensify and become more frequent. During this phase, you may feel more fatigue, leg discomfort and increasing mucousy discharge (bloody show), as well as diarrhea. If your water didn’t break earlier, it will now or your doctor or midwife may choose to rupture your membranes sometime during this phase. During active labor, some women request an epidural or other pain medication.

    Emotionally, you may feel increasingly restless and anxious, especially if this phase lasts a long time. Your mood may become more serious and your initial excitement may begin to wane as your pain gets worse. You may find it very difficult to concentrate, while dealing with contractions and your support person can help keep you focused.

    At this point, you will be headed for the hospital or there already. To reduce your growing discomfort, try breathing exercises and relaxation techniques (the ones that you may have learned in childbirth class), if you feel like doing them. Concentrate on resting and relaxing, because the more relaxed you are, the easier and quicker your labor may be. Soaking in a warm bath or taking a shower, may be helpful at this time. Experiment with different positions to find ones that are more comfortable. Discomfort can often be helped by positions that allow gravity to speed dilation, including walking, squatting or rolling on a birth ball. If you are confined to bed, try lying on your side.

    If your doctor or midwife agrees that it’s alright to do so, drink clear liquids or suck on ice chips to keep from becoming dehydrated and also to keep your mouth from becoming dry. If you become hungry, you can ask if it’s okay to have a light snack, such as Jell-O, although many hospitals won’t allow you to eat anything during labor. In between contractions, get up and walk around, if possible. Take this time to use the bathroom, because urinating regularly will allow your baby’s head to move down more easily into the birth canal. A gentle massage from your partner (or support person) may be welcomed, although some women prefer not to be touched during this phase of labor.

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