The work can sometimes be slower than expected. This can happen if your contractions don`t come often enough, aren`t strong enough, or if your baby is in an uncomfortable position. There is evidence that it is best not to cut the umbilical cord immediately, so your midwife will wait between 1 and 5 minutes after birth. This can happen earlier if there are concerns about you or your baby – for example, if the cord is tightly wrapped around your baby`s neck. Once your baby`s head is born, most of the hard work is done. The rest of their body is usually born during the next 1 or 2 contractions. At the beginning of labor, contractions may begin slowly, perhaps only one or two per hour. They gradually become more frequent and stronger at this stage. Your cervix will dilate to about three centimeters. On average, the active labor phase lasts 3-5 hours with contractions of about 45-60 seconds at intervals of about 3-5 minutes. If you haven`t already been to the hospital when your water ruptured in the first phase, this is usually the time to go to the hospital.
The hardest part has passed. In this last phase of labor, contractions will continue, but they will not be as painful, nor as regular as in the first two stages of labor. Also known as latent labor, early labor is the first part of the first stage and is usually the longest stage. “The beginning of labour is when the mother begins to feel the onset of painful contractions and the cervix begins to dilate,” says Mia Di Julio, MD, OB-GYN at Providence Saint John`s Health Center. The early or latent phase is the beginning of labor. They have slight contractions spaced 15 to 20 minutes apart and last 60 to 90 seconds. Their contractions become more regular until they are spaced less than 5 minutes apart. Contractions cause your cervix to dilate and erase, which means it becomes shorter and thinner and more ready to be shipped. In the early stages, your cervix expands 0 to 6 centimeters, and contractions become stronger over time. During this phase, you may have a discharge from your vagina that is clear to slightly bloody.
Preterm births are diagnosed in a woman who is 20 to 37 weeks pregnant and has regular uterine contractions. This means about 6 or more contractions in 1 hour. If the placenta does not dissolve naturally or if you start bleeding profusely, your midwife or doctor will advise you to move to active management. You can do this at any time during the 3rd. Work phase. You can ask to be monitored electronically, even if there are no concerns. Electronic monitoring can sometimes limit the amount of travel you can. During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, you may have episodes where your abdomen tightens and feels firm and then relaxes. These are episodes of tightening (contraction) of the uterine muscles called Braxton Hicks contractions. These normal contractions may be mild, or they may be strong enough to make you stop doing what you are doing.
The work is done in three phases. The first phase goes from the moment you have regular contractions for the first time to when you are ready to give birth to your baby. This is an early or latent phase, when the contractions are mild and the cervix begins to change so that the baby can pass; an active phase when the contractions are strong and most of the labor takes place to prepare your body for childbirth; and a transition period where you feel the need to push. The second phase of labor begins as soon as you are fully extended to 10 cm. Your provider will let you know it`s time to push your baby out. This phase can be as short as 20 minutes or as long as a few hours. Here are some important things you need to know about the second phase of labor: You`ll also need electronic monitoring to check if your baby is coping with contractions, as well as regular vaginal exams to check if the drip is working. What you may feel: For many women, labor is like cramps in the lower back or abdomen. They each last about 30 to 45 seconds. You may not be uncomfortable, but you`ll know it`s early labor because contractions will keep coming (Braxton Hicks doesn`t like contractions that go away). You might also lose your mucus plug and/or the bloody spectacle, which means the cervix changes to prepare for childbirth.
Your water could also break. The first phase of labor is the longest phase, especially if you give birth for the first time, and can last from a few days to a few hours. Early labour usually lasts the longest and the transition the shortest. You can now feel a wide range of emotions: euphoria, fear, pride, disbelief, excitement (to name a few) and, of course, intense relief that it`s all over. As exhausted as you may be, you`ll probably also feel a boost in energy, and all sleep thoughts will disappear for now. It is usually during the active phase of labour that you go to the hospital or birth centre. Guests are asked to wear a hospital dress upon arrival. Your pulse, blood pressure and temperature are checked.
A monitor is placed on your abdomen for a short time or continuously to look for uterine contractions and assess the baby`s heart rate. Your doctor will also examine your cervix during a pelvic exam to determine how far labor has progressed. The established labor is when your cervix has expanded to about 4 cm and regular contractions open your cervix. You may also want your partner, friend, or family member to be a support person to help you with your work. They can accompany you to birth education classes to learn how you can help, such as timing your contractions, helping you relax, and helping you move to find a comfortable position. Check with your provider about birth education courses in your area. Your midwife or doctor may do this by making a small fracture of the membrane during a vaginal examination. This can make your contractions stronger and more painful, so your midwife will talk to you about pain relief. .