MPS 102

The stages of labour

There are three stages of labour

First stage

Third stage

Second stage

First stage of labour

First stage: Latent Phase

• Not everyone will experience latent phase labour• Some changes can happen to the cervix during

the end of pregnancy in response to Braxton Hicks contractions

• Latent phase labour can be tiring and painful for some women.

• During this phase the cervix is softening, effacing and dilating to 2 to 3 cms

• Progress in this stage is often slow and may continue over a period of days

• During the active phase the cervix thins and opens

• Thinning = Effacement• Opening = Dilation.• The cervix is usually fully effaced by 5cms

dilation• Dilation is usually slower to 5cms, dilation

happens quicker after this• When dilation gets to 7 to 8 cms the labour

becomes more intense

First stage: Active phase

• Around 7 to 8 cms dilation labour usually becomes more intense

• Women often become restless and may become anxious

• Reassurance that labour is progressing well and that the end is in sight is helpful

• Women may start to feel some pressure and occasional expulsive urges but these are controllable by breathing through contractions

• Women may need to use a birth pool, shower or might want to use some Entenox at this time

First stage: Transition

• The second stage of labour begins when the cervix is fully open to 10 cms

• This is when the woman feels an overwhelming urge to bear down

• As the foetus descends into the vagina there is pressure on the anus which pouts

• The foetal head will become visible at the introitus, initially appearing and disappearing between contractions

• Once the head is crowned it does not recede between contractions

• The foetus moves through the birth canal and is completely born

Second stage of labour

Foetal head crowning with

woman kneeling

Anus Pouting

Perineum stretching

Head crowning

Vulva

• Once the baby is born the third stage of labour commences

• After a pause the uterus begins to contract again• The fundus will be felt to rise and become firm just above

the umbilicus• The contraction and retraction of the uterine muscle

reduces the size of the placental site and the placenta separates from the wall of the uterus

• A clot forms behind the placenta helping with separation• The placenta and membranes fall into the lower uterine

segment and the woman feels an urge to bear down• The woman is supported in an upright position and the

placenta and membranes are born• The third stage is complete once the placenta and

membranes are born and any bleeding is controlled.

Third stage of labour

Uterus

PlacentaRectum

Urinary bladder

Cord

Placenta separated, ready to be born

SymphisisPubis