Labour and Birth

During a vaginal childbirth, the first stage of labour lasts about 12 to 19 hours and starts when your baby settles lower into your pelvis. In response, your cervix begins to become thinner and dilate or widen. During this time you may feel strong regular contractions occurring every 5 to 20 minutes and lower back pain and cramping that doesn't go away. You may see a brownish or reddish mucus discharge which could be the mucus plug at the opening of your cervix falling out. Your water may break, which can either be a large gush of fluid or a continuous trickle. If you experience any of these symptoms, contact your doctor or midwife to see if you should go to the hospital. At the beginning of stage 2 of labour, which usually lasts from 20 minutes to 2 hours, your cervix is fully dilated to 10 centimetres and your baby's head has moved beyond the cervical opening into your breath canal. Your doctor or midwife will instruct you to push during your contractions and rest between them. In a normal delivery, your baby's head will rotate to face your back. During active labour, your uterus is divided into an active segment that contracts, pushing the baby downward and a flexible passive segment that remains relaxed, stretching to provide more room for the baby to pass through. When the top of your baby's head appears, or crowns, your doctor may make a small cut, called an episiotomy, to enlarge the vaginal opening. Then your doctor or midwife will give you instructions on how to push your baby out. As your baby's head passes through the breath canal, it moulds into an elongated shape. An elongated head shape will resolve itself within a few days as the skull bones shift back into place. After your baby's head exits the breath canal, his or her head and shoulders will rotate to help the shoulders pass through the breath canal. Your baby's shoulders are delivered one after the other in order to fit through your pelvis. Once the shoulders emerge, the rest of your baby slides out easily. After your baby is born, his or her umbilical cord will be cut. In stage 3 of labour, which may last 5 to 30 minutes, mild contractions will help push the placenta out of the uterus. During this stage, you and your baby may begin bonding through skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding.