| Before giving birth to a child, a woman must go | | | | The contractions might come from ten to ten |
| through different stages during labor and childbirth. | | | | minutes and might last about 30 seconds. |
| These stages are three and consist of: the first | | | | Sometimes these early labor contractions are |
| stage begins with the onset of the contraction | | | | quite painful. |
| and gradual effacement and dilatation of the | | | | During this phase women can experience |
| cervix. While the cervix dilates the contractions | | | | increasing mucousy vaginal discharge which may |
| are longer and stronger. The last part of active | | | | be tinged with blood. This is a normal thing but if |
| labor which is the end of the first stage the | | | | more than a tinge of blood is seen, a doctor |
| cervix dilates to 10 centimeters. This last part is | | | | should be called. |
| called transition. | | | | Active labor is the second phase in the first stage. |
| Afterwards the second stage of labor begins | | | | In this phase contractions become frequent and |
| after the full dilatation and ends after the birth of | | | | the cervix begins to dilate faster going from 3-4 |
| the baby. This stage is also known as the pushing | | | | centimeters to 10. Toward the end of the active |
| stage. | | | | labor the baby might deign to descend. |
| The final stage begins after the birth of the baby | | | | This phase lasts different from woman to |
| and involves the separation and the delivery of | | | | woman. For a woman that has his first baby this |
| the placenta. | | | | phase might last about six hours until she will get |
| For women that are facing the first birth labor | | | | to full dilation. |
| and delivery lasts about 15 hours. There are many | | | | The last part of the active phase is transition. This |
| cases of women that give birth in more than 20 | | | | period marks the transition to the second stage |
| hours. Few of them are lucky and deliver more | | | | of labor. This phase is the most intense part of |
| quickly. For women who gave birth before the | | | | the labor because the contractions begin to be |
| average period for a delivery is around 8 hours. | | | | stronger, coming about every two or three |
| The premier phase in the first stage is called early | | | | minutes. This phase might last from a few |
| labor. This phase consists of regular contraction | | | | minutes to a few hours. |
| and progressively cervix dilatation. This stage | | | | Pushing, the second stage comes, after the |
| occurs at 37 weeks after the conception. If the | | | | transition. |
| contractions occur before this time the future | | | | In a few minutes after giving birth the uterus |
| mothers should ask a specialist that can | | | | begins to contract. The first contraction separates |
| determine if it is preterm labor. As we said before | | | | the placenta from the uterine wall. This phase |
| the contractions begin to be longer and stronger. | | | | usually lasts a few minutes. |