- [Narrator] During a vaginal childbirth, the first stage of labor
lasts about 12 to 19 hours and starts when your baby
settles lower into your pelvis. In response, your cervix begins to efface or 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 two of labor, which can last from a few
minutes to three hours, your cervix is fully
dilated to 10 centimeters, and your baby's head has moved
beyond the cervical opening into your birth canal. During this stage, you will
begin to push your baby out. You may instinctively push
when you feel the urge, or you may need coaching
from your doctor, midwife, or labor nurse as to when
to push and when to rest. In a normal delivery, your baby's head will
rotate to face your back. During active labor, 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. In some cases, 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 you will continue
pushing your baby out. As your baby's head passes
through the birth canal, it molds 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 birth canal, his or her head and shoulders will rotate to help the shoulders pass
through the birth 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 three of labor, 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.
