Try to enjoy the comfort of the familiar surroundings at home. If early labor occurs during the day , do some simple routines around the house. Keep yourself occupied while conserving your energy.
Drink plenty of water and eat small snacks. Keep track of the time of your contractions. If early labor begins during the night, it is a good idea to try to get some sleep. If you are unable to fall asleep, focus on doing some light activities like cleaning out your closet, packing your bag, or making sack lunches for the next day.
Now is time for you to head to the hospital or birth center. Your contractions will be stronger, longer and closer together. It is very important that you have plenty of support. It is also a good time to start your breathing techniques and try a few relaxation exercises between contractions. You should switch positions often during this time. You might want to try walking or taking a warm bath.
Continue to drink plenty of water and urinate periodically. During this phase, the mother will rely heavily on her support person. This is the most challenging phase, but it is also the shortest. Remember how far you have already come, and when you feel an urge to push, tell your health care provider. Join now to personalize. Photo credit: Jonathan Dimes. How long does giving birth take? First stage of labor The first stage of labor has three phases: Early labor: Your cervix gradually effaces thins out and dilates opens to about 6 centimeters cm by the end of this phase.
Active labor: Your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly and opens up further to 10 cm. Contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. Transition: During the last part of active labor, contractions are even longer, stronger, and closer together — this can be the most difficult part of your entire labor. Sources BabyCenter's editorial team is committed to providing the most helpful and trustworthy pregnancy and parenting information in the world. Featured video.
Cervical dilation and effacement. Losing your mucus plug. Signs of labor. Natural ways to induce labor. How to push during labor: Should your body be your guide? When is my baby likely to drop? What does labor feel like? Moms describe. New to BabyCenter? Join now. Password Forgot your password? Keep me logged in. Log in. This is also known as artificial rupture of the membranes ARM.
Your midwife or doctor can do this by making a small break in the membrane during a vaginal examination. This may make your contractions feel stronger and more painful, so your midwife will talk to you about pain relief.
If breaking your waters does not work, your doctor or midwife may suggest using a drug called oxytocin also known as syntocinon to make your contractions stronger. This is given through a drip that goes into a vein, usually in your wrist or arm. Oxytocin can make your contractions stronger and more regular and can start to work quite quickly, so your midwife will talk to you about your options for pain relief.
You will also need electronic monitoring to check your baby is coping with the contractions, as well as regular vaginal examinations to check the drip is working. The 2nd stage of labour lasts from when your cervix is fully dilated until the birth of your baby.
Your midwife will help you find a comfortable position to give birth in. You may want to sit, lie on your side, stand, kneel, or squat, although squatting may be difficult if you're not used to it. If you've had lots of backache while in labour, kneeling on all fours may help. It's a good idea to try some of these positions before you go into labour.
Talk to your birth partner so they know how they can help you. Find out what your birth partner can do. When your cervix is fully dilated, your baby will move further down the birth canal towards the entrance to your vagina. You may get an urge to push that feels a bit like you need to poo.
You can push during contractions whenever you feel the urge. You may not feel the urge to push immediately. If you have had an epidural, you may not feel an urge to push at all. If you're having your 1st baby, this pushing stage should last no longer than 3 hours. If you've had a baby before, it should take no more than 2 hours. This stage of labour is hard work, but your midwife will help and encourage you. Your birth partner can also support you. When your baby's head is almost ready to come out, your midwife will ask you to stop pushing and take some short breaths, blowing them out through your mouth.
This is so your baby's head can be born slowly and gently, giving the skin and muscles in the area between your vagina and anus the perineum time to stretch. Sometimes your midwife or doctor will suggest an episiotomy to avoid a tear or to speed up delivery. This is a small cut made in your perineum. You'll be given a local anaesthetic injection to numb the area before the cut is made. Once your baby is born, an episiotomy, or any large tears, will be stitched closed.
Find out about your body after the birth , including how to deal with stitches. Once your baby's head is born, most of the hard work is over.
The rest of their body is usually born during the next 1 or 2 contractions. You'll usually be able to hold your baby immediately and enjoy some skin-to-skin time together. You can breastfeed your baby as soon as you like. Ideally, your baby will have their 1st feed within 1 hour of birth. Read more about skin-to-skin contact and breastfeeding in the first few days. The 3rd stage of labour happens after your baby is born, when your womb contracts and the placenta comes out through your vagina.
Your midwife will explain both ways to you while you're still pregnant or during early labour, so you can decide which you would prefer.
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