Medical Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your midwife, obstetrician, or GP with any specific concerns about your labour and birth.
Understanding what happens during labour can transform one of the most intense experiences of your life into something you feel prepared for. Labour is divided into three distinct stages, each with its own purpose, sensations, and duration. Knowing what to expect at each stage helps you work with your body rather than against it.
The First Stage of Labour
The first stage of labour is the longest and begins with the first regular, progressive contractions and ends when your cervix is fully dilated to 10 centimetres. It is itself divided into three phases: early labour, active labour, and the transition phase.
Early Labour (Latent Phase)
During early labour, your cervix softens, effaces (thins out), and dilates from 0 to around 6 centimetres. Contractions at this stage are typically mild to moderate, lasting 30 to 45 seconds, and coming every 5 to 20 minutes. For first-time mothers, this phase can last anywhere from several hours to more than a day. For mothers who have given birth before, it is usually shorter.
This is a time for conserving energy. Try to rest if you can, stay hydrated, eat light snacks, and distract yourself with a film, a walk, or conversation. Many care providers recommend staying at home during this phase unless your waters have broken or you have any concerns.
Active Labour
Active labour begins when your cervix reaches around 6 centimetres and continues to 10 centimetres. Contractions become significantly stronger, longer (45 to 60 seconds or more), and closer together (every 3 to 5 minutes). This is the phase that most people think of when they imagine labour, and it is the time to head to your birth location.
Active labour typically lasts between 4 and 8 hours for first-time mothers, though it varies enormously. Pain relief options become important here. Breathing techniques, movement, water, and epidurals all play a role.
Transition
Transition is the shortest but often the most intense phase of the first stage. Your cervix dilates from around 8 to 10 centimetres. Contractions may come every 2 to 3 minutes and last up to 90 seconds, giving you very little rest between them. Many women describe feeling shaky, nauseous, or overwhelmed during transition. This is entirely normal and is a sign that birth is very close.
The Second Stage of Labour: Pushing and Birth
The second stage begins when your cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby. It is the stage most people associate with labour. You will feel a powerful urge to push, often described as an irresistible bearing-down sensation.
How Long Does the Second Stage Last?
For first-time mothers, the second stage can last from 30 minutes to 3 hours or more. For subsequent births, it is usually much shorter, sometimes just a few pushes. If you have had an epidural, you may not feel the urge to push as strongly, and your midwife will guide you.
Pushing Techniques
There are two main approaches to pushing. Directed pushing, where your care team coaches you to push during contractions, and breathing the baby down, a more instinctive approach where you follow your body’s natural urges. Many midwives now favour a more gentle, physiological approach that reduces tearing and allows the baby to descend gradually.
Crowning and Birth
Crowning happens when your baby’s head becomes visible at the vaginal opening and does not slip back between pushes. You may feel an intense burning or stretching sensation called the “ring of fire.” Your midwife will guide you to breathe or pant through this stage to allow the tissues to stretch slowly and reduce the risk of tearing. Once the head is delivered, the body usually follows with the next contraction.
The Third Stage of Labour: Delivering the Placenta
After your baby is born, the third stage of labour involves delivering the placenta. There are two approaches to managing this stage.
Physiological (Natural) Third Stage
With a physiological third stage, no medication is used and you deliver the placenta naturally, usually within 30 to 60 minutes of birth. This is more common in low-risk, straightforward births and if you are planning a home or birth-centre delivery.
Active Management
Active management involves an injection of a synthetic hormone (syntocinon or syntometrine) given to you immediately after birth, which causes the uterus to contract and expel the placenta more quickly, usually within 5 to 30 minutes. This is routinely offered in hospital settings as it reduces the risk of postpartum haemorrhage.
What Happens Between Contractions
It is worth remembering that between each contraction, the pain stops completely for most women. These rest periods, even if they are short, are a vital part of labour, allowing you and your baby to recover and prepare for the next wave. Focus on that rest. Many women who describe labour as overwhelming say the relentlessness was the hardest part, not the contractions themselves.
Products to Help You Through Labour
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know I have moved from early to active labour?
The transition from early to active labour is marked by contractions that are consistently 5 minutes apart or less, lasting at least 60 seconds, and that feeling is significantly more intense. Your midwife will also assess your cervical dilation at a triage examination.
Can labour stop and start?
Yes, particularly in the early latent phase. Contractions can slow or stop, especially overnight or if you become very tired. This is called a prolonged latent phase and is not uncommon. Your midwife will advise on management depending on your circumstances.
What does 10 centimetres feel like?
Full dilation is not usually something you feel directly, but it tends to coincide with an overwhelming urge to push. Your midwife will confirm dilation with an internal examination before encouraging you to push.
Sources
- NHS. What happens during labour and birth. www.nhs.uk
- ACOG. Stages of Labor. www.acog.org
- Mayo Clinic. Labor and delivery, postpartum care. www.mayoclinic.org
- RCOG. Intrapartum Care for Healthy Women and Babies. www.rcog.org.uk
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