Labor stages refer to the various stages that an expecting mother goes through during her pregnancy period. Broadly classified, Labor Stages can be divided into three categories. From the day a woman conceives till the day of her delivery, the cervix and the uterus go through many changes to enable the development of the child. Labor Stages are therefore based on the changes / developments that take place during the process of childbirth - for both the mother and the child.

Labor Stages - Brief Description

1. First Stage of Labor - Prodomal Labor

In this stage, the cervix thins, becomes soft and moves forward allowing the baby to settle into the pelvic. The woman may experience irregular contractions or pressure in the lower back or lower abdomen. This phase lasts from a few hours to a few days depending upon individual case. During this pregnancy stage, the expectant mother must take good care of herself - drink lots of water and should eat healthy food. Also, being patient and confident will help gear up the body for the subsequent stages.

Early Labor (Latent Labor) - Advancing from the first stage, the cervix further thins, opens out and dilates about three to four centimeters. Also, the contractions become more intense, lasting for a longer duration and occur at regular periods of time. During this stage, it is useful to practice relaxation and breathing techniques.

Active Labor - Contractions become stronger and last longer for about a minute or more. In this stage, that lasts from two to six hours, the cervix dilates to eight centimeters. Since the contractions become more prominent now, one must try practicing a rhythmic breathing and relaxation pattern in between the contractions. Also, changing positions may be a helpful option to advance the progress of child development.

2. Second Stage of Labor - Birth of the Newborn

During this phase, lasting from 15 minutes to several hours, the baby makes its way through the pelvis and the birth canal to the outside world. It takes several contractions before the baby is finally pushed out of the mother's body. Many women experience a burning and a stretching sensation at the opening of the vagina, from where the head of the baby emerges, which is generally an indication of childbirth. During this stage, one must ensure a focused breathing pattern alternated with rests in between contractions to help make the ultimate push quicker and more effective.

3. Third Stage of Labor - Recovery

In this stage, once the baby emerges out of the mother's body, the umbilical cord is cut and the baby is placed on the mother's abdomen to enable her first look at the most precious asset of her life. Also in some cases, cold compresses may be used on to the perineum to help give it a soothing effect and to prevent swelling. During this stage, the mother gets to breast-feed her baby for the first time which helps tighten the uterus and also reduces bleeding. It is important to learn about the labor stages as it would help the expectant mother to be more aware of the things to take care of during her pregnancy period to ensure a safe and pleasurable delivery.