Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsOverviewFirst Stage of LaborSecond Stage of LaborThird Stage of Labor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Overview
First Stage of Labor
Second Stage of Labor
Third Stage of Labor
There are three stages of labor: contractions, childbirth, and delivery of the placenta.
Pregnancycan be full of surprises, andlaboris no different. Just how long or challenging giving birth may be varies greatly from person to person and from pregnancy to pregnancy. However, getting to know the three stages of labor can give you the information you and your support system need to feel adequately prepared for what comes next.
Verywell / Brianna Gilmartin
What Are the Stages of Labor?
Below, learn more about what to expect during each stage of labor.
The First Stage of Labor
During the first stage of labor, your body prepares to give birth with contractions that help open up your cervix. Typically, this is the longest stage of labor.
On average, it takes about 12–19 hours for your cervix to become fully dilated to 10 centimeters (or about 4 inches).That said, this stage can take anywhere from many hours to days for first-time mothers. There are two phases to the first stage of labor: early labor and active labor.
Early Labor
When you begin early labor, also known as the latent phase, you can expect irregular mild to moderate contractions that last about 30–60 seconds every five to 20 minutes. Now is when your cervix—often long, thin, and hard—becomes softer and thinner to stretch to about 6 centimeters (just over 2 1/3 inches).
While every labor journey is different, you may experience:
Most pregnant people spend this time at home. Here’s how to deal with labor pains and any discomfort you may be having:
Don’t hesitate to contact your ob-gyn (obstetrician-gynecologist) or obstetric care professional if you think you may be in labor.
Call your healthcare provider or go to the hospital immediately if:
If you show up at the hospital early (meaning your cervix is less than 6 cm dilated), your healthcare professional may encourage you to go home until your contractions are more frequent or stronger.
Active Labor
Here’s what to expect:
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The Second Stage of Labor
Here’s what comes next:
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The Third Stage of Labor
After you’ve given birth, there’s just one last step—delivering the placenta. The third stage of labor is the shortest and usually takes about five to 30 minutes.
Here’s what you may experience:
A Word From Verywell
The time leading up to childbirth can be filled with a slew of different emotions, from excitement, anxiety, and joy to exhaustion, impatience, and fear.
Whether you’re preparing to give birth or want to be as supportive as possible to your partner or loved one, knowing the three stages of labor and coming up with a game plan for each can help give you some peace of mind. You’ve got quite the journey ahead, but it’s well worth the struggle.
9 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office on Women’s Health.Labor and birth.Hanley GE, Munro S, Greyson D, et al.Diagnosing onset of labor: a systematic review of definitions in the research literature.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:71. Published 2016 Apr 2. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0857-4Stanford Children’s Health.Overview of labor.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) of Boston.What happens during labor.National Women’s Health. Auckland District Health Board.Stages of labour.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the stages of labor?DiFranco JT, Curl M.Healthy birth practice #5: Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urge to push.J Perinat Educ. 2014;23(4):207-210. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.207Bulletins—Obstetrics.Practice bulletin No. 165: prevention and management of obstetric lacerations at vaginal delivery.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(1):e1–e15. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001523
9 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Office on Women’s Health.Labor and birth.Hanley GE, Munro S, Greyson D, et al.Diagnosing onset of labor: a systematic review of definitions in the research literature.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:71. Published 2016 Apr 2. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0857-4Stanford Children’s Health.Overview of labor.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) of Boston.What happens during labor.National Women’s Health. Auckland District Health Board.Stages of labour.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the stages of labor?DiFranco JT, Curl M.Healthy birth practice #5: Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urge to push.J Perinat Educ. 2014;23(4):207-210. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.207Bulletins—Obstetrics.Practice bulletin No. 165: prevention and management of obstetric lacerations at vaginal delivery.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(1):e1–e15. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001523
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Office on Women’s Health.Labor and birth.Hanley GE, Munro S, Greyson D, et al.Diagnosing onset of labor: a systematic review of definitions in the research literature.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:71. Published 2016 Apr 2. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0857-4Stanford Children’s Health.Overview of labor.American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) of Boston.What happens during labor.National Women’s Health. Auckland District Health Board.Stages of labour.Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the stages of labor?DiFranco JT, Curl M.Healthy birth practice #5: Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urge to push.J Perinat Educ. 2014;23(4):207-210. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.207Bulletins—Obstetrics.Practice bulletin No. 165: prevention and management of obstetric lacerations at vaginal delivery.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(1):e1–e15. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001523
Office on Women’s Health.Labor and birth.
Hanley GE, Munro S, Greyson D, et al.Diagnosing onset of labor: a systematic review of definitions in the research literature.BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2016;16:71. Published 2016 Apr 2. doi:10.1186/s12884-016-0857-4
Stanford Children’s Health.Overview of labor.
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.How to tell when labor begins.
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) of Boston.What happens during labor.
National Women’s Health. Auckland District Health Board.Stages of labour.
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.What are the stages of labor?
DiFranco JT, Curl M.Healthy birth practice #5: Avoid giving birth on your back and follow your body’s urge to push.J Perinat Educ. 2014;23(4):207-210. doi:10.1891/1058-1243.23.4.207
Bulletins—Obstetrics.Practice bulletin No. 165: prevention and management of obstetric lacerations at vaginal delivery.Obstet Gynecol. 2016;128(1):e1–e15. doi:10.1097/AOG.0000000000001523
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