The Stages of Labour

First Stage

• Prodromal (not everyone has this, but its fairly common, can last a few days, contractions come and go and never get stronger longer and closer together)
• Early or latent – up to 3-4cms (can last anywhere from 20 minutes to 20 hours)
• Active – up to 7-8cms (can last anywhere from 20 minutes to many many hours but is usually shorter than latent)
• Transition – up to 10cms or completely dilated (lasts the shortest and is the most intense)

Second stage

• Early or resting phase (sometimes accompanied by an urge to push, sometimes not- can last up to 4 hours if only it was allowed!)
• Active or pushing (irresistible urge to push usually lasts about two hours)
• Crowning – when baby’s head is being born

Third stage

• Delivery of the placenta – can take anywhere from 5 minutes to an hour or so.