Pregnancy, Parenthood & Playtime

During my journey to becoming a Lamaze childbirth educator, there are so many things I would like to document and share through the information and learning processes on my blog. I hope that others enjoy the information as I work through it and share what I feel so be some of the most important pieces of key information.

Today I am going to touch on the different Stages of Labor. Many who are active in the childbirth community may already be familiar with these, but what I have noticed through my work with pregnant women, and what is being shown in studies, run of the mill pregnant women are not familiar with most of the information provided in childbirth education courses. Stages of labor happen to be one of these.

Prodomal Labor

What is going on?

• The cervix is beginning to thin out, and soften, and move forward. During this process it also may start to open.
• The baby will settle into the pelvis.
• You may start to notice some contractions, but will remain irregular, slightly noticeable, and will not form a pattern.
• The contractions may be noticeable or identified as a pain in the lower stomach, or back.
• Normally this phase can last anywhere from a couple hours, to days.

This is your bodies way to gear up for the marathon of labor it will be running shortly.

What Helps?

• Don’t worry or over think what you are going through. You will not miss labor, and you will certainly know when you are in labor!
• Be patient!  Having confidence that your body truly knows what to do is key.
• Take care of yourself. Sleep, eat, stay active, and overall be healthy (but you should be doing that through your entire pregnancy to begin with)
• Be sure to only surround yourself with supportive and positive people. You only want those around who will make you feel not only safe, but comfortable.

Early Labor (Latent Phase)

Whats going on?

• Your cervix will start to dilating to about 3-4 centimeters, and the cervix continues to thin.
• Labor can tend to be slow, but most prefer to call it gradual. On average, the latent phase of labor makes up two-thirds of the total labor time in most mothers.
• Over time contractions will become longer, stronger, and more intense.
• Contractions will become more regular, and start to form a pattern.
• Contractions can be described as 5 minutes apart, and 25 to 45 seconds in length.
• You may have pinkish discharge that can be normally called a show that will increase as labor progresses.

What Helps?

• Be calm, relax, and don’t get too excited or worked up that labor has finally started.
• Alternate staying active with relaxation. A great example is chores, or taking walk, followed by taking a shower, and including snacks, and lots of fluids.
• Keep your environment pleasant and positive. Visitors or people who will not carry out this kind of environment should be asked to leave, or change their tune.
• Work on positive activities, you can do some light work in the new babies room, listen to music or even watch a favorite tv show.
• Stay at home as long as you can. Most women find that home is the most comfortable option for laboring in a positive environment.
• When contractions start to become more intense, or unbearable, be sure to have your support team helping you, and supporting you in the activities around the house.
• Use relaxation, as well as breathing to work through your contractions.

Active Labor

Whats going on?

• Contractions will become longer as well as stronger, and become about 3 minutes apart, and last about a minute at a time.
• Women in active labor will start to become very focused on their labor.
• During this phase which lasts between 2 to 6 hours on average, the cervix will completely efface, and dilate to 8 centimeters.

What Helps?

• Listen to your body!  It is meant to give birth to babies and now has you really rockin’ and rollin’ towards birth.
• Do something to stay active during contractions, walk, talk, breathe, or just move around, and take the time in between contractions to rest.
• Create a peaceful, and relaxed environment as your surroundings will impact your labor, and harsh feelings, comments, or actions can halt your labor.
• Personalize your surroundings. Use your own music, clothes, and comforts of home (especially in a hospital setting)
• Changing positions will help you stay more active and comfortable, and will also help you to progress.

Transition

Whats going on?

• The cervix will finish effacing and dilating.
• Contractions are powerful, efficient, and close together.
• Phase usually lasts about less than an hour.
• Some women will feel very sick to their stomach, or actually vomit during transition.
• Women may feel wreckless or increasingly emotional and irritable.

What Helps?

• Focus on your contractions, one at a time to help from getting overwhelmed with your experience. There is a lot going on, focus on the most important part, your contractions.
• Continue to focus on your breathing as well as visualization techniques.
• Those who are providing labor support should be giving you their undivided attention to help you through your contractions. Massage, talking you through, encouragement and praise.
• Continue to use your time between contractions for rest and to relax. The time spacing may be much smaller, but it is still very important.

Second Stage (Pushing)

Whats going on?

• Your body will now shift from dilating and effacing to pushing.
• The baby will make its way down through the pelvis and birth canal.
• This phase can last anywhere from 15 minutes to several hours.
• Some women may not feel the urge right away after full dilation, many will feel the urge to start to “bear down”. This urge will continue to get stronger as the baby descends.
• Many women will feel as though their head has been “cleared” and they have a renewed energy for pushing.
• Just before your baby will be born, many women will feel a burning , stinging, stretching at the open of the vagina. Many call this the famous “ring of fire” but not all experience it.
• The babies head will emerge, and it will turn to one side to allow the shoulders to pass through, and the rest of the baby will slip right out.

What Helps?

• Follow your instinct. Women normally feel the strongest urge to push at the peak of a contraction, follow what your body feels like it needs to do, or wants to do through the contractions.
• It may help some women to be vocal, but loud high pitched sounds will only use up all of your energy and breathe. Low, deep noises and moans are most helpful.
• Those supporting you in your labor should remain as quiet as possible, or provide low or quiet support and encouragement.
• Let go of any tension you may feel in your perineum. Applying a warm compress may help.
• If progress is slow, changing positions can be very helpful. The most efficient positions to push in tend to be squatting, laying on your side, or hands and knees. (The lithotomy position, or flat on your back with your legs in the air decreases the opening of your pelvis.)
• Rest in between contractions.

Third Stage (Recovery)

Whats going on?

• Your baby should be placed on your abdomen, and quickly dried.
• You will probably experience a boat load of feelings, excitement, joy, happiness, awe, and relief that it is finally over!
• The cord will be cut and the placenta will be delivered normally within 30 minutes.
• Many women get after pains of “the shakes” after birth.
• Cold compresses are often applied to the perineum to ease your discomfort as well as help with the swelling.

What Helps?

• Touch, caress, and cuddle your new little baby without time restrictions. (If there is no medical needs for mother and baby separation).
• Skin-to-skin contact with your baby is your best option.
• All routine infant procedures can be done without removing your baby from your side. Request that all measuring, weighing, and other procedures be delayed for the first few hours.
• Offering your baby the breast during this time will increase the likelihood of a successful breastfeeding relationship, and will also help to decrease the bleeding, and tightening of the uterus.

Lots of information, in a long post.
I hope you all enjoy and find it as educational and helpful as I do!