As a baby’s due date draws near, many women anticipate what their labor and delivery experience will be like. Part of easing any anxiety is having the knowledge of what is taking place in her body.

Pre-labor begins hours or days before active labor begins. The cervix softens and thins (effacement). Some women are not aware of these changes; others may have some cramping, loose stools or “nesting” urges.

Next, the three phases of the first stage of labor occur. The early phase usually lasts from a few hours to 20 hours. The cervix continues to thin and dilate to about three to five centimeters. The active phase follows. The cervix continues to dilate quickly to about eight centimeters. Contractions come closer together and become intense, often lasting 60 seconds or more. The transition phase is the most intense, opening the cervix to 10 centimeters or complete dilatation. Contractions seem to come one on top of the other, and last 60 to 90 seconds. Mothers may feel restless, overwhelmed, tense or want to give up. Some start to feel rectal pressure as the baby’s head starts to descend.

During the second stage (i.e., pushing), the baby moves down through the birth canal.
This stage lasts two hours or longer, depending on the mother’s and baby’s health. Here, the baby’s head crowns, emerges, rotates, then the shoulders and the rest of the body are born.

The third stage is from the birth of the baby until the birth of the placenta, and usually lasts from five to 30 minutes. As the placenta separates, the mother may feel cramping.