Childbirth
Process: Phases of Labor We recommend that in addition to this section of the delivery process to
visit our Visualization of Color Circles page.
The first phase during delivery is initiated when
contractions begin. If this is your first child, you will begin dilatation after the
cervix becomes effaced or thins out. Contractions are present every 20 to 30 minutes and
last 15 to 20 seconds each. This process takes about 6 to 8 hours. In first time moms the
whole delivery process may last 8 to 12 hours. If a woman has already had a baby the
delivery process is shorter; Approximately 4 to 6 hours.
Once the cervix has effaced, contractions will intensify in order to allow the uterus
to reach an "opening" of 10 cm. This process is called "dilation".
Dilation is broken into two phases:
At the beginning of the first phase, you will feel soft contractions every 10 to 15
minutes. Each one will last about 20 seconds. At this moment, the opening of your cervix
should be around 2 centimeters. Progressively, contractions are going to increase in
frequency as well as duration. When you feel your contractions every 5 minutes and they
last 30 to 40 seconds, your cervix will estimate 4 to 5 centimeters dilation.
As time goes on, contractions get stronger every 3 or 4 minutes and last close to
45 seconds each. At this moment your cervix is 6 centimeters dilated. When you feel your
contractions every 2 or 3 minutes lasting approximately 50 seconds, your cervix should be
8 centimeters dilated.
Transition is the phase in which contractions occur every 1 to 2 minutes and last one
minute; You are about to reach 10 centimeters of dilation. At this moment you will have a
short time to recover between one contraction and the other. You will also feel swelling
around your vagina and the urge to push. However, it is important not to respond to this
urge until the doctor approves.
Once you have reached 10 cm. dilation, expulsion period begins. You will feel that
contractions are less frequent, every 2 to 3 minutes. This is the moment the
doctor will request that you push.
During this period, the baby's head penetrates the delivery canal and goes down to the
perineo making an internal rotation. The doctor waits until he/she sees 3 or 4 centimeters
of the baby's head. The next contraction will occur and the decision will be made if an
episiotomy must be done in order to facilitate the exit of your child.
Once the head is shown (complete coronation) the doctor will tell you to push to help the
baby during the final process. First the head exits and in another push the doctor will
help the baby remove a shoulder, then the other, and finally the remainder of the infant.
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