4. {349E9A86-0B0D-4B0E-B0CB-8A766558F9BA}
First stage: Latent Phase
Not everyone will experience latent phase labour
âą
Some changes can happen to the cervix during the
âą
end of pregnancy in response to
Braxton Hicks contractions
Latent phase labour can be tiring and painful for
âą
some women.
During this phase the cervix is softening, effacing
âą
and dilating to 2 to 3 cms
Progress in this stage is often slow and may
âą
continue over a period of days
5. {AB14A66A-41AF-4C34-A6BC-ABB4CEDF9712}
First stage: Active phase
During the active phase the cervix thins
âą
and opens
Thinning = Effacement
âą
Opening = Dilation.
âą
The cervix is usually fully effaced by 5cms
âą
dilation
Dilation is usually slower to 5cms, dilation
âą
happens quicker after this
When dilation gets to 7 to 8 cms the labour
âą
becomes more intense
6. {A3ACDD9D-8827-4294-8457-1DB51CCD6C9F}
First stage: Transition
Around 7 to 8 cms dilation labour usually becomes
âą
more intense
Women often become restless and may become
âą
anxious
Reassurance that labour is progressing well and
âą
that the end is in sight is helpful
Women may start to feel some pressure and
âą
occasional expulsive urges but these are
controllable by breathing through contractions
Women may need to use a birth pool, shower or
âą
might want to use some Entenox at this time
7. {76E5240A-F58B-499B-81A7-B761E41A25C8}
Second stage of labour
The second stage of labour begins when the cervix
âą
is fully open to 10 cms
This is when the woman feels an overwhelming
âą
urge to bear down
As the foetus descends into the vagina there is
âą
pressure on the anus which pouts
The foetal head will become visible at the introitus,
âą
initially appearing and disappearing between
contractions
Once the head is crowned it does not recede
âą
between contractions
The foetus moves through the birth canal and is
âą
completely born
8. {6883CE42-335A-4EF0-B98B-D26C130CDE84} {65A8FA21-4967-4379-9EB3-F66DD76C2B50}
woman kneeling Foetal head crowning with
Anus
Pouting
Perineum
stretching
Head
crowning
Vulva
9. {52415AFC-9FDF-4C7F-875C-9E1A62D19685}
Third stage of labour
Once the baby is born the third stage of labour
âą
commences
After a pause the uterus begins to contract again
âą
The fundus will be felt to rise and become firm just above
âą
the umbilicus
The contraction and retraction of the uterine muscle
âą
reduces the size of the placental site and the placenta
separates from the wall of the uterus
A clot forms behind the placenta helping with separation
âą
The placenta and membranes fall into the lower uterine
âą
segment and the woman feels an urge to bear down
The woman is supported in an upright position and the
âą
placenta and membranes are born
The third stage is complete once the placenta and
âą
membranes are born and any bleeding is controlled.