4. {349E9A86-0B0D-4B0E-B0CB-8A766558F9BA}
First stage: Latent Phase
Not everyone will experience latent phase labour
•
Some changes can happen to the cervix during the
•
end of pregnancy in response to
Braxton Hicks contractions
Latent phase labour can be tiring and painful for
•
some women.
During this phase the cervix is softening, effacing
•
and dilating to 2 to 3 cms
Progress in this stage is often slow and may
•
continue over a period of days
5. {AB14A66A-41AF-4C34-A6BC-ABB4CEDF9712}
First stage: Active phase
During the active phase the cervix thins
•
and opens
Thinning = Effacement
•
Opening = Dilation.
•
The cervix is usually fully effaced by 5cms
•
dilation
Dilation is usually slower to 5cms, dilation
•
happens quicker after this
When dilation gets to 7 to 8 cms the labour
•
becomes more intense
6. {A3ACDD9D-8827-4294-8457-1DB51CCD6C9F}
First stage: Transition
Around 7 to 8 cms dilation labour usually becomes
•
more intense
Women often become restless and may become
•
anxious
Reassurance that labour is progressing well and
•
that the end is in sight is helpful
Women may start to feel some pressure and
•
occasional expulsive urges but these are
controllable by breathing through contractions
Women may need to use a birth pool, shower or
•
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
•
is fully open to 10 cms
This is when the woman feels an overwhelming
•
urge to bear down
As the foetus descends into the vagina there is
•
pressure on the anus which pouts
The foetal head will become visible at the introitus,
•
initially appearing and disappearing between
contractions
Once the head is crowned it does not recede
•
between contractions
The foetus moves through the birth canal and is
•
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
•
commences
After a pause the uterus begins to contract again
•
The fundus will be felt to rise and become firm just above
•
the umbilicus
The contraction and retraction of the uterine muscle
•
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
•
The placenta and membranes fall into the lower uterine
•
segment and the woman feels an urge to bear down
The woman is supported in an upright position and the
•
placenta and membranes are born
The third stage is complete once the placenta and
•
membranes are born and any bleeding is controlled.