What is Labour?
The act of giving birth is called labor, and it normally has three stages. Expectant parents can better prepare for the birth of their child by understanding the phases of labor and the various types of labor.
Stages of Labour:
First Stage of Labour: The cervix opens and the baby descends into the delivery canal during the first and longest stage of labour. Three more phases—early labour, active labour, and transition—are separated into this stage.
- Early labour: The cervix dilates to 3–4 cm at this stage, and contractions gradually lengthen, intensify, and cluster closer together. This phase may last for several hours or perhaps for few days.
- Active labour: The cervix dilates between 4 and 7 cm at this stage, and contractions intensify and multiply. This phase lasts for three to five hours.
Transition: The cervix dilates from 7 to 10 cm at this stage, and the contractions intensify and persist for 60 to 90 seconds. The duration of this stage, which is the most severe, ranges from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
Second Stage of Labor:
After the cervix is fully dilated, the second stage of labor starts, and it finishes with the birth of the child. This phase might last anywhere from 20 minutes and two hours.
Third Stage of Labour:
The delivery of the placenta, which is the third stage of labor, can take anywhere between 5 and 30 minutes.
Types of Labour:
Spontaneous labour: The body prepares for birth during spontaneous labour, where the cervix opens and contractions intensify and become increasingly closer together, allowing the baby to descend down the delivery canal.
Induced labour: Medical professionals induce labor through drugs or other techniques in cases where there are health issues or the pregnancy care has reached its due date. This form of labor is called induced labor.
Enhanced labour: Medical procedures are used to hasten the progression of labour in cases where the infant is in distress or the mother is fatigued. This form of labour is called enhanced or augmented labour.
Conclusion
There are three steps to the labour process, and Expectant parents can better prepare for the birth of their child by understanding the phases of labor and the various types of labor. To ensure a safe and healthy birthing experience, it is crucial to talk with your healthcare practitioner about your options and worries. Consult a gynecologist for High-Risk Pregnancy Care in Indore.