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Every woman is different and so is every birth. For one child you may go through the stages in textbook fashion. For another, you may stay in one stage longer than normal or even seem to skip a stage.

This stage covers everything from your first steady contractions up to the point that your cervix is fully dilated.

This is the time when you begin to have steady contractions (uterine muscle spasms).

• Many women report that during the early stages of labor, or right before they notice that labor has begun, they get the notion to clean!
• You may begin to pass blood as the mucus plug is expelled.
• Your water (amniotic sac) may break. This will usually be a gush of clear liquid and often occurs without warning.
• The cervix will dilate 0-5 centimeters.
• Contractions last for 30-60 seconds and are generally mild.
• Time between contractions can range from 5-20 minutes.
• The length of this stage varies greatly, but is generally longer with the first birth and decreases with each successive birth. Average length is 12-14 hours, so try to relax and get some sleep if you can.

When your water breaks, or when your contractions have been coming five minutes apart for an hour, it time to call the doctor and see if you should head for the hospital.

• Timing your contractions – The time between contractions is measured from the time a contraction begins until the next one starts. The length of a contraction is simply the time from when it begins until it ends.

• If you have any of the above symptoms, but are still four or more weeks away from your due date.
• If you are profusely bleeding.
• If you are suffering severe pain.

False labor is identified by the fact that the contractions are irregular, both in duration and the time between them. Also, the pain with false labors tends to be mild and does not increase.

• False labor contractions are normally only felt in the front.
• Walking around may make the contractions stop.

Your contractions will be getting stronger, closer together, and they will last longer. It's now time for your coach to start helping you to relax and breathe properly. Massaging the belly may help relive some of the discomfort from the contractions.

• The cervix will continue dilating, reaching a width of 5-8 centimeters.
• Contractions are generally about one minute long and will occur every 2-5 minutes.
• If it has not already, now is the time when your water will break.
• During this stage, walking around is helpful.
• Urinate often in order to keep the bladder empty.
• This stage will last anywhere from five minutes to four hours.

Contractions are hard and sharp. The end is nearing!

• Contractions last about 1-2 minutes and they come 1-3 minutes apart.
• Spacing of contractions may not be even.
• At this stage your body may feel all mixed up – your happy and sad, hot and cold, hungry and nauseous, you name it and it's all happening at the same time.
• This is also the stage when most women tell their partners that they hate them for doing THIS to them. Their job is to grin and bear all your abuse while offering encouragement and comfort.
• This stage lasts from 15 minutes to two hours, or longer.

Finally – the birth! This stage commences when your cervix becomes fully dilated (10 centimeters). Contractions will have settled out, and will only hit about once every 3-7 minutes.

• An episiotomy may be preformed.
• You will feel the need to push, but listen to the instructions of your coach and medical staff.
• You may be able to feel the baby moving through the birthing canal, depending upon if you have been given any anesthetic.

Delivering the afterbirth (placenta).

• After the baby emerges, you will continue to have milder contractions as you deliver the afterbirth
• It may take up to a half-hour to deliver the after birth. Gentle massaging of the abdomen may help in the process.
• If performed, your episiotomy incision will be sewn shut.

Now it is time to relax and count all your new baby's fingers and toes.