Childbirth can be divided into phases. Depending on which phase you are in at the moment, the state of your body's condition will change and the baby will be closer and closer to coming into the world. Doctors distinguish between four basic phases of childbirth.

Phase I

This phase of labour is associated with the dilation of the cervix in order to be able to 'push' the baby out of the safe uterus. In the first phase of labour, the first gentle announcing contractions occur. The uterus begins to contract gently, preparing for the final birth action. The contra ctions intensify over time, reaching a frequency of every 2 minutes. One contraction can last about 70 seconds, although there are women who have contractions lasting as long as 90-100 seconds. The uterine muscles contract with increasing intensity. The whole process of contraction of the uterus, starts from the top of the uterus, spreading to the lower parts of the uterus. The contractions cause the cervix to dilate and thus rupture the amniotic membranes.

As a result of the rupture of the membranes, the amniotic fluid leaves the amniotic sac and flows out through the cervix. Contractions continue until the cervical dilation reaches nearly 10 cm, a length equivalent to the width of five fingers of the hand. The first stage of labour lasts from 6 to nearly 18 hours.

How to speed up this stage? Doctors believe that the best way is to move! The woman is encouraged to try to walk as much as possible as long as the pains allow. Medicine ball exercises are also recommended to loosen up the muscles. Women are susceptible to mood changes - due to the hormonal discharge, women may cry one moment to show unusual happiness, joy the next. Anxieties, fears may arise.

Phase II

This phase is called expulsion. In this phase the cervix is already fully dilated, the waters have gone. This phase lasts about 2 hours, but in women who have given birth it can shorten to 30-40 minutes. The baby begins to be pushed out through the birth canal, due to a combination of uterine contractions and diaphragm contractions. Often midwives will gently bend the woman in labour to intensify the push through pressure on the diaphragm.

A very important aspect is proper breathing.Sometimes doctors make an incision in the perineum during this phase of labour, known as an episiotomy. Why is an incision made? First of all, to protect the woman from a vaginal rupture during the pressure of the child coming out into the world. In addition, a perineal incision is recommended for older women, in case of weakening of the baby's heart tones, the baby's buttock position or the baby's large head. The second phase of labour ends when the baby comes into the world.

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Third phase

The appearance of the baby does not end the labour. Before the parturient undergoes the next phase of labour called placental phase. In this phase, the uterus expels the placenta and the amniotic membranes. Gentle contractions push the placenta outwards. Importantly, the entire placenta must be removed from the mother's body! During this time, the doctor examines the baby and assesses its condition. If no problems are found in the baby, he or she gets 8-10 points on the APGAR scale. The baby and the mother stay in the delivery ward for about an hour.

Phase IV

The final phase of labour is the surveillance phase for the mother and her baby. Sometimes increased bleeding, a drop in blood pressure or fainting of the young mother is observed. In addition, the hospital staff checks the degree of uterine contraction and assists with breastfeeding the baby.

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Phases of natural childbirth

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