The Active Stage of Child Labor

The active phase of labor is usually much shorter than the beginning phase and is more predictable as well. Although there is no way to determine it exactly, in general women that are having their first baby go through the active phase for around five hours, in cases of a second or third delivery this phase usually lasts around four hours. The contractions in this phase occur every three to five minutes, and last around forty-five and sixty seconds. The neck of the uterus should also dilate to around four to nine centimeters.

This is also the phase in which you will probably feel more discomfort and pain, and some women also have back pain. There are some women that feel more pain in their back then in their abdomen also. When this happens it can indicate that the baby is looking forwards and not towards the back of the mother.

By this stage you should already be in the hospital. There are some women that prefer to rest in bed while other women prefer walking. You should do whatever feels more comfortable for you, that is, unless your doctor indicates otherwise and asks you to stay in bed to be able to keep a close check on you. This is also the time in which you will need to practice your breathing exercises and relaxation techniques that you learned in your Lamaze classes.

If you need help to alleviate the pain you feel, let the doctor know. Your husband or partner can also assist you by rubbing or massaging your back if this is more comfortable for you.

The Transition Stage 
This is the phase in which the contractions actually really get more intense and start to occur every two to three minutes and last around sixty seconds. These are the most intense contractions during the all the phases and this is also when the neck of the cervix dilates eight to ten centimeters meaning you are almost there.

Besides the contractions being more intense, you will probably also be able to notice an increase of spots of blood and more pressure, especially in the rectum as the baby starts to descend. You might also feel like you need to use the bathroom as well. However don’t panic if you feel this way, as it is actually a good sign because it means the baby is going in the right direction.

This is also the moment in which you will feel the most frustrated and tired and feel like giving up, but don’t be dismayed, you are almost done!

If you start to feel like pushing, make sure to first tell your doctor. You will first need to be fully dilated before pushing, so try not to push until the doctor indicates that you can do so. Pushing when it is not the right moment can interfere with the rhythm of the labor and can cause tearing of the cervix.

If it works for you, try to practice the breathing exercises and techniques you learned in your pre labor or Lamaze classes. If you need relief from the pain or want the epidural anesthesia, talk to your doctor. The doctor will be able to decide which are the best options for relieving pain depending on the stage you are in and other factors that are related to your and the baby’s health.