First Stage Labor
Understanding Contractions
Regular contractions are often the first sign of labor . A contraction is when the muscles of your uterus tighten and then relax . In labor , contractions occur in rhythmic intervals .
The uterus has muscle fibers running vertically and horizontally . During first stage labor , these muscles work to squeeze the baby in and down ( blue arrows ) while also pulling the cervix back to open it ( green arrows ). Eventually , your
Cervix cervix opens all the way ( called fully dilated ) and your baby comes down enough to allow you to start pushing .
Contractions can feel different for everyone , but they often feel like a hardening or tightening of the belly . As labor progresses , it becomes easier to feel the build up , peak and relaxation of each contraction . At this point , you will likely feel each contraction all the way around your belly and lower back . They gain strength over time , allowing you to adjust to the building intensity . You will also get breaks between contractions .
7 Labor and Birth
Phases of First Stage
The first stage of labor may be divided into three phases : early labor , active labor and transition . The following pages provide a general overview , but every labor is different and the timeline of first stage labor does not always fit into neat categories . Labor is a continuous process and you may not know when one phase ends and another begins . Labor is typically longer for first babies .
Timing contractions can help you gauge labor progress and give you clues as to which phase of labor you might be in . Timing contractions involves measuring duration ( how long a contraction lasts from beginning to end ) and frequency ( the time from the beginning of a contraction to the beginning of the next ). ( See the example below .) Contractions can be timed using a stopwatch or app on your phone .
Preview
How long / duration ( start to finish ) = 1 minute
How far apart / frequency ( start to start ) = 3 minutes
Along with duration and frequency , one of the most accurate ways to evaluate the phase of labor is the intensity of contractions . In prelabor and early labor , contractions are uncomfortable , but do not necessarily command all of your attention yet . As labor progresses and contractions get stronger , it becomes more difficult to focus on anything other than labor . At some point , contractions typically reach a level of intensity where it is impossible to talk to others or do anything else during a contraction besides focus on your labor . In general , if you are able to ignore contractions , you are not yet in active labor .