Despite what it looks like in the movies: the sudden gush of water, the mad rush to hospital, some slightly pink-faced, mascara-smudging hollering, one big push and “whoop!” out pops a gorgeous baby – labour is a well-designed, step-by-step process. Every labour goes through three distinct stages (yes, faster for some than others!), each with specific phases, each designed to gear you, your baby and your body up for birth. Knowing what's happening now, and what is still to come, will make labour and birth much more tolerable!
STAGE ONE
This first stage of labour is all about gently opening you up and moving your baby into, and down, the birth canal. It has three phases: early first stage; passive to active labour and the transition phase.
