Labour, A word that brings excitement, anticipation, and let’s be honest—more than a little anxiety. Whether you’re planning a hospital birth, home birth, or birthing centre experience, understanding what actually happens during labour can ease fears and prepare you to approach the big day with calm and confidence. Today let me walk you through the stages of labour, what you might feel, what your body is doing, and what to expect along the way.
First Things First: What Is Labour, Really?
Labour is the process by which your body prepares to give birth. It’s not just about contractions and pushing. It involves a beautifully coordinated series of physical and hormonal changes that help move your baby down the birth canal and into the world.
Labour is typically divided into three main stages, each with its own physical signs, emotional shifts, and medical milestones. Let’s take a closer look.
The First Stage of Labour: Dilation Begins
The first stage is all about your cervix. It needs to soften, thin out (efface), and open (dilate) to about 10 centimetres. This stage is further divided into three phases: early labour, active labour, and transition.
1. Early Labour (Latent Phase)
This phase can last hours, or even days, especially if it’s your first baby. During early labour, your cervix dilates from 0 to around 4 centimetres. Contractions start but may be mild and irregular at first, often described as feeling like strong period cramps or lower back ache.
You might notice:
- A bloody show (a pink or brownish discharge)
- Your waters breaking (though this can also happen later)
- A need to nest or, conversely, a desire to rest
What to do: This is a good time to stay home, rest, eat light meals, and stay hydrated. Keep calm, distract yourself, and breathe through contractions. There’s usually no need to rush to hospital at this point.
2. Active Labour
Things pick up pace here. Your cervix dilates from around 4 to 8 centimetres. Contractions become stronger, longer (typically 45 to 60 seconds), and closer together (every 3 to 5 minutes). You’ll likely need more focused breathing and comfort techniques during this time.
You may:
- Feel pressure in your lower back or pelvis
- Struggle to talk through contractions
- Begin to feel more emotionally vulnerable or inwardly focused
This is often when your birthing environment becomes crucial. Whether you’re heading to hospital or settling into your birth space at home, having your support system in place—partner, midwife, doula—can make a big difference.
3. Transition
This is the shortest but most intense phase of labour, typically occurring as the cervix dilates from 8 to 10 centimetres.
Many women describe this as the most challenging part. Contractions are very strong, close together, and you might feel overwhelmed, shaky, nauseous, or emotional. It’s also common to think, “I can’t do this anymore.”
But take heart: this phase signals that you’re almost ready to start pushing. Your baby is nearly here.
The Second Stage of Labour: It’s Time to Push
Once your cervix is fully dilated (10 centimetres), the second stage begins. This is the part most people picture when they think of labour—the pushing phase.
This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. For first-time mums, it’s usually longer. If you’ve had a baby before, it may be quicker.
You may experience:
- A strong, uncontrollable urge to push (like needing to have a bowel movement)
- Increased pressure on your bottom and perineum
- A sense of focus and energy returning after the intensity of transition
Pushing can feel instinctual, but your midwife or doctor may guide you with techniques such as:
- Directed pushing, where you bear down during a contraction
- Spontaneous pushing, allowing your body to lead the effort
You may also try different positions—squatting, kneeling, side-lying, or upright—to find what works best for you.
Eventually, your baby’s head will begin to crown (visible at the vaginal opening). You’ll feel a stretching or burning sensation, often called the “ring of fire.” As the head and then the shoulders emerge, the rest of the baby typically follows swiftly.
It’s a powerful, emotional moment: your baby is here.
The Third Stage of Labour: Delivering the Placenta
You might think it’s all done once the baby is born—but there’s one more crucial step: delivering the placenta.
This stage usually lasts between 5 to 30 minutes. You may continue to have mild contractions as the uterus helps detach and expel the placenta. You can deliver it naturally or with medical assistance (such as an oxytocin injection) to speed up the process and reduce bleeding.
Once the placenta is delivered, your midwife will check it to ensure it’s complete and no fragments remain inside the uterus.
If you’ve had a tear or episiotomy, this is the time it will be stitched. While you’re being cared for, your baby will usually be placed on your chest for skin-to-skin contact, which supports bonding and breastfeeding.
What Happens Immediately After Labour?
The hours following birth are known as the fourth stage of labour, though not officially counted as one of the three main stages. It’s a time of rest, bonding, and monitoring.
You may feel a rush of emotions, fatigue, or even shivers. This is completely normal. Your body has done an extraordinary thing.
Your healthcare team will:
- Monitor your bleeding and vital signs
- Help you initiate breastfeeding, if you choose to
- Support your physical recovery and emotional wellbeing
It’s important to rest, hydrate, and eat something nourishing as your body starts its recovery process.
Labour Isn’t Always Textbook
It’s worth noting that every labour is different. Some are fast and intense, others slow and steady. Some require medical intervention such as induction, epidurals, or caesarean sections, while others unfold spontaneously.
And all of them are valid.
Your birth experience will be shaped by your health, your baby’s position, your pain relief preferences, and how labour progresses. What’s most important is that you feel supported, informed, and involved in the decisions being made.
Preparing for Labour: Tips for Expectant Parents
Knowledge is power when it comes to birth. While you can’t script exactly how labour will go, you can prepare both mentally and physically.
Here are a few ways to get ready:
- Attend antenatal classes that explain the stages of labour, pain relief options, and birth plans
- Talk openly with your care provider about your preferences and concerns
- Practice relaxation techniques like deep breathing, visualisation, and gentle movement
- Build a strong support system, whether that’s a partner, family member, or doula
- Pack a hospital bag with essentials for you, your baby, and your birth partner
- Keep an open mind—birth can surprise you in the best (and most unexpected) ways
In Summary
Labour is a complex, powerful, and deeply personal process. By understanding the three stages of labour – dilation, pushing, and placenta delivery—you’ll feel more prepared to meet the experience with strength and clarity. No matter how your birth unfolds, remember: you are not alone. With the right support and knowledge, you can approach labour with trust in your body, confidence in your choices, and excitement for the life you’re about to meet. Join my Labor and Birth Webinar. It will cover pre & early labor signs, stages of labor, pain management, breathing exercises, labor positions, partners role and packing your hospital bag.
