Stages of Labor
What happens in each phase and what your job is
Overview
Labor unfolds in stages. Knowing what each stage looks like, and what your role is, is one of the most useful things you can do before the birth.
Early Labor (3 to 6 cm)
Duration: 6 to 12 hours, often more for a first birth. Contractions are 5 to 8 minutes apart, lasting 45 to 60 seconds. Your partner can still talk through most of them.
The 3 to 6 Phase
This is often the longest, most discouraging stretch. Progress feels slow. Many people get epidurals earlier than planned during this phase. Prepare for it to be hard and be ready to help with rhythm.
Active Labor (6 to 10 cm)
Duration: 3 to 6 hours for a first birth. Contractions every 3 to 5 minutes, lasting 60 to 90 seconds. Your partner cannot hold a full conversation. Must stop and breathe.
Transition (~8 to 10 cm)
Duration: usually 15 minutes to 1 hour. This is the most intense phase and also the shortest. Contractions are nearly continuous and very strong.
Pushing (Second Stage)
Duration: 1 to 3 hours for a first birth (much less for subsequent births). A strong bearing-down urge. This feels different from contractions, it's pressure, not cramps.
Third Stage: Placenta
Duration: 5 to 30 minutes after the birth. The placenta is delivered. Mild contractions continue. This stage matters: watch for heavy bleeding.