Babies at Sutter Health

  • Home
  • Delivering at Sutter Health
  • Classes
  • En español
  • Finding a Doctor/Midwife
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor and Delivery
  • Breastfeeding
  • Your Newborn
  • The New Mom

Labor and Delivery

  • Labor
    • Pre-Labor vs. True Labor
    • When to Go to the Hospital
    • Labor Stages
    • Labor Contractions
    • Pushing; The Second Phase
    • Positions for Labor
    • Breathing and Relaxation
    • Premature Labor
    • Induced Labor
    • Variations of Labor
    • Tips for Helping a Laboring Woman
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • en español

Stages of Labor

  • Decrease Font Size
  • Increase Font Size
  • Send to a Friend
  • Share
    • Share / Blog
    • Digg This
    • del.icio.us
    • Newsvine
    • Facebook
    • Reddit
    • Furl It
    • !Y My Web
    • Google
  • Print

The four stages of the childbirth process are based on changes in the uterus and cervix as labor progresses. The beginning and end of each stage are described below:

First Stage of Labor

  • Begins at the onset of labor and ends when the cervix is 100 percent effaced and completely dilated to 10 centimeters.
  • Average length ranges for a first-time mother is from ten-to-fourteen hours and shorter for subsequent births.
  • Read more in our Health Libarary
    • The first stage of labor
    • Cerival Effacement and Dilation
    • Illustration of Cervical Effacement
Second Stage of Labor
  • Begins when the cervix is completely effaced and dilated and ends with the birth of the baby.
  • Average length for a first time mother ranges from 1 to-2 hours and shorter for subsequent births.
  • Read more in our Health Library
    • The second stage of labor
Third Stage of Labor
  • Begins with the birth of the baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta.
  • Average length for all vaginal deliveries ranges from five-to-fifteen minutes.
Fourth Stage of Labor
  • Begins with delivery of the placenta and ends one-to-two hours after delivery.

How Will I know if I am Making Progress?

The progress of labor and the baby's position is determined by an internal vaginal exam. These exams are not done frequently and may be done during a contraction. Internal vaginal exams assess:

  • Cervical effacement (thinning measured as 0 to 100 percent)
  • Cervical dilation (opening measured as 0 to 10 centimeters)
  • Presentation (part of the baby to be born first, i.e. head, buttocks, feet, etc.)
  • Position of the baby's presenting part (anterior: facing your back, or posterior: facing your front)
  • Station (distance of the presenting part from above or below the mid pelvis in "plus" or "minus" numbers)

  • About Our Sutter Health Network
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy

2008 Sutter Health. All rights reserved.