The labour process

There are three stages of labour; each have different lengths for different people and pregnancies. Stage 1 (Where the cervix opens up to 10cm) involves early contractions leading to regular ones, typically lasting around 8 hours for first-time mothers and about 5 hours for those who have given birth before. Stage 2 (where you push and have your baby) can have a passive phase (where you are 10cm dilated but have not started to push yet) followed by an active phase, where pushing leads to the baby's birth. This lasts up to 5 hours for first-time mothers and up to 3 hours for those who have given birth before but can be much quicker. Stage 3 (where you birth the placenta) involves the birth of the placenta, which usually occurs within 30 to 60 minutes.

There are two approaches to birthing the placenta: active and physiological. Active involves an injection to help birth the placenta, cutting the cord after the baby gets its blood from the cord, and then gently pulling the cord. Physiological is without medications, waiting for the cord to stop beating before cutting, and pushing to birth the placenta.

Everyone’s labour experience will be different. You may be recommended to push or position yourself in a certain way but it is your choice. When you're pushing during labour, you might feel a lot of pressure downwards, like when you're trying to have a bowel movement. It is normal to feel sensations like passing gas or an intense stinging feeling, especially as the baby's head comes out. There are different types of pushing: Spontaneous and directed. Spontaneous pushing is based on instincts and directed is where your midwife encourages you to take a deep breath at the start of a contraction, hold it and push; taking further breaths when necessary Directed pushing can help shorten the pushing stage of labour, especially for first-time births, reducing the chance of needing a caesarean birth or instrumental vaginal birth. You can choose positions that make you feel comfortable and are right for you. Lying on your side may increase the chance of a spontaneous vaginal birth. Your choice of position may also be affected by factors such as having an epidural or requirements for monitoring your baby.