Labour

Labour is the term we use for the painful uterine contractions which occur at the same time as your cervix begins to soften and dilate. There are 3 stages of labour.

Stages of Labour
1 – The cervix dilates fully to 10 cm in preparation for your baby’s head to pass through. It dilates at an average of 10cm/hour and normally takes about 12 hours to completion.  At this point the membranes rupture (if they have not already done so) in order for the amniotic fluid surrounding you baby to come out.

2 – This stage starts at full dilatation of the cervix and lasts until your baby is delivered. When you feel the head bearing down on the pelvis you normally start to have the urge to push. Pushing with contractions assists the birth of your little one.

3 – After the birth of your baby the placenta needs to separate from the uterine wall. As the uterus contracts and hardens after birth the placenta frees itself from the muscle wall and under a little traction is delivered. This completes the final third stage of labour.

© The Westover

Acupuncture
Antenatal Classes
Baby Massage Classes
Breast Specialist
Cranio Sacral Therapy
Educational Consultants
General Practitioners
Gynaecologists
Infertility Specialists
Midwives
Nurses
Obstetricians
Paediatricians
Paediatric Allergist
Paediatric Dentistry
Paediatric Dermatologist
Paediatric Dieticians
Paediatric Psychologists
Physiotherapists
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Reflexologists
Yoga