Labor is a process—not just one event—and understanding how it unfolds can help you feel more prepared and less fearful.
This guide will cover:
✔️ The three main stages of labor and what happens in each
✔️ What contractions feel like & how to cope
✔️ How to know when it’s time to go to the hospital
The 3 Stages of Labor
Labor is divided into three main stages:
📌 Stage 1: Early, Active & Transition Labor (Opening the cervix)
📌 Stage 2: Pushing & Birth (Bringing baby into the world)
📌 Stage 3: Delivering the Placenta (Final stage of birth)
Each stage has different timelines, sensations, and challenges.
💡 Related Post: Pain Management Options for Labor: From Natural to Medical
Stage 1: Early, Active & Transition Labor
📌 Phase 1: Early Labor (0-6 cm dilated)
✔️ Contractions are irregular, mild, and spaced 5-20 minutes apart.
✔️ May feel like cramps, backache, or tightening.
✔️ Can last hours to a day or more (longer for first-time parents).
✔️ Best time to rest, eat, and stay relaxed at home.
📌 Phase 2: Active Labor (6-8 cm dilated)
✔️ Contractions get stronger, longer, and closer together (3-5 minutes apart).
✔️ You’ll need to focus on breathing & pain management.
✔️ This is usually the best time to go to the hospital or birth center.
📌 Phase 3: Transition (8-10 cm dilated)
✔️ Contractions are intense, back-to-back, and last 60-90 seconds.
✔️ You may feel nausea, shaking, or the urge to push.
✔️ Many people feel like they “can’t do this anymore”—this means you’re almost there!
📌 Pro Tip: Staying upright and mobile can help labor progress faster and reduce pain.
💡 Related Post: How to Create a Birth Plan That Actually Works
Stage 2: Pushing & Birth
📌 Once fully dilated (10 cm), it’s time to push!
✔️ Pushing can last a few minutes to several hours (usually shorter if you’ve given birth before).
✔️ You may feel an overwhelming urge to bear down or pressure in your pelvis.
✔️ Some people prefer coached pushing, while others follow their body’s natural urges.
📌 Pro Tip: Holding your breath while pushing isn’t necessary! Exhaling while pushing (like blowing out birthday candles) can help baby move down more smoothly.
💡 Related Post: Why Doulas Matter & How They Can Support You
Stage 3: Delivering the Placenta
📌 The birth isn’t over until the placenta is delivered.
✔️ This stage usually takes 5-30 minutes.
✔️ Mild contractions help the uterus expel the placenta.
✔️ Some providers use controlled cord traction (gentle pulling) to help.
📌 Pro Tip: Delayed cord clamping (waiting 1-3 minutes before cutting the umbilical cord) allows baby to get extra oxygen and blood volume.
💡 Related Post: The Emotional Side of Birth: Processing Unexpected Outcomes
How to Know When It’s Time to Go to the Hospital
📌 Use the 5-1-1 Rule:
✔️ Contractions are 5 minutes apart
✔️ Last 1 full minute each
✔️ Have been regular for at least 1 hour
🚩 Go in sooner if:
✔️ Your water breaks & fluid is green or foul-smelling
✔️ You are bleeding heavily (more than a period)
✔️ You feel constant, severe pain between contractions
📌 Pro Tip: Don’t rush to the hospital too early. Being admitted too soon can lead to more interventions and a longer labor.
💡 Related Post: What You Need to Know About Inductions
Birthify’s Expert Support for Labor & Birth
💛 Want real-time support during labor? Need help knowing when to go to the hospital? Birthify’s experts provide on-demand guidance so you can feel calm, prepared, and empowered.
👉 Join Birthify today and get expert-led birth support! Sign up here