Stages of labor - Stage III
The birth of a child
is a special and unique event. No two genders are the same, and it is
impossible to accurately predict what your particular gender will be. However,
there are predictable stages of labor and delivery, so you usually know what to
expect.
Labor takes place in
three stages:
- First stage:
begins as soon as true labor begins and continues until the cervix is fully
dilated to 10 cm.
- Second stage: continues after the opening of the cervix up to 10 cm
before delivery.
- Third stage:
Delivery of your placenta.
The third stage is
the birth of the placenta, the shortest. The time it takes for the placenta to
be delivered can vary from 5 to 30 minutes.
What to expect and what to do:
After your baby is
born, your doctor will look for small contractions to start over. The
contractions signal that your placenta is separating from the uterine wall and
is ready to be expelled.
You can massage the
pressure on the uterus and gently pull the umbilical cord. The result will be
the birth of your placenta, also called the placenta. After the placenta is
delivered, you may feel severe shaking and chills. This is a common symptom and
not a cause for concern.
After all stages of
labor are completed, you will be monitored for the next few hours to ensure
that the uterus continues to contract and the bleeding is not excessive.
Now you can relax and enjoy your baby!