Child Birth

Labor, Delivery and Birth

Before child birth and the delivery of your baby; at this stage of labor, your cervix is completely dilated and effaced. You may hear the doctor say that you are 100% effaced and 10 centimeters dilated (approx. 4 inches). Contractions are between 3 and 5 minutes apart and last between 1 to 1 1/2 minutes. This is called the pushing stage of labor.

When you feel like pushing be sure to let the nurse or health care professional know immediately so that they can get everything ready. Don't push until your health care professional tells you to push. Your baby is pushed through the birth canal at this stage. The pushing can be short or take up to 2 hours depending on how many children you have had before.

When your baby comes through the birth canal your doctor may ask you to stop pushing. This is necessary as he may have to clean out the baby's airways before continuing. Your baby is here. The cord is clamped and cut.

After the Birth

The placenta is delivered during this stage. Contractions will continue. Your nurse may push on your abdomen to help expel the placenta or your health care professional may ask you to push once more. He or she will examine it to make sure that is intact.

• signs of labor
• stage I, early labor, active labor and transition
• stages II, III and giving birth