The Stages of Labor and Birth in a Vaginal Delivery

Here's a simple rundown of what happens in a "typical" vaginal birth.

By the editors of Parents magazine

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Three Tidy Stages

Each birth is as unique as the baby it produces. But the "classic" vaginal childbirth is described by practitioners in three tidy stages:

1. First Stage: Dilation and Effacement of the Cervix

a. early phase

b. active phase

c. transition phase

2. Second Stage: Pushing and Birth

3. Third Stage: Delivery of the Placenta

How long does the whole process last? For first-time mothers, the average is 14 hours, though of course it can be much longer or much shorter. For moms who've given birth before, the average labor and delivery lasts around 8 hours.

Next: First Stage

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Comments

Comments (21)

anonymous wrote:

I love the encouraging words on here, I am scheduled to be induced on Sat. at 7:30pm, I am hoping like most previous posts my LABOR will go quickly, swiftly and as pleasantly as possible. Thanks for posting everyone, makes me feel a little less worried about everything...

12/15/2011 12:20:59 PM Report Abuse

SylasMomma wrote:

having my first a boy... due Sept 28 contractions started today.. I am 1 CM COME ON FASTER! LOL I cannot wait!

9/23/2011 07:38:43 PM Report Abuse

Candyg0919 wrote:

6 weeks to go till my due date nd dont know what to expect... hopefully i go through it fast to get it over with cause its getting really hard on my body to carry all this extra weight

8/22/2011 02:43:18 PM Report Abuse

dimplez1986 wrote:

I was only in labor with my daughter for 5 hours. Took about 15 minutes to push her out. Hopefully this one will be just as easy. I'm having a boy this time and boys are stubborn so I dunno lol.

8/12/2011 07:10:50 PM Report Abuse

marywoodall87 wrote:

Both of my labors were 2 hrs. And took 2 pushes to deliver.

6/29/2011 01:31:57 PM Report Abuse

vhs16 wrote:

I Was In laber with my first one 4 hours and to deliver her was 1 hour So I wae very lucky

6/17/2011 07:48:24 AM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I was in labor for my first one a total of 10 hours. I woke at up at 3am,took a warm bath and then went back to sleep till 7am. Had him by noon.

4/5/2011 08:35:37 AM Report Abuse

flbaby791 wrote:

I thought that all the talk about "push when told to do so" and "follow your practitioners lead" was garbage. Your body knows what to do and when you're body is ready to pus, it will feel the urge to push. Women have been giving birth for thousands of years. It is only in the 70-80 years that we've completely given the process (and our power) over to the medical professionals and "followed their lead". Relax and listen to your bodies ladies. The rest comes naturally.

3/11/2011 12:16:35 PM Report Abuse

g-unit-booty wrote:

i was in labor for 26 and a half hours

2/6/2011 03:45:16 PM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I got lucky i arrived at the hospital at 1:30 am with my first contractions was already 5 cm dilated at 6 :21 am was 10 cm dilated and it only took me three contraction and nine minutes to give birth to my first one he was born at exaclty 6:30 am that same day. my second one took me about the same amount of time 4 and a half hours to get dilated to 10 cm and 15 minutes to give birth,

12/14/2010 04:47:48 PM Report Abuse

mstiff61 wrote:

Thank God I was only in labor with my first child for four hours.

11/4/2010 04:24:23 PM Report Abuse

thegeminifairy wrote:

I agree ! thanks for reminding us of the positive side !god bless

8/4/2010 08:35:25 PM Report Abuse

megelisaf wrote:

With my first I was in labor for a little over 48 hours. Im being induced this time so we will see.

7/21/2010 03:34:25 PM Report Abuse

harjoken wrote:

My first was like an hour...hope this will be the same ..

6/28/2010 12:50:36 PM Report Abuse

smiley4680 wrote:

My first was 8hrs 44mins the second was 11hrs 58mins and the 3rd only time will tell?????

6/16/2010 01:09:07 PM Report Abuse

meghansnyder wrote:

I was induced with all 3 babies. They all lasted the same amount of time. About 9 hours. Got there at 6am to 3:30pm

5/14/2010 02:02:48 PM Report Abuse

jcandhg wrote:

I just gave birth to my first child, a girl and I was only in labor for 4 hours

5/13/2010 06:25:43 PM Report Abuse

anonymous wrote:

I was in labor with my daughter 22 hours I hope this ones isnt as long.....

5/3/2010 07:42:45 PM Report Abuse

rosa.zamora23 wrote:

my first time it was 12 hours the second was 6 now this one well we'll see

4/28/2010 11:11:09 AM Report Abuse

bxgracey wrote:

Wow! I never knew it was normal for labor to last so long. With my first one I was in labor a total of Five hours. Maybe this second one will be similar!

4/5/2010 05:46:08 PM Report Abuse

inumorebecca wrote:

Giving birth is a gift from God and an amazing thing.

1/14/2010 08:48:12 PM Report Abuse

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