The First Stage: This is when uterine contractions begin and your cervix starts to dilate. The first stage is broken down into 3 phases:
The Latent phase: Cervix opens from 0-3cm
-
- Contractions are short and irregular, lasting 30-60 seconds every 2-20 minutes and can feel like “period cramps”
- This can last up to 12 hours
- We want to focus on relaxing during this phase to avoid spikes in adrenaline that can slow down labour
The Active phase: Cervix dilates further to 3-8cm
-
- Contractions become stronger, longer and more regular.
- This can last up to 5 hours
The Transitional phase: Cervix dilates more rapidly from 8cm to 10cm.
-
- Contractions become more intense and occur close together, lasting for 60-90 seconds at 1-2 minutes intervals.
- This can last from 30 minutes to 2 hours.
- You are transitioning to the next stage which involves pushing!
The Second Stage: is the delivery of the baby where your cervix has fully dilated to 10cm. You will be pushing during this phase and this usually lasts up to 1.5-2 hours. “Crowning” occurs when the baby’s head reaches the vagina, at this point your birth provider will assist and guide the baby out.
The Third Stage: follows after the baby is born, and involves the delivery of the placenta. This usually takes 30 minutes or less.
How can physiotherapy help?
Our physiotherapists can help you with Birth preparation and Birth skills:
- Education around the anatomy of the pelvis, pelvic organs and the pelvic floor muscles.
- Birth preparation involving an assessment of your pelvic floor to identify pre-existing dysfunctions, discussion of risk factors around perineal tears, and prescription of pelvic floor exercises and optimisation of pushing techniques.
- Perineal massage to reduce the risk of perineal tears after 36 weeks.
- Positioning techniques to aid with the progression of labour by opening up the pelvic inlet and outlet to help your baby move down the birth canal.
- Pain relieving strategies: such as the use of a Labour TENS machine, heat application, and distraction techniques.
Our clinic also runs regular BornReady workshops which are aimed at providing you and your birth partner with the relevant tools to manage the symptoms of labour, to prepare you for an efficient birth and to troubleshoot when labour is not following an efficient path.
For more information, please do not hesitate to contact us on (02) 8883 5360 or email at info@sydneywomensphysiotherapy.com.au
Jacqui