Pregnancy fills you with amazement in realising how your body can grow a baby, go through the birthing process, and continue nurturing and nursing your baby through breastfeeding.

The birthing process is stimulated by 3 major hormones: oxytocin, endorphins, and catecholamines or adrenaline. These hormones give rise to instinctive reactions and inborn responses. 

Four stages of Labour

First stage

• Contractions feel like regular menstrual cramps with your tummy going hard, initially, becoming more intense as the labour progresses. The pain is messages received by the brain from the stimulation of sensory nerve endings of the stretching cervix. The cervix dilates 1 to 10 cm.
• You go to the hospital when your contractions are 2 in 10 minutes / every 5 minutes.

Contractions reduce the blood flow to the placenta (which stores oxygenated blood) in between the contractions. Breathing during your contractions ensures your baby’s continued oxygen supply.

Second stage

• Your cervix is now fully dilated (10cm).
• The sensations now change from pain to a “bearing down” sensation, like a constipated feeling.
• You feel no pain!
• This is the hard work of your birthing process where you are pushing your baby out through the birth canal, during contractions.

Third stage

• WHO recommends delayed cord clamping – As your baby is being born, the placenta sends its last “blood rush” (like a blood transfusion) to your baby, decreasing the incidence of low iron levels from the age of 9 months.
• The delay should be at least 60 seconds.
• The delivery of the placenta.

Fourth stage

First 6 weeks of your baby’s life.

 Compiled by Ana Frawley IBCLC RM RN