1. The Stages of Labor
Jill Stevenson

2. There are 4 stages to the labor process.
Stage 1
Stage 2
3 Phases
Stage 3 Stage 4

3. Stage 1 – Phase 1
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
 0-3 cm dilation  Cramps
 Contractions  Anxiety
 every 20-25 minutes  Loss of mucous plug
 lasting 30-45
seconds each
 Phase lasts 8-20 hours What’s happening to the
for the first labor baby?
 (approx. 4-5 hours
for subsequent
pregnancies)

4. Stage 1 – Phase 2
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
 4-7 cm dilation (active)
 Contractions
 Every 3-5 minutes
 Lasting 45-60
seconds each
 Phase lasts 2-4 hours What’s happening to the
 Go to the hospital baby?

5. Stage 1 – Phase 3
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
 8-10 cm dilation
(transition)
 Contractions
 Every 2 minutes
 Lasting 90 seconds
 Phase lasts 20 minutes What’s happening to the
to 2 hours baby?

6. There are 4 stages to the labor process.
Stage 1
Stage 2
3 Phases
Stage 3 Stage 4

7. Stage 2
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
What’s happening to the
baby?

8. There are 4 stages to the labor process.
Stage 1
Stage 2
3 Phases
Stage 3 Stage 4

9. Stage 3
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
What’s happening to the
baby?

10. There are 4 stages to the labor process.
Stage 1
Stage 2
3 Phases
Stage 3 Stage 4

11. Stage 4
What’s happening to the
Overview
mother?
What’s happening to the
baby?