http://americordblood.com/ | While every woman is unique, there are distinct stages and phases of labor. Knowing what to expect will help you prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for childbirth.

2. Some women are in labor
for many hours, even up to
a full day or more, while
others deliver within a
matter of two or three
hours.
A woman’s first baby
typically takes longer to
deliver than subsequent
deliveries.
Knowing what to expect
during labor will help you
prepare for childbirth. Let’s
take a look at the stages
and phases of labor.

3. The first stage of childbirth is labor,
which is further broken down into
three distinct phases that include:
• Phase 1: Early labor
• Phase 2: Active labor
• Phase 3: Transitional labor
Let’s explore each phase of labor
and what to expect.

4. What happens: Dilation and
effacement (dilation) of the
cervix happens gradually
(anywhere from several hours
to several weeks), a process
that allows the baby to move
into the birth canal.
How long it lasts: Early labor
often lasts 6 to 12 hours. It is
generally the least painful but
longest lasting phase. Expect
mild to moderate, regular
contractions that last 30 to 45
seconds and are spaced 5 to
20 minutes apart.

5. What happens: You may feel your water break, if
it hasn’t already.
During active labor your cervix will dilate to 7
centimeters, and your contractions will come 3
to 4 minutes apart and last for 40 to 60 seconds.
This is the time to ask for an epidural, if you’re
going to have one.
How long it lasts: Active labor can last 2 to 3 ½
hours—less for some women and more for others.

6. What happens: Expect strong contractions during transitional labor,
the phase that occurs before delivery. Contractions can be
especially painful during this phase, lasting 60 to 90 seconds and
spaced 2 to 3 minutes apart. You may feel the urge to push, but
your healthcare practitioner may ask you to resist until you’re fully
dilated to 10 centimeters.
How long it lasts: The shortest of the three phases, transitional labor
typically lasts from 15 minutes to an hour.

7. What happens: Now the
real work begins. At this
stage you should be fully
dilated, and it’s time to
help your baby into the
world by pushing. You’ll
move into a
comfortable position
and focus on pushing
with your lower body.
Your hard work will soon
pay off when your baby
emerges into the world!
How long it lasts: Pushing
the baby out generally
takes 30 minutes to an
hour. Contractions will
be spaced at 2 to 5
minutes apart and will
last for 60 to 90 seconds.

8. What happens: The third and final stage of
labor is delivering the placenta (afterbirth)
that provided room and board for your baby
all those months.
You may feel mild contractions that help
separate the placenta from the uterine wall.
How long it lasts: Expect the delivery of the
placenta to last anywhere from 5 to 20
minutes.
Immediately following the birth of your baby,
the physician or midwife will perform cord
blood, cord tissue, or placenta tissue
collection, if you’ve decided to save this
potentially lifesaving material.

9. Cord blood is a rich source of stem
cells that is easily accessible and
only available when your baby is
born. These stem cells are
genetically unique to your baby and
your family, and can be used to
treat your baby, the baby’s siblings,
and other family members for various
diseases and illnesses.
Cord tissue and placenta tissue both
contain special multipotent stem
cells, which can differentiate into
many different types of cells and
can be used to treat a wider range
of diseases than cord blood alone.

10. Americord is a leader in the advancement of umbilical cord blood, cord
tissue, and placenta tissue banking. As a private bank, Americord collects,
processes, and stores newborn stem cells exclusively for each family to use in
future medical or therapeutic treatments. Based in New York, Americord is
registered with the FDA and operates in all 50 states. Learn more about cord
blood, cord tissues, and placental tissue banking at americordblood.com.

11. Sources
• http://www.babycenter.com/stages-of-labor
• http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/labor-and-
delivery/in-depth/stages-of-labor/art-20046545
• http://www.whattoexpect.com/pregnancy/labor-and-
delivery/childbirth-stages/three-phases-of-labor.aspx