Think of this as your childbirth manual, a step-by-step guide to prepare you for what lies ahead. We’ve divided the process into stages to describe the typical changes that occur as labor progresses.
Stage One
The first stage encompasses the very beginning of labor, when contractions begin, all the way through transition, when your cervix finishes dilating and effacing.
Stage Two
This stage covers birth, when your body shifts from dilating to pushing, and the movement of your baby through the birth canal and into the world.
Stage Three
Finally, there’s the third stage, when all of your hard work is done and your body begins to recover.