Labor & Delivery Stages

Saturday my husband and I went to an accelerated lamaze class from 9AM to 4PM. Things started out with the classic comedian act of Bill Cosby discussing the birth of his child and ended with deep breathing techniques. In between I picked up a lot of information about what to possibly expect. Below is just a snippet of what I need to expect.

Early Labor (7 to 8 hours) Some Pain
-talkative
-contractions about 5-15 minutes apart
-feeling anxious
-notify your doctor and parnter
Try not to use your breathing techniques yet. Stick to clear liquids and only do "light" activities.

Active Labor (1 to 4 hours) Very Painful
-less talkative
-contractions 3-4 minutes apart
-feeling annoyed and unable to relax
-needs support person by your side
Begin your breathing techniques and ask for a massage. Change positions as much as needed.

Transition (1/2 to 2 1/2 hours Beyond Pain
-may cry, shake, or scream
-contractions every 1-2 minutes apart
-feeling an urge to "go to the bathroom"
-there may be burping, farting, pooping
Maintain eye contact with your partner, use breathing techniques and listen to the medical staff.

Of course I will write about many of the other things that we have learned, but these 3 stages have given me a good idea of how the situation may progress.