If this is your first pregnancy the prospect of giving birth can be a daunting one. In fact, after the adulation of discovering you are pregnant has passed, it's common to feel apprehensive even scarred about the whole giving birth experience. Try not to panic though, most women will have some concerns, all of which are perfectly natural and should be treated as part of your pregnancy. Remember, women have been giving birth since time began so why should your pregnancy be any different?



For most women childbirth will occur spontaneously, normally around two hundred and eighty days after conception. However, it can be induced artificially once the pregnancy has passed the forty-two weeks gestation period. Of course, each pregnancy is different, but the average length of labor is around 12-14 hours if this is your first pregnancy, and about 8 hours for subsequent ones. Bare in mind that women also have much shorter and sometimes longer labors, so try not to think too much about your labor as you really don't have any real control over it's duration.

First Stage Of Labor:

During the initial first stages of labor, your cervix will dilate (widen) to ten centimetres from zero. This is a gradual process and can take several hours as the cervix slowly dilates to the correct size. The good news is that most women are relatively comfortable during this early stage and are encouraged to walk around to further encourage the process.

By now the muscular wall of the uterus (womb) will begin to shrink as the cervix loosens and grows. This causes part of amniotic sac that has up to now surrounded your baby to be squeezed into the opening causing it to burst under the pressure. The fluid released is amniotic fluid and the process is commonly referred too as ?your waters breaking?

The final part of the first stage of labor is called the ?Transition? and is the passing between the first and second stages. As your contractions become stronger your Baby begins to descend. A lot of women will want the ?push? as the baby gets lower. However, active pushing should not be considered until advised to do so and during the second stage of labor. ?Pushing? too early could cause your cervix to tear.

Second Stage Of Labor:

Your baby's head should now be at the top of your cervix. Your contractions will now be getting stronger and lasting longer as your baby descends lower and lower.

Once the top of your Baby's head is visible your pregnancy is near an end. Your Baby's head must now pass under your pubic bone before the entire head is seen for the first time. All that's left is the shoulders to pass through before the rest of your baby is born relatively easily.

Third stage Of Labor:

Once your baby is born the third and final stage of labor involves passing the placenta. The placenta is shaped just like a pancake and about 10 inches in diameter. Up to now It's been firmly attached to your uterus (womb) and has provided life support to your unborn baby throughout your pregnancy. The practitioner would have by now cleared any mucus surrounding your baby's mouth and nose to assistant with the baby's first breath. The umbilical cord is then cut.

Congratulations! you have just experienced the miracle of childbirth?