Inside Your Body

At birth, your baby may weigh anywhere between 2.7-4kg and at an average height of 50cm in height. Your baby is more than ready to come out.  He/she can do everything a baby is supposed to be able to do e.g. move his/her limbs and head, blink, make sounds, and use all his/her 5 senses.  However, there may still be some hair (lanugo) on his/her shoulders and arms.  Don’t worry, this should completely shed in the next few weeks and definitely before he/she reaches one.

Your Signs And Symptoms

Stage 1 – this is the longest stage (up to 20 hours) and it is essentially the long process of dilation of your cervix. As your cervix become more and more dilated, your contractions will become stronger and closer to each other. Initially it may be 15 – 20 minutes apart, as your cervix nears its target of 10cm, your contractions will be about 2 minutes apart. You will experience bleeding from your vagina and your water breaking. You will feel backache and pressure on your rectum. You should rush to the hospital when your contractions are about 3 minutes apart.

Stage 2 – once your cervix is fully dilated at 10cm, your baby will make his/her way through your vagina and out to the outside world. Congratulations! This may take about 2 hours or more, depending on any complications. While your baby makes his/her way through, your contraction will slow to 2 to 5 minutes apart.

Stage 3 – the last part will only last a few minutes. Your placenta will separate from your uterine wall and also pass through your vagina to be disposed of as it has served its purpose of nourishing your baby.

What Tests To Expect

When you arrive at the hospital after experiencing labor pains, they will measure your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature, and examine your cervix to assess the stage of dilation.  They will also monitor your contractions and your baby’s heart rate.

During stage 2 of labor, your doctor may perform a procedure called episiotomy, i.e. a small incision to widen your vagina opening.  This is usually done to allow the baby to come out faster or to protect your vagina wall from being damaged.  After your baby is safely out and your placenta is also discharged, the incision will be stitched back.