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ÃÛÌÒAPP > Services > Maternity > How we’ll support you through labour and birth > Stages of labour

Stages of labour

Labour is broken down into three stages.

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Doctors and midwives break labour down into three different stages. It can be a bit confusing and you don’t have to remember them or diagnose which stage you are in when you call or speak to us. This is just to help and inform you.

If you are over 37 weeks and think you might be in labour, call the labour line on 0191 282 6363

If you are less than 37 weeks or are experiencing a ‘high risk’ pregnancy, call the maternity assessment unit on 0191 282 5748

Stage one – latent phase

  • Contractions can range from feeling crampy, to uncomfortable, to painful. You may need to take some Paracetamol or have a warm bath to help with the pain. Other contractions might be ‘tight’ with no pain at all.
  • There’s no real pattern to the length of each contraction or how many you are getting. Some might last for 15 seconds, while others last for one minute. You might get four in 10 minutes and then two in the next ten minutes.
  • Feel more like period pain and you feel them where you usually get period pain
  • Likely to pass the mucous plug (show)
  • Contractions might stop for a few hours and start again at a later time. They can do this a few times

Stage one – established phase

  • Contractions will continue until you have your baby.
  • The contractions get stronger, last for longer and happen closer together until you are having around three to four strong contractions in 10 minutes lasting between 40 and 60 seconds.
  • Contractions are felt all over the bump, not just lower down.
  • Contractions begin to take your breath away and you may find it difficult to talk through them.
  • You need stronger pain relief than what is available at home or you feel like you are not coping well at home.

Stage two – the birth of your baby

  • The neck of your womb (cervix) becomes ‘fully dilated’. You might know this as being ’10cms’. It means the neck of your womb can no longer be felt in front of baby’s head.
  • You begin to feel the urge to ‘push’ or the strength of the contractions make your body begin to push on its own.
  • From the time of pushing to when the baby is delivered.

Stage three – delivering the placenta

  • From the to the delivery of the placenta (afterbirth)

Stage three – repair of any tear

  • From the delivery of the placenta to checking if any stitches are needed. It also includes the time it takes to repair any tear.