Stages of labour: Health24: Pregnancy

Your guide

Check out our step-by-step guides

Weekly Poll

What's your top choice to prevent flu?

YOU ARE IN > Journey > Birth > Stages of labour

Birth

Stages of labour

Second stage of labour

The baby manoeuvres itself through the pelvis by rotating and slowly appearing from the birth canal. Most women become very focused, and the contractions feel very different.

False labour or the real thing?

How will you be sure that your labour has really started? Knowing the signs will help you feel more relaxed and better equipped to cope when the real thing finally kicks in.

First stage of labour

The first stage starts out slowly with short, infrequent contractions of the uterus. Over a period of hours or days, the contractions become stronger and come closer together.