BIRTH

1
BIRTH

• STAGES OF BIRTH

2
FIRST STAGE

• UTERINE CONTRACTIONS ABOUT 15 TO 20 MINUTES APART
• CONTRACTIONS CAUSE CERVIX TO OPEN
• CONTRACTIONS BECOME CLOSER TOGETHER TO ABOUT 2 TO
  5 MINUTES APART
• CERVIX IS DILATED TO ABOUT 4 INCHES
• FIRST STAGE LASTS ON AVERAGE 12 TO 24 HOURS
• FIRST TO SECOND STAGE TRANSITION HAPPENS WHEN
  BABYS HEAD MOVES THROUGH THE CERVIX INTO THE
  BIRTH CANAL

3
SECOND STAGE

• BABYS HEAD IS IN THE BIRTH CANAL
• ENDS WHEN BABY IS OUT OF MOTHERS BODY
• MOTHER BEARS DOWN AND PUSHES
• CONTRACTIONS COME ABOUT EVERY MINUTE AND LAST FOR
  ABOUT ONE MINUTE
• SECOND STAGE LASTS ABOUT 1 1/2 HOURS

4
THIRD STAGE

• SOMETIMES CALLED AFTERBIRTH
• PLACENTA, UMBILICAL CORD, AND OTHER MEMBRANES ARE
  DETACHED AND EXPELLED
• SHORTEST OF STAGES, LASTS ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES