Stages of labour
Baby’s journey of labour
The human pelvis has a complex shape, making your baby negotiate several manoeuvres during labour and birth.
Every mother’s pelvis is widest side to side at the entrance – because of this, most babies enter the pelvis looking left or right. The exit from the pelvis is widest from front to back, so babies almost always turn face up or face down.
These manoeuvres occur from forces of labour and the resistance provided by the birth canal. In addition to making these turning manoeuvres, the baby is simultaneously descending further down the vagina.
Finally, the top of your baby’s head appears (crowns), stretching your vaginal opening. When the vulva has stretched enough, the baby’s head will emerge – usually by extending the head, lifting its chin off the chest and thus emerging from under your pubic bone.
The baby usually emerges face down but will turn to one side very quickly as the shoulders turn to take the same route. The rest of the body is born and then you can hold your new baby!
In this guide:
- Baby’s journey of labour
- Hormones during labour
- Stages of labour
- First stage of labour
- Second stage of labour
- Third stage of labour
- The fourth stage