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Labor

Labor

Labor is the strenuous process a mother goes through to give birth to a child. The process is divided into stages; during each stage, the cervix opens wider and contractions happen more frequently. In the final stage, the mother must help push the baby out.

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  1. How can you tell if you're having back labor?

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About Labor

Labor is the process of giving birth to a baby. A mother usually goes through significant pain; and at the end of the process, the baby must be pushed out in most cases, which requires physical ''labor.'' Usually, the hormonal rush of happiness that comes from giving birth will quickly wipe out the memory of the painful process that came before.

Water Break
Only ten percent of women experience their ''water breaking'' before labor begins. This occurs when the sac of amniotic fluid surrounding the baby leaks out of the mother's vagina. It can be disconcerting, but it is completely normal. If labor doesn't start within a certain time frame after the water breaks, the doctor will induce labor.

Early Labor
Early Labor contractions become longer and stronger and closer together. Contractions may start coming every ten minutes, lasting about 30 seconds each. Early labor ends when your cervix has dilated (increased in size) to about four centimeters. Things will start to move faster now.

Active Labor
In active labor, contractions occur more frequently and they are more painful; it is no longer possible to continue conversing through them. At this point, it is important to breathe deeply and relax between contractions, which will help you maintain strength. The cervix will begin to dilate (increase in size) faster, up to about 10 centimeters. This stage is called ''transition.''

Transition
During Transition the contractions occur about every 2.5-3 minutes and last a minute or more, and are very strong. The mother may begin to feel pressure on her rectum, as if she had to have a bowel movement. Many women will begin to push at this point. There may be a bloody discharge and nausea.

Second Stage
During this stage the baby will begin to descend into the birth canal, and the head may appear, called ''crowning.'' At this point one needs a lot of stamina!

Birth
When your baby is finally out, it will be dried and cleaned up quickly, kept warm and immediately put on your belly so that you can begin to ''bond.'' Some babies even begin to nurse right away. Everyone celebrates and the mother gets a much-deserved congratulations. (And the Dad, of course.)

The whole process of giving birth can take several hours, anywhere from 12 to 24 hours. The second vaginal delivery is usually much faster.

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Labor