All About THE MOMENT: Labor Stages, Delivery Methods, And Pain-Relief Options

Is THE MOMENT you’ve been waiting for: your baby’s birth! For about nine months, a little life has been growing inside you. As your due date nears, you can’t contain your excitement — all you want is to finally meet and hold your baby in your arms. Of course, you may be wondering what to expect, especially if you are a first-time mom. You already know it will be painful, which makes the whole experience both terrifying and nerve-racking. At Beginning.com, we believe that the more you know about childbirth, the better you’ll fare once the moment comes. In this blog post, we’ll go over the stages of labor, the different delivery methods, and the medical and non-medical pain relief options available to you. So, here goes…

Which are the stages of labor?

While each labor and birth is unique, the process of vaginal delivery follows three stages: Stage One (early labor and active labor), Stage Two (pushing and birth), and Stage Three (delivery of the placenta).

Stage 1: Early labor and active labor

This is the first and longest of all three stages. It’s divided into two phases, early labor (latent phase) and active labor.

Early labor

Early labor can last up to 20 hours! Initially, you will feel contractions every 5 to 20 minutes, with each of them lasting 30 to 60 seconds. Not too bad, right? In fact, you may not even realize you’ve gone into labor until the contractions happen more frequently, around 5 minutes. The pain you experience during early labor is pretty similar to menstrual cramps that spread across your abdomen. Internally, your uterus hardens and tightens intensely, and holds this intensity for a few seconds before relaxing. During this phase, your cervix dilates to about 1 inch.

Active labor

Hard work is about to begin! Active labor lasts 4 to 8 hours. During this phase, your contractions will become stronger, closer together, and regular. You’ll experience contractions every 2 or 3 minutes. In addition, your legs might cramp, you might feel nauseated, and you might even struggle to talk. This is the right time to head to the hospital or labor facility! It’s also an ideal time to ask for pain relievers or anesthesia if you need it. In other news, your cervix will dilate to 3 inches.

Stage 2: Your baby’s birth

This is the moment you’ve been waiting for. You are about to meet your baby! The process takes anywhere from a few minutes up to a few hours. It usually takes longer for first-time moms and women who’ve had an epidural. This is that moment in movies when the nurses or doctors say to the woman, “push, push, push!”. While it may not be as dramatic, your healthcare provider will be there guiding you through the process. They will ask you to bear down during each contraction or tell you when to push.

After your baby’s head is delivered, the rest of their body will follow suit. Your health care provider will cut the umbilical cord and, congratulations! You’ve given birth to your baby!

Stage 3: Delivery of the placenta

But it’s not quite over yet… Now, it’s time to deliver the placenta. Luckily, this stage only lasts 5 to 30 minutes. Bear in mind that, in some cases, it can extend to an hour. You’ll continue to have mild contractions. However, they’ll be close together and less painful. Once the placenta is delivered, your uterus will return to its original size. Many people feel light cramps during this period.

Delivery methods: what are your options?

Unassisted birth

Unassisted births involve no medication and several mind-body techniques to reduce pain and promote easy labor and delivery. It’s ideal for women who are expecting just one child and with a low pregnancy risk. If you aren’t sure whether your pregnancy is low-risk or not, please get in touch with your healthcare provider and discuss your intentions to have an unassisted birth. Unlike the name suggests, unassisted births aren’t 100% unassisted. They are attended by a certified professional midwife, a licensed nurse-midwife, or a naturopathic midwife.

Medically assisted birth

Medically assisted births take place in hospitals or birth centers. There, you will have plenty of pain management options, ready access to emergency procedures such as a C-section, and will receive advanced monitoring if your pregnancy is high risk. In addition, you’ll also have the option of vaginal delivery with or without medication. Here are some examples of medical procedures:

• C-section

  A C-section involves a horizontal incision across the lower abdomen through which your baby is delivered. According to the CDC, about 1 in every 3 births are delivered via C-section. Even if you were planning to deliver vaginally, an unscheduled C-section might take place if contractions are too weak, the labor isn’t progressing, your baby presents an abnormal heart rate, your baby is too large, your baby is in a breech position (bottom or feet-first), or if the umbilical cord is pinched or wrapped.

• Episiotomy

  This is a surgical incision in the perineum — the area between the vagina and the anus. It allows the baby’s head to pass more easily through the birth canal and helps prevent the skin from tearing. Nowadays, routine episiotomies aren’t recommended. But, sometimes, they are needed in special circumstances.

• Amniotomy

  This is the artificial breaking of your water. A practitioner uses an “amnio hook”, a special device that looks like a crochet hook, to rupture the sac which contains the fluid surrounding the baby. This procedure is done to induce labor, to assess the baby’s health, or to check for the baby’s first stool.

• Induced labor

  If your pregnancy is high-risk pregnancies or if there are unexpected complications, your doctor will have to induce labor. This is done by giving a synthetic form of the drug oxytocin intravenously (directly into a vein).

• Forceps delivery

  During a forceps delivery, your doctor inserts a device that looks like two large spoons into the vagina and around the baby’s head. This facilitates the progress of your baby in the birth canal. It’s usually done when you are too exhausted or when your little one has to be delivered quickly.

• Vacuum extraction

  This delivery method involves attaching a soft cup to your baby’s head while they are in the birth canal and a hand-held pump is used to create suction to facilitate delivery. Similar to the previous method, you’ll have a vacuum extraction under special circumstances.

Pain relief methods: what options are available?

Childbirth can be a painful experience. Luckily, there’s a range of pain relief options including non-medical techniques and medical procedures such as anesthesia. Even if you are determined to have a non-medically assisted birth, but find the pain too overwhelming, you can ask your doctor, nurse, or midwife for pain relief. When it comes to non-medical or “natural” methods, you’ll need plenty of preparation a few months before your due date. So, let’s discuss what options are available for you.

Medical

• General anesthesia

  With general anesthesia, you will be completely unconscious and will not feel pain. An anesthesiologist will apply the anesthesia intravenously or through a mask. This method is reserved for emergencies only and, sometimes, for C-section deliveries.

• Local anesthesia

  Local anesthesia is given as a shot to numb the pain in a specific area (commonly around the vagina) before the episiotomy or after delivery when stitches are needed.

• Regional anesthesia

  Regional anesthesia is used to lessen or block pain below the waist. This type of anesthesia includes epidurals, spinal blocks, and a combination of the two (CSE). The medication may be given as a single shot or through a thin tube placed in the lower back. Epidurals are the most common types of childbirth pain relief in the United States. In an epidural block or simply epidural, medication is given through a tube placed in the lower back.

• Nitrous oxide

  Nitrous oxide, aka “laughing gas”, is tasteless and odorless gas administered through a face mask or a tube held in your mouth. It takes a few seconds to kick in. And, while it doesn’t completely stop the pain, it does take the edge off contractions and reduces anxiety.

• Pethidine

  Pethidine is another strong pain reliever related to morphine. It’s usually injected directly into a muscle in the buttock. It may also be administered intravenously. Pethidine’s effects can last anywhere from 2 to 4 hours.

These are some of the medical pain relief options for childbirth. It’s a good idea to be aware of the options provided by the hospital or birth center where you will be delivering your baby. So get in touch with your doctor to discuss this further.

Natural

• Breathing techniques

  Techniques that focus on controlled breathing can increase relaxation and decrease the perception of pain. These techniques normally involve slow and deep breathing, maintaining a certain rhythm, breathing through your mouth and nose, keeping your eyes closed or open, and focusing on a mental or real image. The Lamaze method, for example, emphasizes special breathing patterns amongst other relaxation techniques for managing pain. Make sure to learn and practice breathing techniques several months before your due date, preferably as soon as you find out you are expecting.

• Moving around

  Did you know that lying flat on your back in bed is actually the least favorable position for pain during labor? If possible, try walking, swaying, rolling on a birthing ball, and changing positions in general. Not only will this ease the pain, but it can also help labor progress by using gravity to your advantage. While getting your body moving in a hospital environment is difficult, you can still try positions like hands and knees in the bed. Or, you can stand, squat, or sit by the side of the bed.

• Waterbirth

  In general, we respond well to water. It has a relaxing effect on us and it makes childbirth less painful. A mother will go through some or all of the childbirth stages we discussed above.

• Massage

  A professional massage facilitates deep relaxation and soothes pain. Having a specialist or someone who understands your body cues may come in handy during labor. This reduces pain in muscles and joints, improves circulation, and minimizes swelling.

We explore all of these techniques in depth in our Pain Relief Methods during Labor & Delivery masterclass. Make sure to check it out!

Beginning.com’s THE MOMENT

Sound has a great effect on us. For centuries, humans have used music to heal, promote well-being, and even manage pain. In fact, nowadays music therapy is a well-established field in the health community. Music therapists use music to accomplish specific goals related to psychological, emotional, physical, and cognitive well-being. If you were to try music therapy, you’ll probably engage in singing, playing music, composing music, or simply listening. Research has proven that music therapy can lower blood pressure, reduce muscle tension, increase motivation and joy, and help you manage pain.

Music has the potential to create a relaxing, joyful, and supportive birth environment. Studies show that women who listen to music during labor feel less anxious, less fatigue, and more in control of their experience. Most interestingly, they report significantly less pain. Mothers who listen to relaxing sounds and music also note increased benefits of the techniques we listed above, including breathing techniques.

What many people ignore is that your mental well-being plays a huge role in childbirth. It isn’t just physical pain, nope. Pregnancy comes with plenty of stressors such as concerns for your baby and yourself, finances, and unexpected setbacks. Hospitalizations and complications can also intensify any stress and anxiety you may be experiencing. Because music is so good for anxiety, you can normally ease these feelings and gain a sense of control.

Beginning.com has created an unparalleled sound therapy experience for childbirth

Discover The Moment, a series of audio sessions specifically designed for welcoming your baby into the world. Each session is a highly immersive soundscape featuring nature sounds and original music recorded in three-dimensional audio. You’ll feel like the soothing sounds of flowing water and nature are coming live right next to you. What’s more, you’ll be able to visualize calming and beautiful visuals — just like a “sound journey”. Listening to The Moment has the following benefits:

• Less pain and discomfort

  The sound journeys change your perception of pain. Researchers have found that music acts through higher centers of the central nervous system — they are closely linked to memory and emotion. Listening to music helps you process memories and emotions related to the sounds you are absorbing, making it difficult for you to process the emotions connected with pain. The sounds also direct your attention away from pain and physical discomfort.

• Reduce stress and anxiety

  Relaxation techniques, including music, trigger the relaxation response (the opposite of the fight-or-flight stress response). In many cases, stress can exacerbate your physical sensations. As you listen to The Moment, you’ll enter a state of deep relaxation free of any stress or anxiety.

• Better breathing

  The Moment provides calming sounds that help you put into practice childbirth techniques, and that includes your breathing. As you listen, try to apply the breathing techniques you’ve been learning for the past few months.

• Greater confidence

  The Moment helps you work through your fears and anxiety of giving birth. Once you achieve a state of deep relaxation, you’ll gain greater confidence about your ability to deliver your baby.

• More feelings of well-being

  And because you’ll be fully relaxed and less overwhelmed by pain, The Moment will promote feelings of well-being. You’ll be happy and amazed because you are delivering your baby!

Remember…

Similar to the non-medical pain relief methods cited above, you’ll need adequate preparation to benefit the most from our sound journeys. Listen to 9 Months throughout your pregnancy and practice breathing exercises. If you are seriously struggling with pain during labor, do not hesitate to tell your doctor. As you now know, there are plenty of pain relief options. And, if your doctor asks you to stop listening to the journeys, please do so! You’ll have plenty of time to listen to Beginning.com’s Post-pregnancy sound journeys once you’re home recovering from childbirth.

Enjoy every second of childbirth…

Childbirth can be a truly beautiful experience. It’s just a matter of understanding what it entails, knowing the pain-relief options available to you, and preparing ahead of time. With that said, the Beginning.com team wishes you the best of luck in this new journey of parenthood! And, remember, we are here for you.