The Stages of Labor: A Midwife’s Guide to What to Expect
- Makayla McRorie
- Sep 16
- 11 min read
Labor is a natural, progressive process with predictable phases—each bringing different physical sensations and emotional shifts. While every labor presents its own wonders and challenges, remember: your body was made to do this. Knowing the stages of labor helps expectant parents feel prepared, calm, and confident as birth approaches. In the labor and delivery room, you aren’t alone. Midwives play a central role at every step, offering reassurance, practical tools, and clinical oversight.
Below you’ll find a clear, compassionate guide to each stage of labor and how midwifery during labor supports a positive birth experience.
What is Early Labor?
Early labor is the first phase of active childbirth when the cervix begins to soften, thin, and open. Physiologically, contractions start mild and irregular and the cervix gradually dilates from closed to about 3–4 cm. Emotionally, many women feel excited, focused, and sometimes uncertain as they settle into the rhythm of labor. In this stage, midwives and your labor support team observe progression, answer questions, and help parents conserve energy while monitoring mother and baby.
Signs of Early Labor
Mild, irregular contractions that may feel like waves of menstrual cramps or tightenings
Gradual cervical dilation and effacement confirmed by exam or pattern of contractions
Light spotting or the passing of the mucus “plug” (may or may not occur)
Low back pressure, pelvic sensations, or increased vaginal discharge
Emotional signs: alertness, anticipation, nesting, or a desire to slow down and relax
How Long Does Early Labor Last?
Early labor varies widely—for first-time mothers, it can last many hours to a day or longer, while those who’ve given birth before often progress more quickly. Because the pace is individual, midwives track labor progression with gentle exams and observation, helping families decide when to move to the birth space and when to rest at home.
Early Labor Comfort Measures
Rest and conserve energy: nap, lie on your side, or use gentle movement to avoid fatigue.
Hydration and light snacks: sip water, electrolyte drinks, or easy-to-digest foods if recommended.
Warm baths or showers: warm water can soothe cramping and encourage contractions to regulate.
Gentle movement and positions: walking, rocking on a birth ball, or leaning forward to relieve pelvic pressure.
Relaxation techniques: deep breathing, visualization, soft music, and focused partner support.
Midwives coach couples through timing contractions, suggest positions that help labor progression, and provide reassurance so families can feel confident in how labor is unfolding.
Powerful Affirmations to Carry You Through Early Labor
I am relaxed, rested, and ready to begin.
Each contraction brings my baby closer to me.
My body knows how to do this.
I breathe in calm, I breathe out ease.
I am supported, loved, and safe.
I conserve my strength with each gentle wave.
What Is Active Labor?
Active labor is the stage when contractions become more regular and establish their rhythm. Women often experience the sensations of contractions differently, some describing them as waves, tightenings, surges, pressure, or menstrual cramps. Overall, these sensations are more defined than early labor contractions, and more effective at helping the cervix dilate from about 4 cm to around 7–8 cm.
This is a time of steady labor progression and growing focus as the body works to open the birth canal. Midwifery care during labor offers personalized and continuous support, hands-on comfort measures, and clinical monitoring to promote a safe, positive birth experience.
Signs of Active Labor
More defined contractions with a rhythm of about every 3–5 minutes, lasting 45–60 seconds
Noticeable pressure or surge increases in comparison to early labor
Cervical dilation progressing more rapidly on exam (approximately 4–7/8 cm)
Changes in energy and attention—many people become inwardly focused and purposeful, work on steady breathing, and incorporate rhythmic moving/swaying
Possible increase in bloody show or change in vaginal discharge
How Long Does Active Labor Last?
Every labor progression is unique, and midwifery during labor focuses on supporting the natural pace for each family. Statistically, active labor typically lasts several hours—averaging 4–8 hours for first-time parents and often 2–5 hours for people who have given birth before.
Exact timing depends on many positive, normal factors:
Baby’s position
Strength and coordination of contractions
Pelvic shape
Maternal activity and hydration
Whether the birthing person has given birth previously
Midwives track labor progression closely and use (optional) gentle exams, observation, and supportive measures to encourage steady dilation; if progress is slower than expected, they’ll review options and tailor care to keep the birth safe and individualized.
Active Labor Comfort Measures
Continuous midwifery support: one-on-one encouragement, coaching on breathing and bearing-down, and gentle guidance through each contraction.
Movement and position changes: walking, leaning, kneeling, or using a birthing stool to use gravity and pelvic openness.
Hydrotherapy: warm showers or a birthing tub to ease intensity and promote relaxation.
Hands-on comfort: massage, counterpressure for back sensations, and warm compresses to the lower back or perineum to ease tension.
Breathing and vocal techniques: coached breathing, moaning, or focused exhalations to help manage intensity and promote relaxation.
Positioning aids: use of a birth ball, birthing stool, or supportive pillows to find optimal pelvic alignment and reduce fatigue.
Pain-relief options as desired: midwives discuss and facilitate non-medical options (hydrotherapy, TENS, nitrous oxide where available) and coordinate transfer to higher-level care if medical pain relief is desired.
Explore our Natural Labor Aids article for more tips on navigating the ebbs and flows of labor!
Throughout active labor, midwifery during labor focuses on maintaining a calm environment, continuous reassurance, and individualized adjustments so the birthing person can move through labor progression with confidence.
Powerful Affirmations to Carry You Through Active Labor
I am strong; my body is working perfectly.
With every contraction, I open and progress.
I trust my instincts and my team.
I am connected to my baby and focused on the task.
My breath and voice guide me through each wave.
I am exactly where I need to be.
What Is Transition?
Transition is the brief but powerful phase between active labor and pushing. It’s when the cervix completes dilation (about 8–10 cm) and the body prepares to birth the baby. Physiologically, contractions are very strong and close together; emotionally, many people experience intense focus, deep inward concentration, and a surge of strength as the body signals that delivery is near. Midwives provide steady presence, clear guidance, and comfort strategies during this pivotal, empowering stage.
Signs of Transition
Strong, frequent contractions often lasting 60–90 seconds and coming very close together
A strong urge to bear down or push as the baby descends
Increased pressure in the pelvis and rectum, and sometimes trembling or shaking (hello, adrenaline!)
How Long Does Transition Last?
Transition is usually the shortest phase but can feel the most intense. It commonly lasts 15–60 minutes, though timing varies—some birthing people move through transition quickly, while for others it may take longer. Midwives stay close during this period, offering continuous guidance and monitoring so families feel secure and supported through this powerful shift in labor progression.
Transition Comfort Measures
Focused one-on-one support: continuous encouragement, grounding words, and clear guidance from your midwife and birth partner.
Breath and vocal techniques: slow, steady breathing or receptive vocalization to manage intensity and stay connected to the body’s rhythms.
Safe, contained positions: leaning over a birth ball, kneeling, or supported squats to open the pelvis and allow the baby to descend.
Hydrotherapy and temperature: warm showers or a warm compress to the lower back can soothe and steady the nervous system.
Gentle touch and counterpressure: light massage or firm pressure on the sacrum to relieve back sensations and create comfort.
Midwives prioritize calm communication and physical support during transition, helping the birthing person tune into their body’s signals as labor progression moves toward delivery.
Powerful Affirmations to Carry You Through Transition
I am powerful; this is the final push toward meeting my baby.
I am held and supported in this intense, sacred moment.
Every sensation is purposeful and leads me forward.
I surrender to my body’s wisdom.
I am surrounded by calm and steady love.
I am brave, and I am close.
Almost There: Delivery
Delivery is the final, joyous stage when the baby moves through the birth canal and is born. This phase transforms the intense inward work of labor into outward, active pushing as the body completes its natural progression. Midwifery during labor emphasizes respectful guidance, safe positioning for effective pushing, and immediate supportive newborn care to welcome the baby into the world.
What Happens in Delivery?
The cervix is fully dilated and the birthing person experiences a natural, often strong urge to push.
The baby descends through the pelvis, rotating and navigating the birth canal.
With each contraction and coached push, the baby’s head crowns, then the shoulders and body follow.
Midwives support positioning, protect the perineum, and monitor fetal heart tones and maternal well-being.
Once born, immediate bonding and skin-to-skin contact are encouraged as the midwife assesses baby’s color, breathing, and tone and supports the first moments of breastfeeding if desired.
How Long Does Delivery Last?
Pushing and delivery vary: for first-time parents, active pushing may average 1–2 hours; for those who have previously given birth, it’s often shorter. Factors that influence timing include maternal positioning, baby's position and size, and the effectiveness of each contraction and push. Midwives coach effective pushing techniques and make individualized recommendations to support safe, steady progress through this final stage of the childbirth stages explained.
Delivery Comfort Measures
Guided pushing: coaching on when to push and how to use the body’s natural reflexes to move the baby gently and efficiently.
Supportive positions: upright, side-lying, hands-and-knees, or squatting positions as chosen by the birthing person to harness gravity and pelvic opening.
Perineal support: warm compresses and hands-on techniques to protect tissue and facilitate a gradual, controlled birth of the head.
Immediate newborn care and connection: skin-to-skin contact, warmth, delayed cord clamping as appropriate, support for initiating breastfeeding or bonding, and initiate breastfeeding
Gentle postpartum support: assistance getting comfortable, drying, and positioning; reassurance and monitoring as the body begins recovery.
Practical postpartum needs: warm blankets, hydration, and help with mobilizing when ready.
Midwives remain present during and after delivery to support the first minutes of parenthood and to guide the family gently into postpartum recovery.
Powerful Affirmations to Carry You Through Delivery
I welcome my baby with strength and trust.
My body and baby are working together beautifully.
I am guided, steady, and centered as I push.
I breathe, I push, I bring my baby into the light.
I choose the position that feels best for me and my baby.
Joy and love surround this moment of meeting.
The Final Step: Delivering the Placenta
What Happens in Delivery of the Placenta?
After the baby is born, the uterus continues to contract to separate and expel the placenta. Your midwife supports this natural process with gentle guidance—encouraging light pushing if needed, offering positions that support uterine tone, and using hands-on techniques only when helpful. The placenta is delivered, examined to ensure it is complete, and the birthing parent’s comfort and recovery are prioritized with warmth, closeness to the baby, and calm care.
What Does it Feel Like to Deliver the Placenta?
Delivering the placenta is usually calmer and less intense than birthing the baby. Many birthing people describe mild cramping or firm, wave-like sensations similar to afterpains as the uterus contracts and the placenta detaches. There may be a brief gush of blood or fluid as the placenta separates, followed by a sense of relief and completion. Emotionally, this can feel gentle and grounding—an opportunity to rest, hold your baby skin-to-skin, and begin those first quiet moments of bonding.
How to Deliver the Placenta
Allow physiologic timing: when mother and baby are stable, midwives often support a physiologic (natural) third stage with delayed cord clamping to promote newborn transition and maternal oxytocin.
Watch for signs of separation: a rise of the uterus, a lengthening of the cord, and a small gush of blood indicate the placenta is detaching.
Gentle guidance only as needed: midwives may encourage light bearing-down or support upright positions to help expel the placenta; active manual techniques are used selectively and respectfully when clinically indicated.
Encourage uterine tone and comfort: skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding if desired (which supports natural oxytocin release), gentle uterine massage only if needed, and close monitoring of bleeding and vitals.
Routine checks and reassurance: midwives confirm the placenta is complete, assess maternal recovery, and support bonding and warmth for mama and baby.
With midwifery during labor and immediately after, the focus is on a calm, connected third stage that honors the body’s natural progression while keeping safety and comfort central.
Want to learn more? We offer various, free classes to our clients at Haven to prepare them for pregnancy, labor, and beyond!
Powerful Affirmations to Carry You Through Delivering the Placenta
My body completes this circle with ease and grace.
I am resting, restoring, and bonding with my baby.
I feel calm, whole, and grounded.
Each gentle cramp brings healing and closure.
I am nourished by this quiet, powerful time.
I cherish these first hours of connection and recovery.
Experience Personalized Midwifery Support throughout the Stages of Labor at Haven Women's Health and Birth Center
At Haven, midwives offer continuous, individualized care that supports physiologic labor progression in a warm, home-like setting. Our approach combines evidence-based clinical oversight with comfort-focused practices—hydrotherapy, guided positioning, and hands-on emotional support—so families feel empowered and cared for from early labor through delivery and the immediate postpartum minutes.
We welcome you to experience our calm birth spaces, meet our supportive team, and imagine your own positive birth journey here.
Schedule a tour to see how our nurturing environment and expert midwifery during labor can help you envision a confident, natural birth—book a visit online or call to arrange a personal tour today.
FAQs
How will I know when labor has truly started?
Many people notice a pattern of regular, increasingly intense contractions that don’t ease with rest or hydration, and a change in timing and sensation compared with Braxton-Hicks. Early labor can feel different for everyone; your midwife will help you interpret signs, time contractions, and decide when it’s best to come to the birth center.
When should I come to Haven or call my midwife?
Come in or call when contractions are regular and getting stronger, your water breaks, or you feel a reliable, growing urge to push. If you’re unsure, your midwife is happy to talk through symptoms and offer reassurance so you feel confident about the next steps.
What comfort and pain-relief options are available with midwifery during labor?
Midwives support a range of natural, comfort-focused labor aids: hydrotherapy, movement and positioning, massage, warm compresses, TENS and nitrous oxide where available, and guided breathing and vocalization techniques. If medical analgesia is desired, your midwife will discuss options and coordinate safe transfer when needed.
Can your pelvic floor get in the way of progressing through labor?
Yes—excessive pelvic floor tension can make it harder for the baby to descend and for effective pushing, but this is a treatable and manageable situation. Midwives assess how your body is working during labor and use breathing, relaxation cues, and position changes (upright, hands-and-knees, supported squats, side-lying) to help the pelvic floor soften and open. Techniques such as guided breathing, warm hydrotherapy, gentle perineal support, and coached bearing-down help coordinate the pelvic floor with contractions. If there are known pelvic floor concerns, your midwife can recommend prenatal pelvic floor physiotherapy, targeted relaxation exercises, and a tailored birth plan so your labor progression is supported safely and positively.
Is it safe to labor at home before coming to the birth center?
Yes—many families spend early labor at home to rest and conserve energy when labor progression is normal. Your midwife will advise based on your health history and labor progression and will invite you in when the timing and clinical picture suggest the birth center is the best place to be.
What happens if we need extra medical care or transfer?
Midwives continuously monitor maternal and fetal well-being and partner with higher-level care when needed. Transfers are planned calmly and promptly when indicated; the team focuses on continuity of support and positive outcomes while maintaining safety and respect.
How does midwifery during labor support a positive birth experience?
Midwives provide continuous, individualized care that honors your preferences while monitoring safety and supporting natural labor progression. They offer comfort measures, informed coaching, and calm decision-making—promoting confidence, reducing interventions when safe, and helping families meet their birth goals.
Can I have a birth partner or support person with me?
Yes! Haven encourages the presence of a chosen birth partner or support person and welcomes doulas and family members who support your calm, positive birth environment. Your midwife will help you plan for comfort, movement, and positioning with your support persons involved.
Comments