The first stage of labour is when your cervix opens (dilates) to at least 4cm and your contractions become stronger and more regular.
Your midwife will talk to you throughout the first stage about how you’re feeling and whether you need any pain relief. They will also:
- listen and monitor your baby's heartbeat
- check how often you are having contractions
- measure your pulse every hour
- measure your temperature and blood pressure every 4 hours
- check how often you empty your bladder
- offer vaginal examinations
If your labour is going well, you shouldn't need any more monitoring, though your midwife will also be there to support you emotionally throughout your labour and birth.
If you’re having your first baby, this stage will probably last about 8–18 hours. If you’ve had a baby before it may last 5–12 hours.
Transition
Towards the end of the first stage, when the cervix is nearly open, contractions get stronger. This is known as 'transition'. You may not notice when you’re moving from the first to the second stage.
Transition is where the baby’s head passes through the 10cm opening in the cervix, and into the vagina. The baby’s head is pressed up against the inside of the cervix all through the first stage, but now the contractions are pushing the baby through the gap, and the bottom of the womb is being stretched out of the way (think of pulling on a roll-neck sweater!).
At the end of this transition phase, the baby’s body is still in the womb, while the head is outside of the womb, inside the vagina.
Contractions may be very intense during transition, and then ease off for a short ‘rest’ before the next stage