What To Expect When You're (Imminently) Expecting: The Stages Of Labour

After months of anticipation during a pregnancy, the first signs of labour can bring both relief and worry. There is relief in knowing the long wait will soon be over. But there may be worry about whether labour and delivery will progress without complication.

In this blog post I'll explore the three stages of labour, outline what can be expected during each stage, and discuss how medical practitioners may respond if labour is not going according to plan.

The Three Stages of Labour

Although each pregnancy and birth experience is unique, all normal vaginal births are expected to progress through the same sequence of events. That being said, the length of each of the three stages of labour and the emotional and physical toll on an expectant parent may vary considerably.