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Prenatal Part 2 - Labour and Birth

by Maternity Care Midwives

📚 Main topics

The stages of labourLabour is described as early or latent labour, active labour, the pushing stage, and the third stage when the placenta is delivered. The phases flow into one another, and individual timelines vary. 2:08
Early labour and cervical changeEarly labour may start and stop over several days, so rest and patience are important. The cervix both thins (effaces) and opens (dilates), and progress should not be judged by dilation numbers alone. 8:22
Active labour and progressThe speaker explains that newer research places the start of active labour for many people around 5 to 6 cm, rather than 3 to 4 cm. Once active labour is established, many people progress quickly, though there is substantial variation. 12:34
Coping and supportBaths, showers, walking, birth balls, and changing positions can help. Partners should also eat, drink, and take breaks, while midwives can offer support with breathing and comfort measures. 21:19
Pushing and birthIn the second stage, the speaker recommends allowing the baby to descend with contractions when possible, rather than routinely using forceful pushing. Changing positions and allowing the head to emerge gradually can support a smoother birth. 26:28
The baby and umbilical cordThe baby’s head may temporarily change shape as it passes through the pelvis, and a cord around the neck is common. The speaker emphasizes delaying cord clamping until pulsation stops, when possible. 31:12

✨ Key takeaways

Rest during early labourAvoid turning early contractions into a prolonged event with constant monitoring and visitors; conserve energy and contact your caregiver if you have concerns. 9:55
Know when to seek guidanceIf your waters break, contact your midwife or caregiver for advice and assessment. Bloody show may indicate labour is getting closer, while losing the mucus plug alone does not reliably predict when labour will begin. 10:29
Make informed choices about interventionsPain relief, including epidurals, can be helpful, especially in difficult labours, but interventions have potential risks. Discuss options ahead of time so you can make an informed decision. 18:15
Follow the baby’s and labour’s progressThere is no single best position for everyone; choose positions that support comfort and progress, and change them periodically. 28:36

🧠 Lessons learned

Timelines are ranges, not guaranteesLabour and pushing times differ widely. Numbers can offer a general guide, but progress and the wellbeing of the parent and baby matter more than rigid expectations. 3:42
A slow early phase is not necessarily a problemLabour may take time to become active, and newer evidence has helped reduce premature diagnoses of failure to progress. 13:05
Birth can look unfamiliarMolding, temporary changes in the baby’s head shape, and a cord around the neck are often normal; the care team monitors the baby and responds if needed. 32:13

🏁 Conclusion / next steps

Prepare for labourPractise positions and support techniques before labour, discuss preferences and possible interventions with your midwife, and ask for help whenever you are worried. 23:53
Remember the main guidanceRest during early labour, use the comfort measures that work for you, allow pushing to follow your body’s urges when safe, and delay cord clamping when possible. 40:00

Midwifery Birth Prenatal

Transcript excerpt

0:02 labor is generally divided into three sections and it's not a bad way of looking at it even though they tend to flow one into the other and the first one is known as you can call it early or sometimes people call it latent or some people call it prodromal and occasionally some people still erroneously will call it false labor meaning that you're not yet committed for it to keep happening and

0:33 not stopping today okay but the truth is there's no such thing as a contraction which is false okay basically all of those contractions are doing something to make your cervix work better to make your uterus work and to get the baby down and out okay but what a lot of people don't realize is that early late edal labor can take place over days and days which is another reason why having everybody on high alert by the time you're 39 weeks to go is it happening it's not in your best interest like it

1:06 really isn't because you can start in early latent labor with contractions that might come you know 15 minutes apart 7 minutes apart 10 minutes apart oops five minutes apart three times and then 20 minutes but by the time you had the five minute apart once you're all excited and you think oh this is it well it's almost never it this you know how people are worried about giving birth while they're brushing their teeth honestly that's the one we should all hope for what really happens is that

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