Template:Birth stages table
From Embryology
| Labour Stages | Changes | Time | Roles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stage 1 | dilatation | 7 to 12 hours longer for first child |
uterine contractions 10 minutes apart, function to dilate cervix fetal membranes rupture releasing amnion |
| Stage 2 | expulsion | 20 to 50 minutes | uterine contractions push fetus through cervix and vagina, contractions 2-3 minutes apart |
| Stage 3 | placental | 15 minutes | following child delivery contractions continue to expel placenta. haematoma separates placenta from uterine wall, separation occurs at spongy layer of decidua basalis |
| Stage 4 | recovery | 2+ hours | continued myometrial contraction closes spiral arteries |
