
The course of the delivery
The normal time of delivery is between 37 and 42 weeks, so three weeks before the due date and two weeks after. The course of the birth depends on many factors. If you are giving birth for the first time (you are a primi), the delivery is often heavier and takes longer. With all subsequent deliveries (you are then a multi) it can go a lot smoother.
CONTRACTIONS
The vast majority of deliveries (90%) start with contractions. In the beginning, the time between contractions is longer. Gradually, the time between contractions becomes shorter and they come more often. Besides the frequency, the strength and the duration of a contraction will also increase. A powerful contraction usually lasts about 50-60 seconds. When counting the frequency of contractions, always count from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next one. For instance, if you have a contraction for one minute, then a pause of two minutes and then the next contraction starts, we call these 'contractions every three minutes.
AMNIOTIC FLUID
For only 10% of women, labour starts with the rupture of the membranes and the loss of amniotic fluid. The majority of women also experience contractions within 24 hours. The colour of amniotic fluid is slightly cloudy white, or sometimes pink (in which case it contains a little blood). This is called "clear amniotic fluid". Try to catch some of the amniotic fluid in a glass to see if the colour is normal.
For many women the waters do not break by themselves and will be pierced by the midwife during dilation.
MUCUS PLUG
Some women experience some loss of mucus before or during childbirth. Some, however, do not notice this at all. This is called the loss of mucus plug. Sometimes the mucus is thick and tough, sometimes thinner and more stringy. Sometimes there is also a little blood with the mucus plug. This is normal.
THE OPENING PHASE
During dilation, the cervix will soften, dilate (change in shape and position), and open from zero to ten centimetres. The dilation can be divided into three phases:
TRANSFORMATION PHASE
The contractions are irregular in frequency and vary in strength and duration. During this phase, the cervix softens and some of the dilation takes place.
LATE PHASE
The contractions increase in frequency and become more regular. The first centimetres of dilation are reached, and the cervix expands completely.
ACTIVE PHASE
This usually starts around four to six centimetres of dilation. You will experience heavy contractions, which follow each other shortly, are powerful and last about 60-90 seconds. The dilation phase lasts on average 8 to 24 hours for a first baby and 2 to 10 hours for all subsequent pregnancies.
THE PUSHING PHASE
After full dilation (10 centimetres) has been achieved you can push your baby out. Most women experience an unstoppable feeling of pressure during the contractions. The baby's head will move deeper and deeper into the pelvis during the pushing and will eventually be born. The pushing phase lasts on average 30 to 90 minutes for the first babies (maximum of 2 hours). For all subsequent babies it lasts between 1 and 30 minutes (maximum 1 hour).
THE POSTNATAL phase
After the baby is born, the placenta follows. By contractions of the uterus, the placenta becomes detached from the uterine wall. If you push a little, the placenta is often born within 30 minutes after the birth of the baby.
