How long does it usually take to give birth?

Every pregnant woman hopes for a natural birth, mainly because it has more benefits for the body and recovery is faster. Unlike a caesarean section, you don't have to worry about the healing of the wound and have to stay in bed to recuperate. Although natural childbirth is relatively better, everyone has different physical constitutions and endures different pains. Generally, natural childbirth is divided into three stages, from uterine contraction to delivery of the fetus, and the time control of each stage is different. So how long does a natural childbirth take?

1. The first stage of labor: a long prelude

Time span: about 8 to 12 hours before entering the delivery room (primipara)

The first stage of labor refers to the beginning of the expansion of the uterine opening until it is fully dilated (approximately 10 cm). This is the longest stage of the entire delivery process. At this time, the intervals between uterine contractions will become shorter and shorter, from more than 30 seconds every 5 to 6 minutes at the beginning to 50 seconds every 2 to 3 minutes. During the first stage of labor, the expectant mother feels lower abdominal pain during contractions. The tighter the contractions, the shorter the intervals between them, and the faster the cervix opens. During this stage, expectant mothers must remain quiet and not shout or scream, which would waste their energy, so as to avoid being exhausted and unable to cooperate later.

2. Second stage of labor: Pushing is required

Time span: about 1 to 2 hours

Once your cervix is ​​fully open, you enter the fetal delivery phase, which means it is finally time for your baby to leave your body. The second stage of labor refers to the stage from full dilation of the uterus to delivery of the baby. At this time, as the uterine contractions intensify, the cervix fully opens, and the presenting part of the fetal head begins to descend into the pelvis. As labor progresses, uterine contractions intensify, forcing the baby to be delivered from the mother's body.

3. The third stage of labor: delivery of the placenta

Time span: about 5 to 15 minutes

The third stage of labor refers to the period from the birth of the baby to the discharge of the placenta from the vagina. At this time, the baby has been delivered, the contractions will pause for a while and then start again. The placenta will peel off from the uterine wall and move to the cervix due to uterine contractions. If the expectant mother pushes again, the placenta will come out smoothly. Your doctor or midwife will check the placenta and diaphragm to make sure they are all out, and any fragments left in the uterus should be removed. Your doctor or midwife will also check your uterus to make sure it is continuing to contract so that any bleeding from where the placenta has separated can be stopped. If you had an episiotomy, the wound will also need to be sutured at this time.

Now, some people advocate calling the 2 hours after delivery the "fourth stage of labor." Because postpartum hemorrhage mostly occurs within these 2 hours, the mother still needs to stay in the delivery room for observation during this period. If everything goes well, the mother will be sent to the rest room after 2 hours and the delivery process is truly over.

Due to heavy bleeding during childbirth, sweating, back pain and abdominal pain, the mother's physical strength is greatly depleted, and her qi, blood, tendons and bones are very weak. The purpose of confinement is to do moderate exercise and rest, proper food supplements and diet therapy during this period, which can restore the uterus to its pre-delivery size, and the qi and blood can be restored through conditioning, and even better than before, thus slowly changing the bad physical condition during this period.