There are so many women who get pregnant and go into labor without understanding what is happening to their body and with their baby during the labor and delivery process.


My personal belief is that it is important to understand or have a little insight on the stages of labor because it helps mom be better prepared… it can assist mom in ways to cope with her contractions, if she has that understanding… and lastly, when doctors and nurses are talking about dilation and using different phrases, then mom and even her support person, can have a base-line understanding of what they are talking about.


So, let’s get started. (The 3rd stage is one that not many people are aware of).


The First Stage of Labor: Dilation

This is when mom’s cervix is dilating from one to ten centimeters. The first stage of labor varies for every woman and every pregnancy as mom could be dilated to 1-3 cm for a couple weeks’ time.


The Second Stage of Labor: Birth

This is exactly what the name of the stage is… this is when mom delivers her beautiful baby into the world. After mom has reached ten centimeters dilated from the first stage, then it is go time. Time to push that baby out.



Third Stage of Labor: Deliver the Placenta

 I love this because, to be honest, I didn’t know I was going to have to do this with my first pregnancy. After my son was born and the doctor said I had to push again… I got confused and thought “there weren’t twins in there before.”

Yes, mom will have to push one more time to push out the placenta. Most of the time it is a much easier push (especially, if mom delayed cord clamping). Some women decide to keep their placenta and have a doula encapsulate it for them while others let the doctor take care of disposing of the placenta.




Fourth Stage of Labor: Recovery

This stage is to ensure mom is recovering well and stabilizing. Usually, this stage is about two hours long after baby and placenta are delivered.

 

There are a couple stages that actually have phases. I go more in depth with the phases in my Child Birth Course.



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Comment below with which Stage you were NOT aware of…



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Meet Heather Martin

 
The sterile scent of hospitals, the hushed, hopeful whispers, and the gnawing fear that lives in every waiting room – these became the unwanted backdrop of my life. It wasn't a single event, but a relentless series of challenges that slowly, profoundly, reshaped my understanding of health and ultimately, my purpose.

It began with my own daughter's cancer diagnosis. The helplessness I felt was amplified a thousandfold. As we navigated her treatment, I scrutinized every aspect of her care, seeking not just survival, but thriving. I began to ask different questions, looking beyond the conventional to see how diet, lifestyle, and a holistic approach could support her body through the immense challenges she faced.

Then, the world tilted on its axis with my beloved father. His terminal cancer diagnosis was a crushing blow, an unyielding reality that traditional medicine, for all its marvels, couldn't alter. We watched, we hoped, we grieved. In the midst of that raw pain, a seed of curiosity took root: Was there more to healing than what we were being told?

My own body then sent a jarring message. I experienced a hemiplegic migraine, an terrifying event that starkly mimicked stroke-like symptoms. The sudden loss of function, the fear, the uncertainty – it was a profound wake-up call. It forced me to confront my own health, which I had unconsciously neglected while caring for others. It was in that moment of vulnerability that I truly understood the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit.

I realized then that I didn't just want to heal; I wanted to understand why we get sick and how to build true, resilient health from the ground up. I wanted to change the trajectory of my own life, and more importantly, my family's life, away from chronic illness and towards vibrant well-being.

This intense, personal journey ignited an unshakeable passion within me. I devoured knowledge, exploring functional nutrition, mind-body practices, and the profound impact of lifestyle on health. I became an integrative health practitioner because I couldn't keep this newfound understanding to myself. My deepest desire is to guide others through their own health challenges, to empower them with the knowledge and tools to create their own new beginnings, and to help them rewrite their family's health story, just as I've strived to do for my own. It's not just a profession; it's a calling born from love, loss, and a relentless hope for a healthier future for all.
 

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