Understanding labour
Watch this series of short videos and learn about the processes of labour, techniques to help manage any pain, and understanding possible complications of labour.
The thought of labour and the pain you may experience can be very confronting for many women.
When you are afraid, your body tenses which intensifies feelings of pain. When pain increases, you can become fearful, which then creates an ongoing pain-tension-fear cycle.
Watch this video and learn how you can break this cycle with effective tools including movement, mindfulness, touch and breathing techniques.
The first stage of labour consists of the:
- latent phase, the longest and least intense part of your labour
- active phase, marked by strong, painful and regular contractions that tend to occur three or four minutes apart, and last from 30 to 60 seconds
- transition phase, the most intense part of your labour when your cervix dilates and contractions are more intense, painful, longer and frequent.
The second stage of labour is the pushing phase during which you will birth your baby.
Watch this video to learn different positions you can use during these stages of labour.
See physiotherapy advice about different positions for labour and during delivery.
Sometimes labour does not go as planned, so it is important to have an understanding of the complications that can occur.
This video explains common complications and how these can be managed by your treating team.
Once your baby has been born you enter the third stage of labour, which is the delivery of your placenta.
The ‘golden hour’ is the first hour after birth during which you and your baby share uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact. This is important in assisting your baby to transition from the uterus to life in the outside world.
Learn more by watching the video below.