Pain Management Education for Expecting Parents
Labor & The Hospital
What is Labor?
Labor is the body’s way of getting ready to deliver your baby. Your uterus will contract and your cervix will dilate. There are three stages of labor. Labor starts when you feel contractions. Labor ends after the baby and placenta are delivered.
What does Labor Pain feel like?
Labor pain is described as an ache or cramp around your belly, lower back, and inner thighs. This pain is called a contraction. Contractions are short, weak, and far apart in early stages of labor. Contractions get stronger, longer, and more frequent close to delivery.
1st Stage
Your Cervix Dilates
What happens during the first stage?
The first stage of labor is when your cervix begins dilating, and you begin to feel contractions. This stage is split into two parts: early and active labor. This stage ends when your cervix is fully dilated at 10 cm. The first stage can last hours to days. Every person’s body is different. Those birthing the first time will be in this stage longer than someone who has given birth before
How does pain feel at this stage?
Pain at this stage feels like dull cramping and aching that becomes more sharp as your cervix dilates.
2nd Stage
Birth of Your Baby
What happens during the second stage?
The second stage of labor begins when the cervix is fully dilated and ends when your baby is born.
How does pain feel at this stage?
Pain at this stage is described as burning, stinging, and more sharp. As baby gets closer to being born, you will feel a lot of pressure in your hips and butt.
3rd Stage
Delivery of the Placenta
The last stage of labor begins after the baby is born and ends after the placenta is delivered.
The Hospital
What happens once you are in labor? Every hospital follows a similar way of getting you ready to deliver your baby. There can be differences between each hospital. Please call them to know their process.
Triage
Triage is the hospital's way of seeing who needs care first. This includes checking your contraction pattern and how dilated your cervix is. The healthcare team will also check the health of your baby and whether your water has broken.
Admission
You will be admitted to a room once a room is available. A intravenous catheter (IV) will be placed in your arm for medicines. You will also fill out paperwork.
Labor
Your healthcare team will monitor how your labor is going. This includes putting on monitors to check your baby's heart and checking your cervix. Your team will also check your blood pressure and take blood tests to see how your body is responding to labor. At this time, your healthcare team will talk to you about your pain management options.
Delivery
After you give birth, your doctor and nurse will make sure you and your baby are okay. A nurse will help you breastfeed your baby and give your baby vaccinations
Where Did We Get This Information?
References
Cleveland Clinic. (2022, September 8). 4 Early signs of labor [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QLYyT3QFQaU
Moyaert, P. (2023, May 30). Stages of Labor [Video]. Youtube.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qtYYb7fjQtE
Nagelhout, J. J, & Elisha, S. (2018). Nurse Anesthesia (6th Ed.). Elsevier
Rodriguez, A. (2021, April 27). All about labor & delivery: Triage, admission, delivery explained by an OBGYN [Video]. Youtube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Km-8GNQIdKE&t=731s