-By Bushra Hatahet, UK-Trained Clinical Midwife
Active labour is when your body moves beyond the preparation phase and begins making steady progress towards the birth of your baby.
During this stage, your cervix continues to dilate (open), contractions become stronger, longer and more regular, and your baby gradually moves lower into your pelvis.
For many women, this is when labour requires your full attention. You may no longer feel like talking through contractions, and your focus naturally turns inward. This is completely normal.
Every contraction has a purpose. It is helping your cervix open and gently guiding your baby down through the birth canal.
The second stage of labour is often what people think of when they imagine giving birth. It’s the stage where your baby travels through the birth canal and is finally born.
Although many people call this the “pushing stage,” there is much more happening than simply pushing. Your body and your baby are working together in an incredible partnership. Your uterus continues to contract, your pelvis adapts to make more room, and your baby performs a series of small movements and rotations to navigate the birth canal safely.
Understanding what is happening during this stage can help you feel calmer, more confident and better prepared for the birth of your baby.
Every labour is different. Some women progress through the second stage quickly, while for others it can take longer. There is no “right” length of time. Your midwife will continuously assess both you and your baby to ensure labour is progressing safely.
Transition is the final part of the first stage of labour and the bridge between your cervix opening and your baby beginning their journey down the birth canal.
Although it is often the shortest phase of labour, it is usually the most intense.
Many women reach this stage and suddenly feel that they have had enough. You may hear yourself saying things like:
“I can’t do this anymore.”
“I don’t think I can keep going.”
“I want to go home.”
As midwives, these words are actually very reassuring to hear.
They often tell us that you are entering transition and that your cervix is almost fully dilated. In many cases, you are much closer to meeting your baby than you realise.
Every woman experiences labour differently, but transition often brings a noticeable change in both your emotions and your physical sensations.
You may experience:
These feelings are completely normal and happen because your baby’s head is moving lower into your pelvis while your cervix completes its final stage of opening.
Although transition can feel incredibly intense, it is usually a sign that labour is progressing exactly as it should.
During transition, your body is producing powerful hormones that help labour continue to progress.
You may feel as though everything has suddenly become more difficult, but in reality your body is preparing for the next stage.
This is often the point where women stop thinking about the outside world and become completely focused on each contraction. Many mothers describe feeling as though they are “in their own world.”
Try not to fight these feelings.
Focus on one contraction at a time.
Every contraction is bringing your baby closer.
“One of the most common things I hear in the labour ward is,
“I can’t do this anymore.”
If you find yourself thinking this, remember that it often means you are incredibly close to meeting your baby. Your body is doing exactly what it needs to do, even if it doesn’t feel that way at the time”.
This is often the moment when your birth partner feels most helpless.
The best thing they can do is remain calm.
Offer encouragement.
Remind you to breathe.
Help you change position if needed.
Offer small sips of water between contractions.
Sometimes the greatest support comes from simply staying close and reminding you that you are doing an amazing job.
If you are looking for calm expertise and genuine continuity of care, let’s talk.
