Should you need urgent health advice please contact your GP or call NHS 111. In an emergency please visit A&E or call 999
Labour is the time when your uterus (womb) produces regular and increasingly strong tightenings, or contractions. There are 3 different stages of labour:
- The latent phase, which can last for a few days, as the tightening begins to become more frequent
- The 1st stage, when the contractions are now regular and lead to your cervix dilating to 10cm – this stage can vary. If it is your first time in labour, this stage is often longer.
- The 2nd stage lasts from when your cervix is fully dilated (10cm) until the birth of your baby
Everyone experiences labour pains in different ways. There are many different forms of pain relief you can use during your labour. It can be helpful to learn about the ways you can relieve the pain.
