Introduction

Childbirth — labor and delivery — is usually described in four stages. The first stage opens the cervix, the second stage is the birth of the baby, the third stage delivers the placenta, and the fourth stage is the first hours of recovery. Knowing what each stage involves makes the process easier to follow, whether you are an expectant parent or a student watching a delivery for the first time.

Watch: the 3D animation embedded above shows a normal vaginal delivery step by step, including how the baby moves through the birth canal.

Stage 1: The cervix opens

The first stage begins with regular contractions and ends when the cervix is fully dilated, at about 10 centimetres. It is the longest stage and is usually divided into an early (latent) phase, when contractions are milder and the cervix opens gradually, and an active phase, when contractions become stronger, longer, and closer together and dilation speeds up. During this stage the baby gradually descends into the pelvis.

Stage 2: The baby is born

The second stage starts at full dilation and ends with the birth of the baby. Contractions, together with the mother's pushing efforts, move the baby through the birth canal. This stage can last from minutes to a few hours, and it tends to be longer in a first birth than in later births. It ends with the moment most delivery videos are known for: the baby emerges, takes its first breaths, and the cord is clamped and cut.

Stage 3: The placenta is delivered

After the baby is born, the uterus keeps contracting. Those contractions separate the placenta from the wall of the uterus and push it out through the vagina. This third stage usually takes only a few minutes to about half an hour. Signs that the placenta has separated include a small gush of blood, lengthening of the visible cord, and the uterus becoming firm and round. Our companion video, "Delivery of the Placenta: The Third Stage of Labor Explained," shows this stage in full. Delivering the placenta completely matters, because retained tissue can cause heavy bleeding afterwards.

Stage 4: Early recovery

The fourth stage covers roughly the first two hours after delivery. The care team watches the mother's bleeding, blood pressure, and how firmly the uterus stays contracted, while the baby is checked, kept warm, and — in most settings — placed skin-to-skin. It is a quiet stage in most videos, but clinically it is when the mother is monitored most closely for bleeding.

Why the stages matter

Thinking in stages gives everyone in the room — parents, students, and clinicians — a shared map: what is happening now, what comes next, and what is worth watching closely. Every labor is different, and timings vary widely from person to person and from a first birth to later ones.

Educational only — this article is general information about how childbirth works, not medical advice. If you are pregnant, follow the guidance of your own clinician or midwife.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does childbirth take in total?

It varies a lot. The first stage is the longest and can take many hours, especially in a first birth; the second stage is usually minutes to a few hours, and the third stage is usually minutes to about half an hour.

What is the most painful stage of labor?

People most often describe the end of the first stage and the second stage — when contractions are strongest and pushing begins — as the most intense part. Experience differs from person to person.

What is delivered in the third stage of labor?

The placenta, along with the membranes that surrounded the baby. That is why the third stage is sometimes called the "afterbirth."

Is 10 cm dilation the start of pushing?

Full dilation is about 10 centimetres, and it marks the end of the first stage and the start of the second stage, when pushing usually begins.