The parasympathetic nerve system, where oxytocin is released, regulates labor. Why is it crucial to understand this stage, which is frequently referred to as “relax and digest”?
When our bodies are put in a situation where we become fearful or anxious, the ᴘᴀʀᴀsʏᴍᴘᴀᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜs system shuts down and the ᴘᴀʀᴀsʏᴍᴘᴀᴛʜᴇᴛɪᴄ ɴᴇʀᴠᴏᴜs system takes over aka fight or flight! When this happens, labor stops!
Prodromal Labor: When contractions don’t have a pattern yet! Think of it like your ᴜᴛᴇʀᴜs is practicing and training for the big event!
Early Labor: When contractions become consistent but are not yet so close together. This is a great time to rest. The hormone that promotes more labor, Oxytocin, is encouraged by feeling safe and secure and loved. Conserve energy for…
Active Labor: When contractions are longer and stronger and closer together. This is when we most lean on our comfort measures and move our bodies to help labor move forward. This is also the time we often bring in labor support and get over to our birth location if it isn’t at home.
Transition: The climax! There’s a lot of new sensation as the baby moves down into and through the birth canal. It’s normal for this to feel very intense. You’re doing amazing!
Pushing: It’s time to bring this baby out into the world! Some birthing parents experience the ғᴇᴛᴀʟ ᴇᴊᴇᴄᴛɪᴏɴ reflex where they don’t put any effort into the baby coming out — others put a lot of hard work in! Both are normal.
Baby’s Born: congratulations and great work!! It’s always amazing to bring a new human into the world, whatever the story is.
Placenta’s Born: The ᴘʟᴀᴄᴇɴᴛᴀ follows soon after the baby. What will you do with yours? Take a look? Bᴜʀʏ ɪᴛ? Eɴᴄᴀᴘsᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ? Art?
Rest + Recovery: The days and weeks after having a baby it’s especially important to take care of your birthing body. But the reality that many birthing people are truthfully shouting is that ᴘᴏsᴛᴘᴀʀᴛᴜᴍ is forever!
It’s always important to say that this isn’t the only way of labor and birth to look for folks! We wish everyone self-love and grace for holding your stories of labor and birth.
