What Happens During Labor? A Step-by-Step Overview
Written by Dr. Bill Chun, OB/GYN with 35+ years of experience
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What Most Patients Don't Fully Understand Going In
Labor is taught as three stages in birth classes, but the lived experience of it is much more nuanced... and often very different from what patients expect. Understanding the general arc of what happens can make a significant difference in how you respond in the moment.
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Early Labor: Longer Than You Think
Early labor — when the cervix is dilating from 0 to 6 centimeters — can last many hours, sometimes more than a day in first pregnancies. Contractions are real but irregular, ranging from 5 to 20 minutes apart. Most patients are more comfortable at home during this phase rather than heading to the hospital too early.
This is the stage where good labor support matters most, because the urge to go in early is strong... and often not yet necessary.
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Active Labor: When Things Accelerate
Active labor begins around 6 centimeters. Contractions become stronger, longer, and closer together — typically 3 to 5 minutes apart, lasting about a minute. This is the phase where pain management decisions often come up, where exhaustion sets in, and where patients benefit most from having someone helping them stay focused and informed.
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Transition and Pushing
Transition — the final stretch of dilation to 10 centimeters — is typically the most intense part of labor and often the shortest. Pushing can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours. Knowing what to expect here helps patients work with their body rather than against it.
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After the Birth
The third stage — delivery of the placenta — happens within about 30 minutes after birth. The care team will monitor you closely. For most patients, this stage is calm relative to what preceded it.
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You Shouldn’t Have to Learn Labor While You’re In It
Early labor, active labor, transition, pushing... each phase of labor feels different, moves differently, and often brings up new questions or decisions in real time. Most patients are given general information, but very little ongoing guidance leading up to the experience itself.
Through the Virtual Doula Network, patients receive structured prenatal support and education from doulas trained directly by Dr. Bill Chun, helping them better understand what labor looks like before it begins.
Join the Virtual Doula Network Waitlist >
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