Childbirth involves the delivery of a baby along with the placenta and membranes, transitioning from the womb to the outside world. The initial stage of labor, known as the dilation stage, involves the cervix widening to about 10 cm (approximately 4 inches). This stage is split into two phases: the latent phase and the active phase. During the latent phase, contractions become more synchronized, and the cervix expands to 4 cm (around 1.5 inches). This phase typically lasts about 8 hours for first-time mothers (nullipara) and 5 hours for women who have given birth before (multipara). In the active phase, the cervix fully dilates, and the baby begins its descent into the midpelvis. For nulliparas, this phase lasts about 5 hours, while it takes about 2 hours for multiparas. The second stage, called the expulsion stage, involves the baby moving through the cervix and vagina to be born, usually taking about 2 hours for a nullipara and 1 hour for a multipara. The third stage starts with the baby's birth and concludes with the expulsion of the placenta and membranes. This process is also referred to as labor and childbirth.
