HOW TO GIVE BIRTH Birth is something that happens many times a day all over the world. Although many people who have never had a birth, such as men, may think that all a woman has to do is push a few times and it's all over, that's not the case. According to BabyCentre there are three phases in childbirth: contractions, pushing and release of the placenta. The first stage of labor actually has two phases. The first stage is called early labor. During the early stages of labor you should start to feel something like light cramps. It is also common to feel pressure in the lower back. This is the beginning of the so-called “contractions”. Contractions help the uterus (female reproductive organ) to stretch and relax, as well as move the baby's head into the birth canal. Another thing that happens during the early stages of labor is that the cervix (the narrow neck-like passage that forms the lower end of the uterus) will begin to shorten, also known as "thinning." Your cervix will grow from about three to five centimeters to look like part of the uterus. You will also begin to dilate (increase or become wider, larger, or more open) during this phase. When contractions get close, about four or five minutes apart, you should call your doctor or midwife and go get checked. They say how much you are dilated in centimeters, from zero to ten. The next phase after this phase is active labor. This phase will consist of faster dilation and an increase in increasingly intense and close contractions. You may also start to feel nauseous during active labor. At this point you will probably feel quite a bit of pain and will need pain medication. While it may be too late for an epidural (an injection into... center of paper... doctor sees signs of separation), they may ask you to push gently one more time to help push the placenta out. After that the placenta has been eliminated, the birth process is completely over. In conclusion, the first stage of childbirth consists of contractions that will help insert the baby's head into the birth canal and prepare for birth, along with thinning the cervix. and the dilation increases. During the second phase you will begin to push the baby out. As the tissue begins to stretch, you may experience the "ring of fire". Shortly after the stretching the baby's head will come out and then his body. The final stage is quick and almost effortless. Childbirth should last five to ten minutes. Therefore, according to BabyCentre, there are three phases before childbirth, including contractions, pushing and the release of the placenta.