During the first, or dilation, stage of the birth process, t…
During the first, or dilation, stage of the birth process, the uterus contracts, and the cervix flattens and dilates to allow the fetus to pass through. This labor stage can last from about two to sixteen hours, or even longer; it tends to be longer with the first child. When the contractions start, they usually come at approximately fifteen- to twenty-minute intervals and are generally mild. Near the end of this first stage, the contractions change, becoming more difficult, longer, and more frequent. This period, lasting about an hour, is called “transition” and is the most difficult part of labor for many women. The second stage of birth involves the actual delivery of the baby. This expulsion stage is quite variable and can last anywhere from two to sixty minutes or more. In the average delivery, the baby’s head appears first, an event referred to as crowning. The rest of the body soon follows. The third stage of the birth process involves the delivery of the placenta (or afterbirth) and fetal membranes. During this stage, mild contractions continue for some time. They help decrease the blood flow to the uterus andreduce the uterus to normal size. One Transition that signals the pattern of organization is ________________.