Understanding the Stages of Labor: A Guide for Expectant Mothers

7. The Three Stages of Labor

A woman goes through three distinct stages of labor. The first stage, which is the longest, leads to full cervical dilation. It has three phases: the latent phase, the active phase, and the transition phase. Throughout the first stage, the physician, doula, or birthing attendant will regularly measure the effacement or dilation in percentages, from 0% to 100%. Obstetricians measure cervical dilation in centimeters, from one to 10. In the second stage, the infant is born. The final stage is the delivery of the placenta.