The moment of childbirth is one of the most awaited during a pregnancy. But did you know that before you get to meet your baby's face, a few stages are necessary? In the case of normal childbirth, there are four stages of labor that moms need to go through.

According to Dr. Karen Rocha De Pauw, gynecologist, the stages of labor are natural and cannot be interrupted, except with an anesthesia to contain - but not stop - the contractions, as occurs in those who opt for the cesarean delivery The anesthesia for normal labor is different, because it does not stop the woman's contractions", she explains. Understand better how each one of them works and learn how it will be on the big day.

Read more: First trimester of pregnancy: symptoms, tests and care

The Stages of Labor

According to Dr. Karen Rocha De Pauw, a gynecologist, a woman goes through 4 stages during labor. The first is the dilation of the cervix, when the cervix has to open.

The second part is the expulsion, when baby is being born. The third phase is the dequitation, that is, the exit of the placenta. Finally, the gynecologist explains that the fourth period, also called the Greenberg period, "is the coming back, stopping bleeding and stopping leaving the place where the placenta was bleeding."

What happens in each stage of labor?

Phase 1: Dilatation of the cervix

The first phase is the time when contractions start to push the baby down. This starts the thinning and opening of the cervix. At this stage, the famous dilation caused by the contraction of the cervix.

Phase 2: Fetal expulsion

At this stage, the dilation has already happened, that is, the cervix is all dilated: "We need to force the baby to go down, to come out of the vagina. Then come the much stronger contractions with the triple descending gradient, that is, contractions that start at the bottom and end at the front, forcing the baby to be expelled through the vagina", she explains.

Phase 3: Withdrawal

The third period is dehiscitation, that is, the exit of the placenta from the vagina. At this stage, the baby is already out and the umbilical cord So the uterus starts to contract, but the placenta has no elasticity, so it detaches from the uterus, "and where it was, it gets bruised, it gets active bleeding," she explains.

Phase 3: Greenberg's period

In the last period, the uterus needs to contract enough for that wound the placenta left to stop bleeding and for that woman to start preparing for breastfeed We keep an eye on this post-pregnant woman to check for bleeding, thrombosis, amniotic thromboembolism, among others. It's the period that comprises the first 2 days of the post-partum period, that's why most of the time we keep the patients hospitalized. But that's basically it, to stop bleeding at the placental site", explains the gynecologist.

What not to do in the stages of labor

The gynecologist reveals some mistakes during the phases of labor: "To open the cervix mechanically, by means of touch, to make the first phase shorter, is totally contraindicated. The cervix has to break the collagen fibers by itself. Normally, dilations are usually 1 centimeter per hour",explains.

During the expulsion period, another common mistake is to pull the baby, which is also contraindicated, unless the baby has been there for a long time, or the patient is no longer able to have contractions.

As for the delivery, a common misconception is to pull the placenta by the umbilical cord to get it out faster, which is also totally contraindicated. Leaving the placenta inside the uterus longer than necessary is also not indicated, since the uterus cannot contract and the patient loses even more blood,alert.

Finally, in the fourth period, the gynecologist reinforces the importance of not leaving the woman unattended: "This period is one of the most important of childbirth, and we have to see if this woman is doing well.

Source: Dr. Karen Rocha De Pauw, gynecologist, obstetrician, and specialist in human reproduction.