No two deliveries are the same however, healthcare professionals know some general symptoms you can expect.

Child birth involves 3 stages .

Stage I: This starts with the onset of true labor until the cervix is completely dilated to 10cm.

Stage II : This is after the cervix has dilated 10 cm until the delivery of the baby.

Stage III : This involves the delivery of the placenta.

Third stage of labor

This is the shortest stage of labor  and involves the delivery of the placenta and making sure bleeding is under control. The placenta is usually delivered within 5 minutes even though it may take as much as 30 minutes.

What to expect

You will continue to experience mild contractions. This is an indication that the placenta is separating from the uterine wall and ready to be delivered. Your healthcare provider might massage your uterus to encourage it to contract and expel the placenta. You might be asked to push one more time to deliver the placenta  and this usually comes with a gush of blood Expulsion of the placenta is also known as the afterbirth.  You may experience shaking and shivering after the delivery of the placenta. This is normal and no cause for concern.

Your healthcare  provider will have a look at the placenta to make sure it is intact. Any remaining placenta needs to be delivered to prevent infection and bleeding. He will also examine if you need stitching or repair. If that is the case, you will receive local anesthesia at the area to be stitched if it isn’t already numb. You may also be given medication to help your uterus contract and reduce bleeding.

What you can do

All you can do is to relax and enjoy your new baby