Stages of Labour, Pregnancy

Breast milk is best for your baby

Breast milk is best for babies. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and Health Promotion Board (HPB) recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Unnecessary introduction of bottle feeding or other food and drinks will have a negative impact on breastfeeding. At around six months of age (but not before 4 months), infants should receive nutritionally adequate and age-appropriate complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age or beyond. Consult your doctor before deciding to use infant formula or if you have difficulty breastfeeding.

Abbott Singapore fully recognises breast milk’s primacy, value and superiority and supports exclusive breastfeeding as recommended by the WHO.

The content on this website is intended as general information for Singaporean residents only and should not be used as a substitute for medical care and advice from your healthcare practitioner. The HPB recommends that infants start on age-appropriate complementary foods at around 6 months, whilst continuing breastfeeding for up to 2 years or beyond to meet their evolving nutritional requirements. If no longer breastfeeding, toddlers can switch to full cream milk after 12 months. This should be complemented by a good variety of solid foods from the four main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, meat and alternatives). For more information on the nutritional requirements of infants and young children, please visit www.healthhub.sg/earlynutrition.

Stage One - Fun with Contractions

At first, contractions are short and mild, occurring at five to ten minute intervals. During this time, you probably are free to be in any position you want, or to move around. When the contractions come three to five minutes apart and are more intense, lasting 40 to 50 seconds, you are in active labour.

During this stage, your uterus contracts to push the opening of the cervix wider and wider. When you arrive at the hospital, your cervix will be examined to see how much it has opened, or dilated, and thinned (called effacement). Your temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure, heart rate, position, and the condition of your baby will be monitored.

The time between your contractions continues to shorten to about two minutes; at this point contractions are more intense and last about a minute. The completion of this stage of labour comes when your cervix is fully dilated (about 10 centimeters or four inches).

Stage Two - Pushing Forward

This stage may last up to two hours or more and ends with the birth of your baby. Find a position for pushing that is comfortable and push only when asked.

When your baby's head appears, or crowns, a doctor may make an episiotomy (or an incision to enlarge the vaginal opening) if one is needed. While an episiotomy is often thought of as a negative, the benefit is that it can eliminate tearing and is much easier to repair. Then, as you pant or blow to prevent further pushing, your baby's head is gradually delivered. You may be able to watch the birth in a mirror. Next, your baby's shoulders appear, and then the rest of the body.

Stage Three - Meet Baby

This short stage ends when the placenta and the membranes that held your baby are pushed out by contraction. The hospital staff will clean you and provide fresh bedding.

Immediately after your baby is born, the hospital staff will clear your baby's nose and throat of mucus or fluid, if necessary, and then clamp and cut the umbilical cord. Your baby is quickly dried off, wrapped in a blanket to keep warm and may be placed on your stomach so you can enjoy the moment.