Health Topics for Pregnancy and Childbirth

Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Department of Pediatrics

UI Family Care Center

Iowa Registry for Congenital and Inherited Disorders

Labor and delivery

Labor is the process by which contractions, or tightening of the muscles of the uterus cause birth. The abdomen gets tight and hard during a contraction. There might be low back pain or belly cramping.

Labor can start when there is a blood tinged mucus discharge from the vagina. The discharge is called "show" or the mucus plug. This may happen one day or several weeks before labor begins or after a vaginal exam. Labor can also start with a trickle or gush of water from the vagina. This means the bag of water has broken, the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby. If this happens, contact your healthcare provider.

While these are clear warning signs that labor is about to begin, there is only one sign that means labor has begun. Labor has begun when there are regular, strong contractions that last more than 30 seconds. This is when the cervix starts to thin and open.

Before labor, the cervix is about 1 inch long and tightly closed. Regular contractions of the uterus thin the cervix to the thickness of a piece of paper, then the cervix opens. For the baby to pass through the birth canal, the cervix must open to be 10 centimeters, which is about 4 inches. In early labor, the contractions are irregular and mild. In active labor, the contractions are regular and strong occurring every 3 to 5 minutes.

When the cervix is completely open, there may be a feeling of an urge to push. This moves the baby down the birth canal to be born. The afterbirth or placenta usually passes within 30 minutes after the birth of the baby.

The first few hours after delivery are called postpartum delivery. During this time, the uterus continues to contract as it becomes firm and smaller. A small amount of bleeding continues and becomes less and less. Breastfeeding of the baby can begin right after the birth.

Every labor is different. How long it lasts and how it progresses differs from woman to woman and birth to birth. There are various options for managing pain during labor and different types of birth facilities. In a birth center, labor and delivery happen in the same room. In a traditional hospital, the woman is moved from room to room.

You and your partner may want to take childbirth classes to prepare for labor and birth. Before your baby is due, talk to your prenatal care provider about your options for pain management and type of birth facility.

Last Reviewed 2005

Disclaimer: This content is reviewed periodically and is subject to change as new health information becomes available. The information provided is intended to be informative and educational and is not a replacement for professional medical evaluation, advice, diagnosis or treatment by a healthcare professional.

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