{"id":45924,"date":"2021-07-21T09:00:31","date_gmt":"2021-07-21T01:00:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/?p=45924"},"modified":"2022-04-18T10:41:35","modified_gmt":"2022-04-18T02:41:35","slug":"stages-of-labour","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/stages-of-labour\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Mentally &#038; Physically Prepare Yourself For The 3 Stages Of Labour"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Childbirth is one of life\u2019s greatest gifts a woman can experience. That said, it comes with a whole load of hard work, stress, and anxiety, especially if it\u2019s your first time going into labour. Hence, it is important for expecting mothers to prepare themselves physically and mentally for what lies ahead, before experiencing any <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signs of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. And the first step in doing so is to understand what happens during the three <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stages of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 3 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stages of Labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: What To Expect\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stage 1: Dilation Of The Cervix\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During the first (and longest) <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stage of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, two things will happen. Firstly, contractions help the cervix become thinner (effacement). Subsequently, the cervix will stretch and open (dilation), thus allowing the baby\u2019s head to descend. The first stage is also divided into two phases.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Latent phase (0-4cm dilated).<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Things you\u2019ll experience during this phase are back and\/or abdomen pain, nausea, and a \u2018show\u2019. A \u2018show\u2019 refers to a plug of thick, jelly-like pink mucus that\u2019s discharged from the cervix. In this phase, contractions are shorter (30 to 40 seconds) at an irregular interval.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Active phase (4-10cm dilated).<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The cervix dilates at an approximate rate of 1cm per hour until it is fully dilated at 10cm; wide enough for the birth of the baby\u2019s head. Contractions are stronger and more frequent in this phase, and last about 60 to 90 seconds every three to five minutes. The pain is felt higher in the abdomen and gradually moves down near the pelvis and lower back.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although labour is painful, there are various <\/span><b>pain relief options<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to make the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signs of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> more bearable. This includes the usage of epidurals, Entonox (a mix of oxygen and nitrous oxide gas), pethidine injections, and relaxation techniques (more on this later).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stage 2: Delivery Of Baby<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45925\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45925\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45925 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby.jpg\" alt=\"stages of labour, baby delivery\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby.jpg 900w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-696x464.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45925\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@jonathanborba\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jonathan Borba<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/w-RTffXK9tM\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsplash<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The second <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stage of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> begins when the cervix is fully dilated up until the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Baby-Toys-cat.11000345\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">baby<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is delivered. There are also two phases here: The<\/span><b> passive phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where the baby\u2019s head descends into the birth canal; and the <\/span><b>active phase<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, where the mother pushes the baby out into the world. The second <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stage of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can last anywhere between 30 minutes and two hours. Here are a couple of recommended positions for a comfortable delivery:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Upright position: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">By standing up straight, you\u2019re using the force of gravity to your advantage as it allows your baby to naturally move downwards into the pelvis. You can lean against a wall (or your partner) for extra support. FYI, women who opt for this birthing position (or on all fours), have reportedly experienced less pain, shorter labours and pushing times, as well as fewer perineal tears.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Lateral position: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This side-lying position is good if you\u2019re too tired to stand, and is better than lying on your back as it does not compress any major veins. It also allows the midwife or your partner to assist by holding one of your legs upwards as you push. Other benefits of this position include easing the pain of certain contractions, reducing pressure on the perineum, and slowing down a too-fast delivery (yes, there\u2019s such a thing!).<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stage 3: Delivery Of Placenta\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Also referred to as \u201cafterbirth\u201d, the third <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stage of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> involves the delivery of the placenta and membranes after your baby is born. There are two ways in which this can happen:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Active management. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A contracting drug is injected into the mother\u2019s thighs as the baby\u2019s head is crowning. This helps the uterus contract down to speed up the placental separation. It also reduces blood loss post-childbirth. This is a faster method that takes about five to 10 minutes.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Physiological management. <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The placenta is delivered without any assistance or drug, besides the mother\u2019s effort in gently pushing it out. This usually takes up to 30 minutes, which is a bit longer than active management.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45926\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45926\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45926 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-bed.jpg\" alt=\"baby in incubator\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-bed.jpg 900w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-bed-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-bed-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/baby-bed-696x464.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45926\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@solenfeyissa\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Solen Feyissa<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/uVd1Z6Go74M\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsplash<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That said, the cord is usually left to pulsate for a few minutes before being cut so that your baby can receive more placental blood for an oxygen and blood volume boost. If you\u2019ve had an episiotomy (perineum incision) prior, the area will then be cleaned and stitched. Once all is well for both mother and baby, you\u2019ll get some quiet time alone and be discharged the next day.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Mentally Prepare Yourself For The 3 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stages Of Labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicate &amp; Seek Emotional Support<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Having the support of a significant loved one is crucial for relieving stress and to reassure the mother that she isn\u2019t alone in her pregnancy. Hence, speak to your partner and let them know how you\u2019d like them to help you throughout the experience. You can also seek emotional support from friends. Talk to them, ask for advice, and get insights from their experiences. Feel free to share your excitement and anticipation with other couples and friends who have kids too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Manage Stress With Relaxing Activities<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45927\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45927\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45927 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prenatal-yoga.jpg\" alt=\"prenatal yoga\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prenatal-yoga.jpg 900w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prenatal-yoga-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prenatal-yoga-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/prenatal-yoga-696x464.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45927\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@freestocks\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freestocks.org<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/woman-doing-yoga-396133\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pexels<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finding it hard to relax? That\u2019s completely normal. You can manage your stress by turning to relaxing activities and techniques that are proven to help alleviate all that anxiety. Some of these include <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Yoga-Pilates-cat.130.665.7186\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">yoga<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, gentle forms of exercise (like brisk walking, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Swimming-cat.11001273.11001366.11001368\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">swimming<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Outdoor-Garden-cat.26.9521.9523\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gardening<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Aromatherapy-cat.129.575.6676\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">aromatherapy<\/span><\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Massage-Detox-cat.129.251.6701\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">massage<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and hypnobirthing techniques.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><i>Related:<\/i><\/b> <a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/mindfulness-meditation-exercises\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Tired? Anxious? Try These Simple Mindfulness Meditation Exercises To Calm Your Weary Soul<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Train Your Brain With Hypnobirthing\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For an easier, more comfortable, and stress-free birth, give hypnobirthing a try. It\u2019s an antenatal programme that\u2019s been proven to help combat fear, anxiety, and pain before and during labour. Some of the self-hypnosis and relaxation techniques include deep breathing, positive visualisation, and labour comfort measures. Through hypnobirthing, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/m\/mums-club\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">mothers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are able to train their brains to elicit a deep relaxation response on demand. It\u2019s a method that\u2019s even used by celebrities like Jessica Alba and Kate Middleton.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How To Physically Prepare Yourself For The 3 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stages Of Labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stay Active &amp; Get Sufficient Rest\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the best ways to physically prep your body for labour is by getting lots of sleep. That means going to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Bedding-cat.26.2281\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">bed<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> early and clocking in eight hours of rest. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/Exercise-Fitness-Equipment-cat.130.665\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Exercising<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is equally important too, not just for the stress-relieving benefits, but also to strengthen the muscles you\u2019ll be using during childbirth. For instance, deep squats will help relax the pelvic floor muscles, cat\/cow poses are great for alleviating lower back pain, and yoga can ease pregnancy discomfort while stretching your muscles to prepare for childbirth.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Massage The Perineum With Olive Oil\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45928\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45928\" style=\"width: 900px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45928 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oil-massage.jpg\" alt=\"woman pouring oil into palm\" width=\"900\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oil-massage.jpg 900w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oil-massage-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oil-massage-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/oil-massage-696x464.jpg 696w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45928\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/@christinhumephoto\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Christin Hume<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/unsplash.com\/photos\/0MoF-Fe0w0A\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unsplash<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The perineum, which is the area between the vaginal opening and anus, gets stretched during labour and birth. One way to reduce the risk of severe bruising and tearing is by giving it a massage using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/search?keyword=olive%20oil%20skincare\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">olive oil<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. It\u2019s best to do this about four to six weeks before your due date. This encourages blood flow to the area, which will soften the skin tissue and increase elasticity so it stretches with ease during childbirth.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Load Up On Wholegrain Carbs<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Apart from sticking to a healthy and balanced diet, you can increase your intake of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/search?keyword=wholegrain\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">wholegrain<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> carbohydrates like <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/search?keyword=wholegrain%20oats\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">oats<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/search?keyword=wholegrain%20quinoa\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">quinoa<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/search?keyword=brown%20rice\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brown rice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and more. After all, complex carbs are known to release energy slowly and this will keep you well-fuelled during labour. So load up on these in your final weeks!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ease Your Anxiety By Preparing Yourself For The 3 <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stages Of Labour<\/span><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_45929\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-45929\" style=\"width: 800px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-45929 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img.jpg\" alt=\"stages of labour, signs of labour\" width=\"800\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img.jpg 800w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img-696x522.jpg 696w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img-80x60.jpg 80w, https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/07\/Labour-ft-img-265x198.jpg 265w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-45929\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Credit: <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/@jonathanborba\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jonathan Borba<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> via <\/span><\/i><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/baby-beside-woman-3259628\/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pexels<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Knowing what <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">signs of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to look out for and what to expect during the three <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">stages of labour<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are surefire ways to reduce birth-related stress and anxiety. This gives you the time to physically and mentally prep your body and mind, so you\u2019ll be a little more ready when it\u2019s time to head to the hospital.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before you head to the hospital for delivery, make sure to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/hospital-bag-checklist-malaysia\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">download this hospital bag checklist<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> so you have everything you need for both mum and baby. And once your baby is delivered, know what to expect in their first year of growth with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/baby-growth-development-first-year\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">this handy guide<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Childbirth is one of life\u2019s greatest gifts a woman can experience. That said, it comes with a whole load of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":45929,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[731,73],"tags":[614,608,385,383],"class_list":["post-45924","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bump-to-birth","category-family","tag-labour-birth","tag-maternal-paternal-health","tag-motherhood","tag-pregnancy"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v24.0 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>3 Stages Of Labour: What To Expect &amp; How To Prepare Yourself For Them<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Going through labour for the first time and not sure what to expect? Here are the 3 stages of labour and how to prepare yourself for them.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/shopee.com.my\/blog\/stages-of-labour\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"3 Stages Of Labour: What To Expect &amp; How To Prepare Yourself For Them\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Going through labour for the first time and not sure what to expect? 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