active labor
Birth stage two
Active labor is the phase of childbirth when contractions become strong, regular, and close together, and the cervix dilates more rapidly—typically from about six centimeters to full dilation.
It's distinguished from early labor, which progresses more slowly: She was in active labor for four hours before delivery.
The term also appears in medical protocols determining when to admit a laboring woman to the hospital.
- contractionsShortened word forms
- pushingApplying force to move
- bear downExert intense pressure
- dilationWidening of an opening
- cervixUterine opening to vagina
birth canal · midwife · support person · birth plan · delivery · natural birth · crowning · almost there · breathing · deep breaths · intensity · transition · epidural · hospital · birth · pain · surges · timing
- childbirthcontractions, pushing, dilation, birth, crowning
- labor signscontractions, water breaking, mucus plug, dilation, effacement