The process of delivery takes place in 5 stadiums, or stages:
1. The Prodromal stadium (predictors of incoming labor);
2. The First period of labor (the cervical canal enlarges);
3. The Second period of labor (birth of the baby);
4. The Third period of delivery (expelling the placenta), and
5. The after-delivery period.
There are a few predictors of incoming delivery but sometimes the predictors are so poorly expressed that a pregnant woman can’t notice them. Some of the following events can predict that labor and delivery will soon follow:
1. Relaxation under the sternum. This is caused when the fetus drops down and enters the small pelvis cavity;
2. An increase in sero-mucous vaginal discharge, and
3. Braxton contractions. These types of contractions are irregular, non-painful uterine contractions that can be noticed during the night.
Delivery begins when uterine contractions increase in frequency, about one contraction every 5-15 minutes, are regular with equal intervals among them and are painful.
Back pain does not officially predict delivery but could be due to the pressure that the fetus creates on the roots of the spinal nerves when it enters the small pelvis cavity.