Childbirth occurs in three stages and are referred to as the first stage, the second stage, and the third stage. Uterine contractions mark the beginning of the first stage and cause the cervix to become effaced and dilated, or thinned and widened to enable the baby to pass through the birth canal. In order for the baby to pass through the birth canal, the cervix needs to be widened to approximately 10 centimeters. The first uterine contractions are not very painful and typically occur every 10-20 minutes. This stage is often the longest stage, especially if the mother having her first child. The first stage lasts about a half a day to an entire day on average, however this may fluctuate anywhere from a few hours to a couple of days. As the
