This is the longest stage of labour, but the good news is that for many women the early part of this may not be too painful. In fact, some women spend the early part of this time wondering if they are really in labour!

Your contractions may be very irregular and short at the beginning. Most women can spend the early part of their labour at home, going about regular activities and resting when they can. If it is night, and you can sleep through these, that's great!

As the contractions get stronger, longer and closer together, you'll know you are really in active labour! Mom will usually have to stop what she is doing during a contraction, and really focus on breathing and releasing any extra tension. Her body will be doing hard work, and she will become more focused and serious. Often, the comfort measures that helped earlier, are not as helpful now, and the mom and support person will need to try other positions or techniques.

At the end of stage 1, the uterus is working even harder to finish dilating the cervix to 10 cm. At this time, contractions can last 90 seconds or more, are even stronger than before, and can occur every one to two minutes!...This is sometimes called the "Transition" phase, and while it is often the most difficult time in Stage 1, it's also the shortest! Mom is tired, and may also feel nauseous, shaky, sweaty and have a lot of backache as the baby starts to move down. Her membranes may rupture at this time, if they have not already done so.

The labouring mother can act quite differently during Transition. She may get angry, weepy, feel panicky, and need lots of reassurance that she CAN get through this intense phase of labour. She may lose her focus, and not really know what she needs to keep her comfortable during contractions. Whatever the partner was doing to help the mom before may not help now, and she may let you know it in no uncertain terms! It's important not to take anything she says at this time personally! Just keep remembering that with each contraction, your one step closer to your baby's birth.