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Ok, here it goes: First know that it makes a difference what country you are in and what kind of doctor you have, but I will try to lay out the basics as they happened to me with my first and second babies. Ok, so you go into labor-call your doctor. When you arrive at the hospital/birthing center, they will have you fill out forms(this is better done ahead of time when your not in pain). Then you have to get into a hospital gown(you know the ones that show off your b___t). They put two round disks on your belly and strap them down(one is for the baby's heart beat and one is to measure your contractions). The nurse will most likely ask you questions about your pregnancy health and when labor started etc. The nurse will want to do an internal exam to check how far along you are. If you are not too far i.e. less then 5-7cm, and your water has not broken, the nurse might send you to walk. Walking helps strengthen your labor(it's not fun when your in pain, and it can be very boring, but at that point anything that can get you closer to seeing your baby is good). 1-4cm is most likely going to be the easiest part of your labor and you will most likely be at home because your contractions won't be that bad. 5-7cm is active labor, and 7-10cm is transition. 1-7cm is what usually takes the longest, but there are no 100%s in this. For some it takes an hour and for others it takes 20hours. 7-10cm, transition, is usually much shorter, only an hour or two. After you are 10cm it is time to push. Wait for the doctor to tell you when to push. Your perinial(skin down there)might tear or the doctor might cut you when the baby's head comes out. This is normal. After the head, comes the shoulders one at a time then the rest usually slides right out. After you have your baby, you will need to deliver the placenta. This is easier than the baby because it's really soft and mushy. Then you will be cleaned up. Just so you know this is my opinion of what happens. You should ask your doctor any and all questions you have about labor and delivery. I hope this helped!

When you deliver the placenta, do you have to push as well? Or it just comes out on its own?

You still have contractions, and you do a little light pushing and the doctor does a little light pulling on the umbilical cord. It's pretty easy and quick. They just don't ever show that in the movies!

Also, they might give you a shot to help you expel the placenta, they did that with my first, even though I was too busy enjoying holding my little one to even remember the shot.

Oh, and just so you know, Transition is not fun. In active labor the contractions are one at a time and spaced a few minutes apart. When you get to transition, you can have two or three in a row before getting a break. This is that point that you start feeling like "you just can't do this any more"! But remember that transition means that you are just about done:)

Truelaguna - Thank you sooooooooooooooooooooo very much for the great explanation. I think i know what its gonna be like.. i just book marked this page to make sure i read it again before i take leave from office ..... thanks again..for taking the time to reply and for all those details :-)

Truelaguna - If the water doesnt break by the time you get in to the hospital.. at about what time does it break? Do they break it or does it break on its own ? And also does it hurt when it is broken / breaks ?

lovebugg-42 - thanks :-) I guess we are gonna be way more excited with the baby to notice anything that happens afterwards :-)

my water did not break had a long labor (29 hrs) once I was 8 cm the midwife said we will wait a bit longer then 2 hrs later still no water then she broke it no it was not painful at all

dot - thank god......its not painful. thanks for the info.

Hi, just to give you another little taster of labour. Mine was completely different to Truelagunas. I didn't actually know i was in labour until i was 7cm's dilated so i missed out on all the monitors and timing contractions. I went to the toilet thinking i needed a poo, realised i wasnt having a normal po as all of my pain was around my lower back and abdomen like really bad period pains. The pains were coming about every 2-3 minutes. My waters broke while i was on the toilet, that wasnt sore at all, just a gush of warm fluid. I went to the hospital, was told i was 7cm dilated and taken straight to the delivery suite. I got into a comfy position and waited until i felt the urge to push, then from there it happened pretty much the same as the other ladies on here. I got an injection after giving birth to deliver the placenta, i didnt even need to push it out they just tugged the umbilical cord and it just plopped out, no pain what so ever! Just remember to say to yourself when you're going through the most painful parts that it'll all be over soon and that at the end of it you'll have a gorgeous baby in your arms! That will help you to no end, believe me! I had no time for pain relief and just saying that to myself over and over again gave me the strength to have my little girl on my own. Good luck!! :o)

In about 15% of pregnancies the water breaks before labor or on the onset of labor. The rest of the time it either breaks naturaly at the hospital when you are in labor(the force of the contractions make it "pop") or the doctor will break it for you. It does not hurt! My water broke before labor with my first baby and it felt like all the blood fell out of my body:) lol It didn't hurt but I felt a little woozie for a sec or two. With my second baby the doctor broke it at the hospital when I was at 3cm because my labor had slowed. The doctor used what looked like a hook on a stick:) I didn't feel a thing!

thanks again girls... how long does the water keep dripping if it breaks while you are at home? and like how many pad do u need to wear ?

Well, your fluid completely replaces itself every 3 hours, so depending on if you are having contractions or not and when you go into the hospital. It will continue to replace itself until the baby is born.

I was on my 3rd preg / labour before I thought to pay attention enough to notice the placenta being delivered - never noticed it in the previous labours!! That's how uneventful it is! haha