Describe the birth process. Gross ...

1. First Stage: Dilation and Effacement of the Cervix

a. early phase

b. active phase

c. transition phase

2. Second Stage: Pushing and Birth

3. Third Stage: Delivery of the Placenta

The process of labor and birth is divided into three stages:

The first stage begins when you start having contractions that cause progressive changes in your cervix and ends when your cervix is fully dilated. This stage is divided into two phases:

Early labor: Your cervix gradually effaces (thins out) and dilates (opens). Active labor: Your cervix begins to dilate more rapidly, and contractions are longer, stronger, and closer together. People often refer to the last part of active labor as transition.

The second stage of labor begins when you're fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby. This is sometimes referred to as the "pushing" stage.

The third stage begins right after the birth of your baby and ends with the delivery of the placenta.