The First Stage

Categories: Obstetrics or Midwifery

The first stage varies greatly in different women. The
average duration of this stage is from ten to fourteen hours in the woman

with the first child, and six to eight hours in the woman who has borne

children. During this stage the woman prefers to remain on her feet, sit,

stand or walk about. The amount of pain experienced varies greatly,

according to the temperament of the patient; in nervous women it may be

excessive. The pains now have nothing of that bearing down character which

they afterward acquire; they are described as "grinding," are usually felt

in the front. The genitals become bathed with secretions, which are

sometimes tinged with blood. This is an especially trying period to a

young wife, for she cannot see that the pains are doing any good, only

making her restless, tired and nervous. Little can be done by the

physician in this stage except to encourage and explain what is really

being accomplished by these seemingly futile pains and by tact and proper

encouragement, a physician tides this stage over and gives great comfort

to the needy patient. This stage ends with the opening and dilation of the

mouth of the womb and the second or expulsive stage sets in, with pains

altered in character.