In plain words
Transition is the last stretch of the first stage of labor, as the cervix opens the final few centimeters before pushing. Contractions are often close together and strong. Many people feel shaking, nausea, hot and cold flashes, or a sense of losing control. Some want to be left alone, and others want close support. Transition can be short or long, and its length alone does not mean something is wrong. Feeling overwhelmed in this stage is common. It comes after the and before pushing. Your birth team can explain how they track your progress during this time.
The deeper version
Transition is the late first-stage phase, roughly from about 8 centimeters to full , marked by rising contraction intensity, rectal pressure, and often emotional and physical distress. A surge is described, and Odent and others have proposed that it facilitates expulsion through a fetal ejection reflex, a mechanism that is not established. Duration varies widely across labors, and the definitions of arrest in transition are debated. Evidence for specific intrapartum practices, such as position and support, comes mainly from observational data and trials of labor management.
Where it comes up
- What your partner does in laborGetting Ready for Birth
- The stages of labor, plainlyBirth and the First Days
What mothers here say about transition
No one has posted under this term yet.
Sources
- World Health Organization — Recommendations: Intrapartum care for a positive childbirth experience, 2018