At first, it may be difficult to tell whether the contractions are real, but at this early stage your response to both real and false contractions should be the same. Try to ignore them until they become stronger and more regular. You ll need to pace yourself in the beginning, reserving strength and focus for the important task that lies ahead. Try to resist making last-minute preparations. Choose quiet, restful activities instead.
Labor has three stages.
The first begins with the first real contraction and continues until the cervix is fully dilated at 10 centimeters. The second pushing stage goes from full dilation to birth. The third is the delivery of the placenta, which takes place from five to 30 minutes after birth. In addition, the first stage has three phases. During phase one, contractions are five to 20 minutes apart and 30 to 45 seconds in duration.