Dilation is the opening of the cervix from its closed state to a diameter of 10 centimeters. These terms are used to gauge the progress of labor, signaling the changing of phases and stages. Labor is often said to have three stages, but there are really four. The fourth stage, which takes place after the birth, is often overlooked. The first stage, called cervical dilation, has three phases.
Second stage is the actual pushing phase.
Third stage comes after the birth of the baby and continues through the delivery of the placenta. And the fourth stage is the initial recovery period for the mother. There is no way to predict how long a labor will last. Contractions may continue for several days, but in prolonged early labor, the contractions are usually mild and there is plenty of time to rest between them. Find out here.