Early labor begins the work of thinning and opening the cervix. Active labor means that contractions are regular and strong. Contractions are regular when they occur every three to five minutes like clockwork. You will know your contractions are strong when you cannot talk through them. Active labor opens your cervix all the way to ten centimeters.
Some women have natural childbirth, using no pain medication.
Others may need pain relief. Different types of anesthesia are available depending on your situation. When the cervix is completely open, you may feel a strong urge to push. This moves the baby down the birth canal. The afterbirth is delivered within minutes after the baby.