title: [The five stages of labour].
abstract: Current obstetric and midwifery textbooks subdivide childbirth in three distinct phases commonly referred to as the first, second and third stage of labour. This differs from older textbooks in the 19 th century, which recognized five phases. The first one referred to the period between the onset of labour-like activity and the start of progressive cervical dilatation, the second to the phase of progressive cervical dilatation, and the third to the descent of the fetal head to the pelvic floor. The fourth period then reflected the active expulsion of the baby, while the fifth referred to what is now commonly known as the third stage of labour, i. e. the period between birth and delivery of the placenta. This difference in subdividing childbirth is to some extent reflected in the subdivision between latent and active first stage labour that emerged in the mid-20 th century. It is also reflected in subdividing the second stage of labour into the periods before and after the start of maternal expulsive efforts. The review thus indicates that the history of subdividing childbirth in different stages or phases cannot be seen in isolation from the prevailing research and clinical interests at the time. It also suggests that the old subdivision in five periods is more helpful in the understanding and appropriate documentation of the dynamic process of birth than the current delineation of first, second, and third stage labour.
authors.affiliation: Frauenklinik der MHH im Oststadtkrankenhaus Hannover. Gross.Mechthild@mh-hannover.de
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gross
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007745:Labor Onset; D007743:Labor, Obstetric; D049590:Postpartum Period; D011247:Pregnancy