Question

Which sequence shows the correct order of stages of labour?

• A. Placental, dilation, expulsion
• B. Dilation, placental, expulsion
• C. Dilation, expulsion, placental
• D. Expulsion, dilation, placental

Answer 1

The correct option is C Dilation, expulsion, placental

The process of delivery of the foetus at the end of pregnancy is known as parturition. After almost 40 weeks/9 months of pregnancy vigorous contraction of the uterus causes expulsion of the baby.

Parturition involves three stages-

• Dilation: This stage of parturition generally lasts for 6-12 hours, in which vigorous contraction of the uterine muscles, complete dilation of the cervix (up to 10 cm) and rupture of the amniotic sac occur.
• Expulsion: This stage of parturition lasts from 10 minutes to several hours; dilation continues until the expulsion of the baby out of the womb. Continuous contractions start recurring at about two or three-minute intervals and lasting for a full minute, and contraction capacity reaches its maximum intensity to push out the baby. This vigorous contraction continues until the fetus emerges from the vagina. In most cases, it takes less than 2 hours.
• Placental: This is the third stage of the parturition lasting 5-30 minutes or sometimes even more than that. Starts after birth and ends with the delivery of the afterbirth (placenta and membranes).