The Transition
The first stage of labor is the time taken for the cervix, the neck of the womb, to become fully dilated. The transition from the first to the second stage of labor, when the baby’s head begins to move down the birth canal, is for many mothers the most distressing time. They may feel lost, bewildered, and out of control, sometimes saying things the do not mean. Some women experience severe backache, caused by the pressure of the baby’s head on their lower spines. Steady massage from a caring husband can bring considerable relief to a weary mother to be.