may the force be with you...

16-24 hrs. LOL...

Pablo,

I just watched a birth day off of the discovery channel the other day where this lady was in labor for 48 hours! each part of labor can take so many hours - I don't have my book in front of me now - as I'm in bed on the laptop and it's almost 2am so I'm not going to disturb anyone else in the apt and get it - but I'll break it down tomorrow. Of course each woman is different and some don't take as much time going through each of the stages of labor, some have shorter time periods, others longer. oh heck let me go get the book now or it will be bugging me and I won't be able to get back to sleep until I get the info LOL

Liz n Sterling

Stage 1

Phase 1

Early Labor

Usually lasts 6-12 hrs

Phase 2

Active Labor

Usually lasts 2-6 hrs

Phase 3

Transition

Can last from a few minutes to several hrs

Stage 2

Pushing

usually lasts 15 min to 3 hrs

Stage 3

Delivery of placenta

usually lasts 15 min to 30 min

so there ya go - and that will vary from woman to woman so some may go on the lower time scale and some will go on the higher time scale. but that is the breakdown from my lamaze class book.

Liz n Sterling

From a FOG. Try some 70's Moody Blues...

liz,

I'm glad to see you are paying attention in Lamaze.

Many couples skip it. I could not have IMAGINED going through labor and delivery (as the father) without knowing exactly what was going on with my wife. I think it was also to her benefit also since when she started to lose focus, I was able to help encourage and reassure her with real confidence.

During short breaks outside the LDR, I spoke with other soon-to-be fathers who were confused about what was happening and I felt bad for them.

....sorry 'bout the threadjack.

Joni Mitchell.

Miles Davis

Vivaldi

Floyd

Andy,

I soak up as much information as I can, from the classes I take, to books that I have bought, to the July Expecting forum that I belong to, to places on the net. This is my first and I need all the help I can get. And I'm nuts because I'm thinking of going natural when it comes to delivery - but I'm leaving all my options open. My tolerance of pain is extremely low, but there is so much conflicting information on if all the various drugs they can give you for pain work or what effect they will have on you and the baby etc. I guess I won't really know what my body can handle until I'm having the contractions etc. And I won't know until wednesday what position my little guy is in and what that will mean on the way I will have to deliver. All bets are off if I need a csection cuz I need some sort of drugs for that. So many decisions having to be made. Tomorrow I have to make a phone call to find a Pediatrician and to get information on banking Sterling's cord blood. Times like this I wish clive was home! 😞 sighs.

Liz n Sterling

Liz, try some Nora Jones, Dave Matthews and John Mayer. If you do not try anything else, please try the Nora Jones. I have two little ones...well, one is four and the other is six. I know it helps in the car HA!

I'm writing down all the great suggestions and going to do some dling and then add them to my discs that I burned today 🙂 thanks to all for the awesome suggestions!

Liz n Sterling

liz -- Here is a great site for streaming ambient music

http://www.somafm.com/ 

my mom chose raindrops on roses from the sound of music when she had me...after six hours of listening to it in labor, she said she hated Julie Andrews and she hated my father for doing this to her....real relaxing...

as for me, I have a few albums that always get me in a relaxed state:

Neil Young solo acoustic Akron Ohio 4/99

Tim Bluhm and Greg Loicano Ball Point Birds

Garcia/Grisman Shady Grove

Ben Harper Diamonds on the Inside

Beck Sea Change

Tom Waits Closing Time

I don't even remember if we had music for ours, now that I think about it.

Remember, those time frames are average.....

With my first, the second stage was well over 5 hours.

With the second, had the epidural, and Tank did all the pushing(I could not feel a thing)

Wishing you all the best, (or at least better than mine)

I do remember that the 1st one used to sing herself to sleep for the first year or two. (more like humming) That was soooo funny.

Oh well, enjoy them while they are little. Too soon they turn into teenagers.

Debbie

Note to self: Check to see who is logged in before posting to the forums.

Sorry Tank.

Debbie

aka MRS. Tank.