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Transition: Image

Transition

"Opening up and transforming, ready to meet your baby"

Published 16th Nov 2020, updated 21st Nov 2020

What is transition and what happens?

Transition is known as the final stage of dilation from 8-10cm. It is named because it is seen as the transition between the first and second "stages" of labour.
In a physiological labour and unhindered transition, a huge rush of hormones floods the body to give the woman strength, and to speed up the last, and most vulnerable stage of birth.

These hormones affect you physically and mentally.

Strong contractions change from the pulling up and opening cervix contractions (lateral uterine muscles) to the bearing down and out muscles (building fundus).

You're almost ready now for the birth of the baby with the fundus primed to push for you, with the Fetal Ejection Reflex (FER).

(An induced or augmented Pitocin/Syntocin transition will be harsher, different, and FER is rarer - this is only about natural transition)

Will I go through transition?

Every woman goes through the physical transition (from 8-10cm dilation) For some women it happens quickly, as brief as a strong contraction, or panicked thought, and for others it may take a bit longer, a few minutes to an hour.

However some women will not get overwhelmed by the "feelings" side of transition. Their reaction to the massive hormonal influx, and possible increased pain may not be as dramatic; every person will experience their body's reaction in a different way.

Some women may even feel renewed energy, whereas others get the well known "I'm going to die" or "I can't do this" feeling.

“Transition is the woman dying, and the mother being born.”

This is how some unassisted birthing women have described or experienced transition

Physical:

Nausea
Puking
Increased thirst
Getting hot all over
Getting cold all over
Shaking
Crying
Pressure in the butt
A strong need to poop (which is actually in hindsight probably baby’s head pressing)
Removing clothing
Feeling baby move into the pelvis
Contractions are closer together and stronger
Contractions are on top of each other and more intense, they may even double peak OR
Contractions may slow down and almost seem to stop
Waters breaking, due to the strength of contractions
Sleepy feelings, even napping between contractions
Just one long pause after some strong contractions (known as "Rest and Be Thankful" pause)

Feeling:

Feeling like everything just got super intense

Feeling annoyed at help or counter pressure that previously felt good
Feeling like you don't care if you're naked
Feeling an “out of body” experience
Feeling like you're about to die

Feeling like baby will die
Feeling like something is terribly wrong
Wanting to "go home" or "go to the hospital " (the opposite of where you are)
(If you've had a previous medicated birth) "I want the drugs!"
Feeling like you can't do this
Feeling like you'll give up and just come back tomorrow to finish it
Feeling like you'll just go to bed, and start again in the morning
"Someone else can birth this baby, I'm not"
Wanting it to just stop
Or, knowing that it's happening and you can't make it stop
Resignation of what is "to come"
Disassociation
Mild hallucinations
Irritation at anyone nearby
Excitement at the thought of meeting baby
Excitement that its nearly over

You may have none, some, or many of these together. if you get a group of the symptoms, it's a good sign that you're in transition.

As you can see, the experiences vary!

“I thought I was leaving, but it was me bringing a new life” - freebirther

How can I cope with transition?

Firstly, understanding and being aware of the labour stages. Knowing that where you are is transition, and is that beautiful place where your body is preparing you to meet your child.

Knowing that any overwhelming feelings are your hormones surging and not you actually being unable to physically do it.

Knowing that you may not experience the awful feelings at all, and even if you do, it may only be for a few minutes.

You can do anything for a minute!

If transition happens to you, you can’t skip it. But you can be prepared to lean into it and go with it, go to that other dimension excitedly to meet your baby.

You can:

Utilise whatever natural birth pain relief options you prefer as labour progresses, being flexible since your desires can often change once you hit transition.
If having a waterbirth, get in the tub and let the water ease your body and mind

Have some affirmations ready and visible that affirm your ability to birth, affirm your strength, and remind you that you're about to meet baby.
Take some spray or drops of Rescue Remedy tincture by Bach Flowers or Emergency Bush flower remedy (Australian), or Motherwort Tincture to calm you
Have a birth support person like your husband, doula, or friend, who can talk you through what you're feeling and remind you of your affirmations, and tell you that they love you and are with you through this moment witnessing your sacred transition.

"When I got to the point where I started to say "I can't do this", then my husband grabbed my hand and told me "You've got this!" and soon after my body started pushing for me" - freebirther

"Of course things may seem hectic and often the Mother flounders briefly during this supreme openness. She may say that she cannot go on or that she wants to go home. She may have a wild-eyed look and seek the presence of others. She may ask for help but I have noticed this is not the authentic need for someone to do something, rather it is the calling out to be witnessed in this hardest phase yet. Sometimes the presence of another person, especially one she loves and trusts, will restore calmness. And sometimes, the presence of another will allow her to feel safe and she will then rage to the end of the universe. Her personal tempest may take her far from ordinary reality. She will become the storm, become wild and incredibly powerful. Caregivers and partners may be amazed, even intimidated. Mother will find her way however it takes" - Diane Whapio, The Matrona

Your support people can also be invaluable in alleviating any physical symptoms such as bringing a bowl for puke, or a pillow for sleeping, or providing counterpressure or rebezo sifting.
Breathe. Have someone remind you, or breathe calmly for you to copy.
Make sounds, low and open. This vocalising is normal and primal, and can help move baby down. Don’t feel self conscious, just do what sounds right. Call out to your baby.
Energise. A sip of something quick and sugary like honey, juice, electrolyte drink, or a piece of fresh fruit might invigorate you enough to help you continue. You probably won't have an appetite, so have something easy on standby.
Have someone apply a fresh cool cloth on your face and neck, especially in the birth pool. It will help keep your body temperature regulated.
Change position. Your body may benefit from gravity to help get baby to move down, or you may be feeling instinctively to move so that you can open up and get more comfortable. A support person might help get you optimally positioned if you feel shaky or tired. You can also try things like leaning on a bed, birth ball, or sit on the toilet. After transition, you may like to lie down and rest.
Move. Moving around helps you move through, and with, the waves, rather than getting lost in the intensity.
Intuition: sometimes you may worry "What if this is not transition, but a real emergency? Can I tell the difference?" Run through the knowledge in your head, run the details of your worry past facts you’ve learned. Does it line up? Then tune into your intuition. How do you feel? You are the mother and the most in tune with your baby. At the end of the day, listen to yourself. If you cannot explain it, but need to transfer, please do.
Verbalise: When you have crazy thoughts running through your head like a freight train, it can be all encompassing. Sometimes just saying it out loud can allow you to hear the shallowness of the lie, and banish the fear, so you can laugh at it and clear your mind to focus on more positive thoughts (just prep your support person first so they know you might say things you don't mean. Maybe even agree on a code word for if you seriously want to transfer and aren't just verbalising it)
Focus on your baby. This is what you're here, doing all this for!

"You are working with your baby and you will soon meet your baby."

"Transition is tough, but keep in mind that you and your baby are in this together. Your baby is NOT sitting inside, doing nothing. He or she is actively working with your body during birth: slight twisting, turning, pushing with his/her feet to move down and through the birth canal.

That’s why changing positions can sometimes bring so much relief - because your baby needed you to shift so he or she could move down into position. Sometimes if things feel “stuck,” a change of position can make a real difference.

You and your baby are really doing this together" - Kirsten, Natural Birth Mama

Let go. Birth requires surrender, and this moment sometimes more than most.

“One thing I have witnessed, and always loved about birth, is that birth will take you to your limits and then take you over them. When a birthing woman is nearly 7/8 centimetres, characteristically known as transitioning, she will undoubtedly say, think or feel ‘I can’t do this anymore’.

Often time the feeling will manifest itself into those words, a moment of crying, a feeling of wanting to flee or a frantic look. It’s when she begins to feel the birth has become stronger than her … However, it is at this moment something magical happens. The woman ‘is’ the birth, and at this moment she digs down deep and finds that strength she never knew she had.” - Doula Lisa Hart

What happens after transition?

You're nearly there!

You have made it through the storm. You have become transformed.

Now, you may have a resting phase. Time to breathe and regather strength. You might close your eyes and rest a little.

For some, this period is brief, for other women it lasts a bit longer. While you know there is still the most important work to do, you are grateful for this last precious moment as a pregnant woman.

"This is the period of great stillness and peace that occurs after transition. All becomes calm and quiet and the Mother knows that IT has happened. She knows she has found what she is looking for…her still place in the tempest and access to the soul of her baby. Both mother and baby are tranquil and serene, drifting toward the shores of home. She may choose to rest in the arms of her Partner or create a still place to recoup her energy. She is not finished with her travels – she must manage the breakers ahead – but right now she is in peace - Diane Whapio

Then, often, rejuvenated, the urge to push will kick in and start progressing your baby down the birth canal.

You'll move again, and again, changing position into one that facilitates openness, and then into one ready to receive baby, your hands or your partner's waiting- a warm welcome earthside.

You may feel at one with the strong waves washing over you and shift with them, adding your efforts to those of the uterus.

Or the fetal ejection reflex - kickstarted by the hormone boost, will have your uterus work strongly and may even propel your baby out in just a few contractions, startling you with it's involuntary expulsion.

Michel Odent notes that “…parturition is an involuntary process and an involuntary process cannot be helped. The point is not to disturb it.”

Birth works. Birth happens. The woman becomes the mother-baby. The baby leaves the safety of the womb in a tumultuous, calm, exit from one world, and a beautiful, unrestrained entry into another.

However the last few minutes eventuate, you are irrevocably, emotionally, physically, changed. The process from woman to mother is consummate.

You are still completely you, but now you are also split in two. There are places in your heart that didn't exist until this moment, and the love of a child created them. Your baby is here! And the transition of matrescence is complete.

"The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new." - Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh

Thanks for reading! If you have more questions about unassisted birth and how to resolve common complications, you may like to check out our FAQ page.

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Transition: Text