The term "baby engagement" refers to pregnancy and the various stages of the birth process. The March of Dimes suggests learning the stages of labor to better assess what you can expect to experience during labor and delivery. The general stages of labor are grouped into three categories. The exact time required for each is unique to every woman, as well as to each birth experience, notes the March of Dimes.
Early Labor
In the late third trimester, somewhere around the 36th week for women during a first-time pregnancy, the baby readies itself for the delivery process. Visible changes in pregnant woman appear as the baby moves in the womb to a lower position in the belly. Women who have given birth before, however, may not experience engagement until the delivery process begins. Early labor is the longest of the stages of baby engagement, says MayoClinic.com. The contraction process begins in the cervix, in stages that last between 30 and 60 seconds. Waves of contractions come at intervals of between five and 20 minutes. Discharge, called "bloody show," may also appear. MayoClinic.com reports that this period typically lasts for several hours or even, in some cases, days.
Active Labor
During active labor the dilation increases to 10 cm as the contractions lengthen and increase in intensity. The Cleveland Clinic describes zero station, sometimes referred to as 0 station, as the stage of baby engagement in which the head is completely engaged into the middle of the birth canal. Pressure on the back increases and the mother should now prepare for delivery by traveling to a hospital, birthing center or home delivery area.
Delivery
In the birth stage, the baby is pushed from the womb after the mother assumes a position that enhances the delivery. This stage of baby engagement may take minutes or many hours, depending on the mother and the selected delivery technique. The baby's head should begin the external delivery, followed by the umbilical cord and body. After delivery, the final stage of labor is the expulsion of the placenta, which MayoClinic.com says may take up to 30 minutes after the baby has been delivered.
