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Physiology of Labor

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Epidural Labor Analgesia

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Abstract

Labor is the process whereby the birth canal is prepared to allow the baby to pass from the uterine cavity to the outside world. In the normal course of events, it ends with a spontaneous or instrumental vaginal delivery, or Cesarean section. Conventionally, it is divided into a first stage, during which the cervix passively dilates in response to uterine contractions, a second stage where the mother pushes the baby through the vagina, and a third stage where the placenta delivers.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pilgrim Hospital, Sibsey Road, Boston, Lincolnshire, PE21 9QS, UK

    Natalie Grant

  2. University of Lund, Lund, Sweden

    Helena Strevens

  3. School of Clinical Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK

    Jim Thornton

  4. Division of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Maternity Department, City Hospital, Nottingham, NG5 1PB, UK

    Jim Thornton

Authors
  1. Natalie Grant
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  2. Helena Strevens
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  3. Jim Thornton
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jim Thornton .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Anesthesiolgy, Città di Roma Hospital, Rome, Italy

    Giorgio Capogna

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© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

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Grant, N., Strevens, H., Thornton, J. (2015). Physiology of Labor. In: Capogna, G. (eds) Epidural Labor Analgesia. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13890-9_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13890-9_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13889-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13890-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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