HOSA Human Growth and Development Practice Test 2025 - Free Practice Questions and Study Guide

The process of labor is fundamentally divided into three distinct stages, which include dilation, expulsion, and delivery of the placenta. Each stage plays a critical role in the birth process and is characterized by specific physiological changes and events.

The first stage, dilation, involves the gradual opening of the cervix, allowing the baby to move into the birth canal. The second stage, expulsion, refers to the moment when the baby is pushed out through the vagina during contractions. The third stage, delivery of the placenta, occurs after the baby is born and involves the detachment and expulsion of the placenta from the uterus.

Pregnancy, on the other hand, is the entire period of fetal development from conception to the onset of labor, rather than a stage of labor itself. Understanding the stages of labor is essential for recognizing the processes leading to childbirth, as they are distinct from the broader term that describes the entire gestation period.