There are three main stages of labor, including the dilatation period, the delivery of the fetus, and the delivery of the placenta. 1. Dilatation of the uterus: it starts with the dilatation of the uterine orifice, which is generally characterized by regular contractions at intervals of 5-6 minutes, until the cervix is fully dilated to 10 cm. This process is relatively long, and may take about 12 hours for primigravid women, and about 8 hours for women in labor. 2. Fetal delivery: Generally speaking, it takes about 2 hours for a primiparous woman to deliver the fetus from full dilatation of the cervix to the delivery of the fetus, whereas a transient woman may finish the process in a few minutes. 3. Placenta delivery period: refers to the time from the delivery of the fetus to the delivery of the placenta, which is usually about 15 minutes and should not exceed 30 minutes. It is recommended that women in normal labor choose regular hospitals for delivery, and follow the doctor’s instructions during labor to help smooth delivery.