The expulsion stage of labor involves which critical event?

The expulsion stage of labor is characterized by the critical event of delivering the newborn. During this stage, the cervix is fully dilated, and the mother experiences strong contractions that help push the baby through the birth canal and out of the mother's body. This stage comes after the latent and active phases of labor, where cervical dilation occurs, but it specifically pertains to the moment of birth—the culmination of the labor process.

This stage typically begins when the cervix is completely dilated at around 10 centimeters, and with each contraction, the fetus is propelled downward until it is delivered. It marks a significant transition, as the labor process progresses from the management of contractions and the preparation of the body to the actual birth of the child. Consequently, the delivery of the newborn is the defining event in this stage, differentiating it from others within the labor process, such as dilation or the delivery of the placenta, which occurs in subsequent stages.