Transition

Now that's powerful stuff

The term transition or in transition refers to the period of time just before the birth. Some like to quantify transition as having a beginning and an end. They say transition is from 6 or 8 to 10 cm or is the 25-30 minutes before the birth. I tend to disagree. As a mother of 3, I can say my transition was severely different for each, and I'm only one woman. The homebirth midwife who trained me always referred to labor and contractions as a period of changes.  She would often ask her clients to notify her when the next "change" in contractions was coming. She didn't explain how it would be, but somehow her clients knew when that "change" had taken place.  "Transition" she said "is the final change in contractions before the birth." "Some changes happen radically and quickly." She continued, "and some come slowly and steadily."  I like this word change.  It is a neutral word that has neither a positive or a negative spin on it.  It is what it is. Transition is what it is.  It is the actual moment when the body is getting ready to bring a new life into this world.
In my experience as a midwife, I also notice, feel, experience a change in my clients. It is the time when women say things like: "I can't do it." "I can't take it anymore."  "I don't have the strength" or even things like: "I'm dying."  As a provider, I know that the birth is soon imminent, but I see these women lost in the present moment and the beauty of a being completely devoted to it. Sometimes I will remind the woman that this too will pass, but other times I simply take in the beauty of complete serenity to the present.
 In my own personal experience with labor, this was the time when I felt that my entire existence had come down to this moment. It was awesome to be solely focused on what I was doing and unaware of any other time or place.  For me, it was the hardest part of each labor. It was the time when I so desperately relied on my team.  (which also was different in each labor).  The funny thing is, that for me the most helpful thing was being yanked out of the present and into the past and the future.  For my second and third labors, I knew I had done this before and I knew that I wouldn't be in this moment forever. I knew that somewhere in the future was my rapture, my relief. 
Transition is powerful. Transition is awe-ful and transition is the final moments before you hold your precious gift. Remember this when you go there, and if you can't rely on yourself to remember, get a teammate that will do it for you.  Happy, peaceful and blessed birth to you.