During the descent phase, how long is it typically before the baby's head is visible?

The typical duration before the baby's head becomes visible during the descent phase ranges from 1 to 2 hours. This timeframe reflects the normal progression of labor, where the baby's head gradually moves down through the birth canal. Several factors can influence this timing, including the mother's pelvis shape, the baby's position, and whether it is the mother's first labor or a subsequent one.

Having the head become visible signifies that the baby is nearing the stage of crowning, an important milestone in the labor process. This phase is often characterized by the mother's increasing urge to push as the baby's head stretches the vaginal tissues, leading to visible progress.

In contrast, the other duration choices provided either suggest a quicker descent or a much longer timeframe than is typically expected during normal labor, indicating that those ranges may not accurately represent the average experience of the majority of birth scenarios.