When the time really comes you are unlikely to mistake the signs of labour but if in doubt, do not hesitate to contact your hospital or midwife and ask for advice.

Contractions

You may have been feeling mild contractions known as Braxton Hicks.  This is where your abdomen gets tight then relaxes – this can happen throughout the pregnancy.  You tend to become more aware of them towards the end of your pregnancy.  You may become aware of a pattern starting to occur for example every 20-30 minutes, they may last 30 seconds.  They will become stronger and start to last longer and gradually become more frequent.

Have a relaxing bath, keep and stay active for as long as you are able.

 

Other signs of labour

Backache or an achy feeling similar to what some mums experience when their periods start.

 
A Show

This occurs either before labour starts ie up to one week prior or in the early stages of labour.  The mucus plug in the cervix which has helped to seal the pregnancy gradually comes away and comes out of the vagina.  It appears like a sticky pink-red mucus, sometimes mixed with a little blood.  If you are loosing a lot of blood this is indicating that something is wrong and you need to contact the hospital to inform them you are coming in.

 
The waters breaking

The bag of water in which your baby is floating in may break before labour.

Put on a sanitary towel, not a tampon and keep an eye on its colour.

It should look clear, pale straw.  If looking green, this is informing you that your baby is in distress, this is known as meconium staining and you should inform your midwife or the labour ward immediately. 

When the waters break, it may be a slight trickle from your vagina or a sudden gush down your leg – you have no control over this.  Phone your midwife or labour ward and they will advise you.

 
Nausea or Vomiting

 
Diarrhoea

 

I THOUGHT I WAS IN LABOUR?

Do not be disillusioned if when you are examined you are told you are not in labour or that you are in very early labour.  To be considered in established labour your cervix will have to have made many changes and can often take between 6 – 10 hours or maybe longer.

 

KEEP YOUR MORALE UP, TRY TO RELAX AND REST

 

Stages of labour

 
There are three stages in a normal labour:-

 First stage – there are two phases

a)      the cervix softens, shortens and begins to open to approx 3 cms (this can take up to 6-10 hours)

b)      from 3 cms, the cervix will continue to open in a normal labour at approx 1 cm per hour until your cervix has opened enough to allow the baby’ head through approx 10 cms (fully dilated)

Towards the end of the first stage of labour, your contractions will be as frequent as every other minute.  Prior to feeling the urge to bear down, many women find that their contractions occur less frequently.  This is called ‘the transition period’.

 

Second stage

Pushing as a baby moved down into the vagina with the force of each contraction, many women suddenly feel the urge to open their bowels and many women do – DON’T WORRY.

Women are not encouraged to push before they feel the urge to (unless there are signs that a mother or baby’s condition is compromised).  Pushing our baby into the world is an extremely lengthy and exhausting process and can take from 40 – 90 mins in normal circumstances.

Panting – as the baby’s head nears delivery your urge to push becomes expulsive and it is important to listen to the midwife about when to pant.  This reduces the incidence of tears to your perineum as the baby is delivered.

Episiotomy – sometimes it may be necessary to perform an episiotomy.  This is an incision through the perineal tissue in order to widen the opening.  It is only performed if delivery  needs to be expedited eg if the baby is in distress or where the mother will tear badly.  It may also be performed during a forceps delivery.

 

Third stage

Delivery of the afterbirth or placenta.  Mothers may decide to deliver by maternal effort which can take up to 1 hour or may decide to have an intramuscular injection of a drug called Syntometrine.  It is given to mother once the baby’s shoulders are born.  The injection expediates the separation of the placenta from the lining of the womb and reduces bleeding.  It can cause the mother to feel sick and may cause an episode of vomiting about 10-15 mins after it has been given.

The afterbirth/placenta will be assisted out by the midwife once separation is evident.