First signs of labour
Every labour and birth is unique, and there is
a very wide range of experiences to be had. You can't predict
exactly how or when your labour will start.
Look for these signs:
The show
This is the release of the mucus plug (the operculum), which seals
the opening of the cervix. It might be a blob of pinkish jelly; or
it could be a series of smaller pieces; the colour could be more
red than pink. The plug 'escapes' because the cervix is just
starting to stretch and soften - but it doesn't mean anything has
to happen now. It could mean labour will start anything between a
couple of hours and a few days.
Rupture of the membranes or 'breaking of the waters'
The membranes are the bag of waters, or amniotic sac, which hold
the amniotic fluid surrounding the baby. When the membranes
rupture, the amniotic fluid (known as liquor - pronounced
'ly-kwor') comes out. It can happen as a sudden gush of liquid, but
it's more usually a slow trickle. Call your midwife or the hospital
if you know your waters have broken, and ask for advice. They may
suggest you come in - there is a possible risk of infection if the
waters break and the baby takes too long to be born. There's also a
risk if your baby's head isn't engaged in the pelvis, as the waters
could bring the cord down as well. This could mean your baby might
compress it - and that could mean a risk to your baby's oxygen
supply. Most women whose waters break go on to have perfectly
normal labours, and fairly soon afterwards, too.
Contractions
Count them and time them. If the contractions come closer together
over a period of an hour or two, and last longer than 40 seconds,
and get stronger, they're likely to be labour contractions.
Qs & As
Q: Just what is a contraction?
A: The uterus is a complex network of muscle
fibres. The fibres contract and become shorter, to pull up the
cervix and to increase the downward pressure at the top of the
uterus. At the peak of the contraction, the muscle fibres are at
their shortest.... and then they relax and the contraction dies
away. However, with each contraction the muscles stay a bit shorter
than they were. This leaves the cervix slightly more open than it
was and the baby is a little more further down.
Q: Are contractions painful?
A: Yes, they are for most women. They feel like a
gradual tightening over your stomach - if you've ever had a period
pain (which are also contractions of the uterus), it's a bit like
that. Some women feel them in their back, or their thighs.
