PARENTHOOD.IE

Labour for every woman is different and for every pregnancy it is different. Most women dread the thoughts of labour but usually by their due date, it’s a case of ‘bring it on’.

Labour can begin anytime between 38 weeks and 42 weeks. The due date is an estimation so plus or minus 14 days is considered term. When that special date has arrived and not a pain in sight mums to be can feel very disappointed.

Most people will tell you that you will just know when you are in labour, which is not much help when you haven’t done it before. Usually on the day that you labour, you have a feeling that today could be the day. Some women complain of feeling nausea, sometimes can even have diarrhoea. This is the baby’s head pushing on the back passage, clearing it out for the birth.

When the head drops

For a first time mum, the baby’s head normally “engages” in the pelvis. The other word would be “baby drops” or an old fashioned word is “lightening”. For the second and subsequent pregnancies the head may not engage until labour begins and the mum to be has to have a few strong contractions.

When the head drops into the pelvis, you may feel ‘lighter’. The baby’s body is no longer pushing into the rib cage so it is easier to breathe and heartburn is alleviated. The down side to baby engaging in the pelvis is that more pressure is put on the bladder, so the trips to the loo become more frequent.

You may have Braxton Hicks contractions, as the muscles of the uterus are also staring to practice tightening and relaxing. They are painless but can be felt as the tummy goes rock hard for a few moments. As the due date approaches the Braxton Hicks contractions become more frequent.

The three signs of labour:

The Show

The show is the plug of mucous that is in the cervix, which helps prevents bugs and infections getting into baby. The cervix starts to soften and shorten when labour begins and that’s why this plug of mucus is shed. The show is normally’ jelly like looking’, amber to brownish in colour or it can be pinkish and blood stained. It can be shed in one big blob or a woman can have several small shows.

Having a show does not mean you are in labour but that it can begin in 24-48 hours. This will give you a chance to pack the hospital bag or have minders alerted for other children.

Contractions

Contractions begin for every woman in different ways. Some women get back pain, others pains in their thighs or tummy pains, similar to period pain.

Contractions can start off been irregular and short lasting. They can be relieved by walking around or changing position, but as the pains gradually get stronger it will not give relief. Contractions will settle into a pattern and there will be no pain between them. Partners can help by timing the contractions and this gives great encouragement. If the contractions stop, try and get some rest and don’t worry.

As the contractions get stronger and more frequent, they also last longer. Always remember that the contractions even at the height of labour will last 60 seconds, but going through it, it does feel like it’s lasting much more.
A rule of thumb is to wait leaving for the hospital, depending on where you live, until the contractions are every 10 minutes, lasting 50 seconds and very painful.

Waters Breaking

From all the TV shows it would appear that the ‘waters’ breaking is a common occurrence. In fact it only happens in 15% of cases. The waters can break as a ‘gush’ or as a trickle, in either event it is extremely important to inform you hospital. If you have a history of a rapid labour, make your way to the hospital.

If the waters go in a gush it means the bag of water in front of the baby’s head have punctured. Most women will say that they felt a pop and next thing there is warm fluid running down their legs. Make sure to take note of the colour
If the waters are clear, by all means have a shower but not a bath and make you way into the hospital. If the waters are coloured, go straight to the hospital bring the pad/pants that has the coloured fluid on them.

If the waters come in a trickle it can be a hind water leak and can be confused with urine leaking especially if it is clear in colour. Empty the bladder, put on a pad and see what happens over the next hour. If you are still unsure err on the side of caution and make your way in to the hospital to be checked out. Again take note of the colour to check as above.

Remember your labour can begin as having a show, start having pains and then your waters going. For others it can
be having your pains, then the show and then your waters going.

If you are worried, call the hospital. The midwife will be able to advise you. The labour wards are open 24 hours a day and seven days a week.