Choosing your own positions for labour and giving birth can help you feel in control, reduce pain and open your pelvis to help the baby come out. Find out more. You're unlikely to mistake the signs of labour when the time comes, but if you're in any doubt don't hesitate to contact your midwife. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering.
Video call. This information is for your general information and use only and is not intended to be used as medical advice and should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any medical condition, nor should it be used for therapeutic purposes. The information is not a substitute for independent professional advice and should not be used as an alternative to professional health care.
If you have a particular medical problem, please consult a healthcare professional. For more information, please visit the links below:. You are welcome to continue browsing this site with this browser. Some features, tools or interaction may not work correctly. There is a total of 5 error s on this form, details are below. Please enter your name Please enter your email Your email is invalid.
Please check and try again Please enter recipient's email Recipient's email is invalid. Please check and try again Agree to Terms required. Thank you for sharing our content. A message has been sent to your recipient's email address with a link to the content webpage. Your name: is required Error: This is required.
Your email: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Send to: is required Error: This is required Error: Not a valid value. Regular contractions When you have a contraction, your womb uterus gets tight and then relaxes. Backache You may have either backache or the aching, heavy feeling that some women get with their monthly period.
A 'show' While you are pregnant, a plug of mucus is present in your cervix. Your waters breaking Most women's waters break during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts. Coping at the beginning of labour At the beginning of labour: You can be up and moving about if you feel like it. You can drink fluids and may find isotonic drinks some sports drinks help keep your energy levels up. You can also snack, although many women don't feel very hungry and some feel sick. As the contractions get stronger and more painful, you can try relaxation and breathing exercises — your birth partner can help by doing them with you.
Your birth partner can rub your back as it may help relieve the pain. Dilation The cervix needs to open about 10cm for a baby to pass through. Foetal heart monitoring Your baby's heart rate will be monitored throughout labour. Speeding up labour Your labour may be slower than expected if your contractions are not frequent or strong enough or because your baby is in an awkward position.
If this is the case, your doctor or midwife will explain why they think labour should be sped up and may recommend the following techniques to get things moving: Breaking your waters if this has not already happened during a vaginal examination — this is often enough to get things moving. If this doesn't work, you may be given a drip containing a synthetic version of the birth hormone oxytocin a drug called syntocin , which is fed into a vein in your arm to encourage contractions — you may want some pain relief before the drip is started.
After the drip is attached, your contractions and your baby's heartbeat will be continuously monitored with a cardiotocograph CTG. Back To Top. Giving birth - second stage of labour The second stage of labour is when you give birth to your baby.
The third stage of labour is immediately after the birth of your child. Your midwife will guide you through this stage by helping you through your contractions and encouraging you to find the best position. Translations and alternative formats of this information are available from Public Health Scotland. Ready Steady Baby! Early signs of labour. Labour may be starting if: you have a show your waters break you start to have contractions. A show A show is when the mucus plug that seals the opening of your cervix comes out of your vagina.
It's a sign your cervix is beginning to stretch and soften to get ready for labour. It can be anything from an hour to several days between the show and the start of labour. Your waters break The amniotic sac is the bag of fluid that surrounds your baby in the womb. Your contractions start Contractions are the regular tightening of your womb as it: works to open and thin out your cervix the neck of your womb push your baby down the birth canal It's a sure sign that your labour's started if they gradually come closer together and last longer.
More about contractions False alarms Sometimes women start to have contractions and then they fade away. Maybe your cervix doesn't show that the contractions have had any effect at all. In this situation it might be recommended that you go home and await labour restarting. Established labour As your labour goes on: your cervix dilates your contractions will get longer and stronger things start to move more quickly.
This is called established labour. For many women it clearly feels different from other parts of their labour. Stages of labour. Preparing your body for labour and birth. If you are having a hospital birth, you will probably be advised to stay at home at the start of labour. When you go to the hospital or maternity unit, they will check you and admit you if you are in labour. They may also suggest you go home for a while. Call your midwife if your waters break or release before labour starts.
There is an increased risk of infection for your baby. If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be going into labour, call your midwife or go to the hospital.
You'll need to be checked in case you're going into premature labour.
0コメント