Labor day…
Every pregnancy and labor is unique and there’s no way to predict exactly when your labor will start – your due date is really just a guideline. But there are some clues that may suggest things are happening at last! Supernanny midwife Verona Hall explains all…
Although hormones are thought to play a part in kickstarting labor, it’s not clear what really triggers the process. But it’s likely to happen between 37 and 41+ weeks, with anything prior to this considered to be pre-term labor. Look out for these signs…
1 Lightening
This is the time when your baby settles deep in your pelvis, engaging lower into her position for birth. For first-time expectant moms, this can happen a few weeks before birth – usually from 36 weeks on. For second-timers it may take place days or even a few hours before labor begins.
2 A show
During pregnancy a plug of mucus seals the cervix and stops bacteria from entering. This plug comes away prior to labor – you may pass it in a blob into the toilet or your underwear. It may be brownish-pink or bloody in color and can occur as early as three weeks before labor, a day or two before, or during labor. Just to complicate matters, not everyone has a show before labor starts!
3 Rupture of the membranes
In the uterus your baby is contained within the amniotic sac, or membranes. These rupture before or during labor, though in some cases babies are born with their amniotic sac intact. Assuming you follow the norm, it can be a gush or a trickle (a trickle may not be obvious so if you get the feeling you’re leaking urine it’s as well to consult your midwife or obstetrician just in case). However, when that bag of waters goes you do need to let your midwife or obstetrician know, as there’s a risk of infection if you don’t go into labor soon afterwards.
The waters should be fairly clear, but may be pinkish or blood-stained. If they’re green or brownish green or green this is a sign that baby has opened her bowels and this can be a signal she’s distressed – if you’re in any doubt, call your midwife or obstetrician.
4 Weight loss
There can be a 2-3 pound weight loss before you go into labor – it’s believed to be the result of a shift in body fluids.
5 Nesting instinct
Most moms-to-be report a burst of energy before the baby arrives – it’s known as the nesting instinct. This doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the urge to chase those dust bunnies out of the house – it could just manifest as an urge to tidy the pantry or do some filing! If you do feel the urge to go wild try to relax and save your energy for labor.
6 A change in your baby’s activity levels
You may hear that an unborn baby’s movements lessen near to his birth. This isn’t actually right: it’s not that his movements decrease, but more that the pattern changes to squirming and shuffling rather than kicks.
7 Consistent uterine contractions
In late pregnancy you’ll probably experience Braxton Hicks contractions – these practice contractions are irregular and don’t increase in intensity or frequency. Contractions have a tendency to stop if you increase your activity or if you change position. Labor contractions that result in the birth of your baby are strong, rhythmic and become longer and stronger with a definite pattern. They can start off lasting 30 seconds, and then build up to between 60 and 90 seconds in duration. At the beginning they are felt as a pulling up sensation that results in changes to your cervix.
8 Effacement
Your cervix – the lower, narrow end of the uterus that protrudes into the vagina – softens as it's preparing for labor. This process, known as ‘ripening’ or effacement (thinning), usually begins during the last month of your pregnancy. The cervix starts off as a tube around an inch and a half long, with a consistency like the tip of your nose. As it effaces the consistency becomes more like that of your lips.
9 Dilation
As your baby's birth date approaches, your cervix begins to dilate or open up. Dilation is measured in centimeters and checked during a vaginal examination – if you’re 2cm dilated, you’re in labor although things can still progress very slowly for first-timers. If you’re fully dilated (10cm) you're ready to birth your baby!
Now comes the exciting part. You're in labor! Soon you'll be giving birth to your baby… Good luck!