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At a glance.

 First stage - your cervix is preparing for birth through contractions Second stage - your baby makes their entrance into the world Third stage - the delivery of the placenta          The first stage of labour The first stage of labour consists of early labour, active labour and the transitional stage.

 Early labour is where your cervix begins to prepare for giving birth by thinning out and shortening. It will also shift position so that it’s pointing more towards your front, moving from a position which was slightly towards your back.

The early stage of labour has three phases: Latent During this stage your contractions might be as much as 20 minutes apart as your cervix is beginning to open and widen to around 3cm. Your contractions at this stage may not be very noticeable, feeling like mild cramps or menstrual pains. It’s likely you’ll be able to talk through them without too much discomfort and may even find you can continue with your normal routine for now. It’s advised to stay at home during this phase until the contractions become stronger.

Active Stage  At this stage of labour you’re contractions will begin to be more powerful and more frequent. Your cervix is continuing to open from around 3cm to fully dilated at 10cm. Your contractions will now be a lot more often, close to every three to four minutes and they will last anywhere from 60 to 90 seconds. As you advance through the active stage of labour and your cervix continues to dilate, your contractions will become stronger. You’ll find that you probably won’t be able to talk through each one; instead you’ll need to focus on breathing and trying relaxation techniques to help control your breathing. You may lose your appetite and start to feel sick during the active stage of labour as your body prepares itself for the delivery of your baby by clearing out your digestive system.

Transitional Stage This stage occurs when your cervix is about 8cm dilated and it’s also when you may have the first urge to start pushing. You may feel shaky, cold or even sick and will perhaps feel like you can't carry on! But you can – because at this point, the end is well and truly in sight and you’ll soon be holding your baby in your arms. Your contractions may be less frequent now, but they will also be a lot stronger and longer lasting each time. It may be at this point that you require pain relief to help you through.

The second stage of labour The second stage of labour is when your baby makes their entrance into the world. You’ll be 'fully dilated', in other words, your cervix would have completely opened and you will be ready to push your baby out. Your midwives will help you find the most comfortable position to deliver in this could be sitting, kneeling, or leaning over a birthing ball. This stage can last anywhere between a few minutes to a couple of hours but if you’ve had a baby before it’s likely to take less time. With each contraction you’ll feel the baby’s head lower down in your pelvis and likely feel the urge to bear down and push. Each time you have a contraction and push, your baby will move slightly further down your pelvis, and you’ll be one step closer to them! Towards the end, as your baby's head is emerging, your midwife will encourage you to pant rather than push. Once your baby's head is out, the rest of the body will follow with the next contraction. You've done it!

Mucus plug

From early pregnancy – at around seven weeks - a plug of mucus seals your cervix to help prevent infection.

Just before labour starts or in the early stages it can come away. Its simply a sign that your cervix is starting to open and labour may follow within a few hours/days. First time mums could find that labour may not start for another week or so after you lose the mucus plug,  if you’ve had a baby before it may mean that active labour is only a few hours away. 

 Not everyone notices losing their mucus plug but if this does happen it just means that everything’s moving in the right direction.  And if it doesn’t, don’t worry its one sign that labour is starting but not the only one, as your waters can break or you may just begin to experience lower back pain similar to period pains.

Remember that active labour is defined as when you experiencing regular contractions or your waters have broken. Not when you’re losing your mucus plug.

 What does a show (Mucus plug) look like?

The plug may come out as blob-like lump, or in several pieces or as increased vaginal discharge over a few days. It’s normal for the stretchy, sticky, jelly-like mucus to be thick, clear or cloudy and sometimes it may be pink or tinged with brown or red blood, which is also known as a bloody show, or just a “show”.

What do I need to do about it?

The first signs of actual labour can differ from woman to woman below are some of the more common signs of labour you may experience:

A 'show' will be a pink and jelly like, it might come away as one blob, or in several pieces. It is perfectly normal to lose a little bloody mucus along with it although if you are bleeding more than this, contact your midwife straight away.

Waters break – This may come in the form of a trickle or a gush of amniotic fluid. You should call your midwife and let her know when this happens.

Lower back pain – You may experience lower back pains similar to a pre-menstrual cramp

The main signs, are considered to be strong, regular contractions along with a 'show'. If you’re experience these signs of labour, you’re very likely past the early stages and into active labour.

When your waters break

If your waters break before your labour starts, phone your midwife for advice as there can be a risk of infection once the water surrounding your baby has gone.  Some women feel the 'pop' as their waters break, and you might experience their loss either as a full on gush or just a little trickle. Either way, it is a sure sign that your baby is on their way.

Contractions

Window to the Womb Nottingham.

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