One of the biggest questions pregnant women have is, Am I in labour? The early signs of labour can
be confusing as they can be mistaken for other things and some sign only mean that labour is close not imminent, and as with
everything in pregnancy everyone is different and even each labour can be different. With a first baby, from the first signs
of labour until the baby is born can quite easily be a full 24 hours or more. This is because labour tends to start gradually
allowing your baby time to adjust to what is happening. If you have already experienced labour the womb seems to work differently.
The process of labour may still begin gradually but you will usually deliver your baby much more quickly.
Here are some of the top signs that labour is either coming soon or has started
Early signs of labour:
A bloody show - This is the mucous plug that sits in the
neck of the womb. As the neck of the womb begins to open this mucus plug may is released. The mucus may be clear, slightly
brown or pink, it may contain streaks of blood. This is normal, however if there is a lot of blood or if there is bleeding
without mucous or if your baby has not been moving please contact a midwife straight away. Otherwise just wait and see, a
bloody show can actually happen up to a few weeks before you go into labour or just before so it may or may not be a sign
that labour is here but it does indicate that it is no more than a week or so away.
Loose stools - Loose stools are caused by the release of
prostaglandins in the early stages which cause cervical effacement, softening, etc. Prostaglandins also can cause soft stools
or diarrhoea. This usually indicates that labour is only a few days or hours away.
Back ache - A back ache that seems to come and go may be
a sign of labour. Usually this is really contractions that you're feeling in your back. If your back ache becomes constant
or changes, you may be experiencing back labour, usually caused by the position of your baby, talk to a midwife. You may experience
this ache for some time before labour or days or hours.
Waters breaking - Your waters are the amniotic fluid that
surrounds your baby. They can break before you go into labour or during the labour process. When they do break you will be
aware of leaking fluid all at once, as if you have wee’d yourself or you may just keep leaking small amounts. Some women
say that they feel a popping sensation when the waters break. Most women go into labour when their waters break after 37 weeks,
but it can take a day or two. You will need to contact your midwife or maternity ward to let them know what has happened.
If you do not go into labour yourself then your labour may be induced because once the waters have broken there is a small
risk of infection to your baby.
