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labour Here’s how to spot that...


Baby’s on the way!


When you watch the drama of pregnant women going into labour on tV, you’d probably think every woman would know when the time has come, wouldn’t you? between the ‘hilarious’ waters breaking in inappropriate places and women screaming for the Olympics, labour as portrayed on tV and in film is all about drama. but, not every labour is so obvious.


Baby ‘drops down’


Did you know that your labour actually begins a few weeks before your baby arrives? Tat’s when your baby gets ready to make his or her exit by ‘dropping down’ – head first - into your pelvis to get into position. Tis is good news for you, as it’ll give you more breathing room with baby moving away from your lungs.


Dilation


In the days leading up to the actual delivery, you’ll find that your cervix will start to get ready for the birth by dilating (opening). Your GP or midwife will track this dilation by examining you internally, but don’t worry if you’re not dilated or are dilating very


4MODERNMUM Spring 2016


slowly at this stage, as everyone progresses at different speeds.


Back pain


In the days leading up to delivery you may also find that you’re experiencing more cramping and increased back pain. Tis pain, which resembles period pain, is simply caused by your muscles and joints stretching in preparation for the birth.


Vaginal discharge


In the few days before labour you may notice an increased and/or thickened vaginal discharge on your underwear. Tis may be accompanied by the loss of your mucus plug – the ‘cork’ that effectively seals off your uterus from the outside world. Tis


plug, which is called a ‘show’, resembles a small amount of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus and can come out as one large piece or lots of little ones. Tis show is oſten a good sign that labour is imminent (though it has to be accompanied by contractions and dilation to be true labour), but not every woman experiences a show, so don’t panic if it doesn’t happen to you. (It’s also normal to lose a small amount of


blood mixed with the mucus but, if you’re losing more blood, it may be a sign that something is wrong, so telephone your hospital or midwife straight away.)


Contractions


Everyone associates contractions with labour, but what exactly is a contraction? Well, during a contraction, the muscles of >


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