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Preparing for labour
Although the labour process can start at any stage during your pregnancy, in most cases it does not start until the 37th week at the earliest – three weeks before the due date.
Forward planning
As your delivery date approaches, it’s very important to be prepared for labour as it can happen at any time. Make sure you know how you will get to the hospital, and have a bag packed with everything you will need (as you won’t know how long the labour process will be).
Here are some things you may want to take with you:
- dressing gown
- one or two nightshirts to wear during and after delivery (if you have anything that opens at the front this could be handy for breastfeeding)
- socks and slippers
- music, books and magazines in case you have a long labour
- toiletries
- a camera if you want to record the birth
- water spray to cool you down
- something to eat and drink (some hospitals may not have vending machines)
- a watch or a stopwatch so you can time your contractions
- lip balm
It is likely the hospital will be able to provide some or all of these, but you will probably feel more comfortable taking your own things. This is not necessarily a complete list, so have a think about anything else you might need.
How will you know you're in labour?
When you go into labour, one or more of the following things will happen (the labour process is different for everyone):
- contractions start occurring regularly, with increasingly shorter intervals between each one
- the contractions become increasingly longer, and stronger
- your waters will break (although this is only a sign of labour starting if it is accompanied by contractions)
- you may feel cramps, much like period pains, and pains in the lower back
- you may notice some vaginal discharge, of a brown or pink colour (this is known as ‘the show’)
If you are not sure if labour has started or not, call your doctor or midwife and they will be able to tell you.
False labour
It is possible to have contractions without actually being in labour. This is called a false labour. You are in a false labour if your cervix hasn’t dilated (your midwife or doctor will tell you if this has happened or not) and if your contractions are not getting closer together and more intense.
If you are overdue
If your pregnancy lasts more than 42 weeks, this is called a prolonged pregnancy. After 42 weeks, you may be advised by your midwife or doctor to consider having an induction, especially if you have gone 10 to 14 days over 42 weeks. This is because your baby may be harmed by staying in the womb too long.
What is induction?
Having your baby induced simply means making labour happen. The most common method of induction is called a membrane sweep. This means the ‘bag’ of membranes that surround your baby are separated from the cervix, which in turn releases a hormone which tells the brain to start the labour process. A doctor or midwife can perform a membrane sweep during a simple internal examination.
