Show how long before labour

Labour is the process by which your baby is born. It usually starts by itself between 38 and 42 weeks. It ends up with you actively helping your baby to be born.

Normal labour will usually begin with occasional contractions tightening of the womb. These will happen more often and last for longer as your labour continues. Your waters may release naturally and the neck of your womb cervix will open dilate to allow your baby to be born. For your first baby, this can take up to 18 hours. You'll be offered an induction if you do not because, without amniotic fluid, there's an increased risk of infection for your baby.

Until your induction, or if you choose to wait for labour to start naturally, tell your midwife immediately if:. You should take your temperature every 4 hours when you're awake, and tell your midwife if it's raised. A raised temperature is usually above There's no evidence that having a bath or shower after your waters have broken increases your risk of infection, but having sex might.

Find out what happens during labour and birth , and what you can do for pain relief in the early stages of labour. For information and advice you can trust, sign up for weekly Start4Life pregnancy and baby emails.

You can find pregnancy and baby apps and tools in the NHS apps library. Page last reviewed: 30 November Next review due: 30 November Signs that labour has begun. Know the signs There are several signs that labour might be starting, including: contractions or tightenings a "show", when the plug of mucus from your cervix entrance to your womb, or uterus comes away backache an urge to go to the toilet, which is caused by your baby's head pressing on your bowel your waters breaking The early latent stage of labour can take some time.

Urgent advice: Call your midwife or maternity unit if:. Important: Coronavirus COVID update If you're well, it's really important you go to all your appointments and scans for the health of you and your baby.

Video: How will I know I am in labour? Once labour is established, the midwife will check you from time to time to see how you are progressing. In a first labour, the time from the start of established labour to full dilation is usually between 6 and 12 hours about 8 hours on average.

It is often quicker for subsequent pregnancies. Your midwife will tell you to try not to push until your cervix is fully open and the baby's head can be seen. To help you get over the urge to push, try blowing out slowly and gently or, if the urge is too strong, in little puffs. Some people find this easier lying on their side, or on their knees and elbows, to reduce the pressure of the baby's head on the cervix.

Your baby's heart rate will be monitored throughout labour. Your midwife will watch for any marked change in the rate, which could be a sign that the baby is distressed and that something needs to be done. Read more on how your baby's heart will be monitored during labour. Your labour may be slower than expected if your contractions are not frequent or strong enough or because your baby is in an awkward position. If this is the case, your doctor or midwife will explain why they think labour should be sped up and may recommend the following techniques to get things moving:.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Information to help you make an informed choice for you and your baby about using water during the first stage of your labour or having a waterbirth.

Read more on WA Health website. Induced labour is a medical treatment to start labour. It may be recommended if your baby needs to be born before labour is due to start naturally. Your doctor may need to intervene to help you have your baby. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Find out why here. Every woman experiences pain in a different way. The way you experience pain depends on your emotional, psychological, social, motivational and cultural circumstances.

Every woman responds and copes differently with the pain of labour and childbirth. Every labour and birth is unique and unpredictable, making it difficult to plan. It is common for women to feel some level of anxiety during pregnancy; perhaps about their changing body, the health of their baby or concerns about the birth. Choosing your own positions for labour and giving birth can help you feel in control, reduce pain and open your pelvis to help the baby come out.

Find out more. You're unlikely to mistake the signs of labour when the time comes, but if you're in any doubt don't hesitate to contact your midwife. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby is not responsible for the content and advertising on the external website you are now entering. Home Pregnancy Labour and birth Giving birth. The BabyCentre editorial team Our panel of health writers.

The cervical mucus plug: structured review of the literature. Identification of latent phase factors associated with active labour duration in low-risk nulliparous women with spontaneous contractions. Does the way that women experience the onset of labour influence the duration of labour? Association between women's self-diagnosis of labor and labor duration after admission.

Physiology and care during the first stage of labour. Myles textbook for midwives. Signs that labour has begun. The labor progress handbook: early interventions to prevent and treat dystocia. Chichester: Wiley Blackwell.

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