Going into labour Te tīmatanga o te whakamamae
You are likely to know once labour starts, but if you are not sure talk to your midwife or doctor. Find out about the signs of labour, what you may feel as labour starts, and what happens during the 3 stages.
On this page
When labour starts
Labour and birth are different for everyone, and they are different each time too. You will learn a lot:
- from other parents
- by talking to your midwife or doctor
- going to classes about pregnancy, birth and parenting.
Due dates
Only about 1 in 20 pregnant women go into labour or have their pēpion the date they are due. Most times labour starts sometime between 1 week before the due date and 2 weeks after it. Being 'overdue' means that you are still pregnant more than 2 weeks after the due date.
You usually have time to talk to your midwife or doctor. You do not have to go to the hospital straight away when labour starts.
Signs of labour
There are many signs of labour.
- You get cramps low down in your tummy like period pain, or pain in your lower back (contractions).
- A tablespoon of blood or brown coloured, sticky mucus comes out of your vagina (a show).
- You leak fluid that you think is wee but it is from your vagina, and it smells different.
The only definite sign that you are in labour is having regular contractions.
Your midwife or doctor may talk about 'established' labour. This means that:
- the neck of your womb (the cervix) has started to open
- your cervix is 3 cm to 4 cm wide
- you are having regular, intense contractions.
If you are experiencing signs of labour before reaching week 37 of your pregnancy, contact your midwife or doctor as soon as possible. You may be able to have medication to stop or delay labour.
Stages of labour
Midwives and doctors will often refer to the 3 stages of labour.
- The first stage is when the neck of your womb (the cervix) stretches and opens to let baby out.
- The second (or pushing) stage is when baby is born.
- The third stage is when the whenua (placenta) comes out.
First stage of labour
Every labour is different. If you think you could be in labour, the first thing to do is relax and stay calm. The best place for early labour is at home. If this is your first pregnancy, the first stage of labour can last from 6 to 36 hours.
Looking after your early labour at home — Vimeoexternal link
You will feel your tummy tighten and go hard, then relax. These contractions are sometimes mild and others are sharp and painful. Your back may hurt as well. To start with, contractions often last only a short time — 20 to 40 seconds. Contractions come and go.
The contractions get longer and stronger and happen more often as labour goes on. They last up to a minute every 3 to 4 minutes.
Tips to make you more comfortable
To help you to feel more comfortable you could try:
- a heated wheat bag on your back or your tummy
- a massage
- leaning forward over large cushions
- different upright positions — this helps your baby into a good position for birth
- a warm bath or shower
- paracetamol 1000 mg (2 tablets) 4 to 6 hourly (maximum of 8 tablets in 24 hours)
- keeping lights low
- using relaxing aromatherapy oils
- listening to calming music.
You could also try:
- Sleeping and resting when you can.
- Drinking plenty of water (you may find that you are thirstier than usual). Peppermint tea can help if you feel sick (nauseous).
- Eating small, light meals containing bread, pasta, rice, cereals, fruit.
While you are pregnant there is a plug of mucus in your cervix. Just before labour starts, or in early labour, the plug comes away and you may see it pass out of your vagina.
The show may have some blood in it — this is normal.
Some women do not have a show, and sometimes the show happens a week or more before labour starts.
Your pēpi grows and develops inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it is time for your pēpi to be born, the sac breaks and the fluid drains out of your vagina. This is often called your 'waters breaking'. If the sac does not break early in labour, it happens when the cervix is fully open or just as you push your pēpi out.
The fluid may come out slowly or as a gush of fluid. Contact your midwife or doctor straight away if:
- the fluid is dirty-looking, greenish or brown
- your waters break before labour starts.
When to call your midwife or doctor
Call your midwife or doctor when you experience any of the following symptoms.
- You have signs of labour before reaching week 37 of your pregnancy.
- Your contractions are coming every 5 minutes, lasting longer than 50 seconds and have been getting stronger for at least 2 to 3 hours.
- You have severe or constant abdominal pain with a tight abdomen.
- Your water has broken and it is clear or has a tinge of pink.
- Your water has broken and it is green or brown. Call your midwife or doctor immediately — you will be advised to come into hospital.
- If there is a change in the pattern of your baby’s movements.
- You notice any vaginal bleeding — bright red vaginal bleeding is not normal.
When to go to the birthing centre or hospital
If it is your first labour you may feel unsure about when to go to the birthing centre or hospital. The best thing to do is call your midwife or doctor, or the birthing centre or hospital, for advice.
If your waters have broken you may be asked to come in to be checked.
If it is your first pēpi and you are having contractions but your waters have not broken, you may be asked to wait. Your midwife or doctor will make a plan with you about the best time to come in depending on your individual circumstances.
Second babies often arrive more quickly than the first. You may need to contact your midwife or doctor, the birthing centre or the hospital sooner.
If you are having a home birth your midwife will come to you.
Second stage of labour
As your baby’s head moves down you will begin to feel the need to push. Your midwife or doctor will encourage you to try different positions while you are pushing out your pēpi.
The skin and muscles around your vagina need to stretch so that your baby’s head can come through. Sometimes the skin tears. After your pēpi is born your midwife or doctor will check to see whether you need any stitches.
Most of the time your pēpi will be put onto you as soon as they are born. Skin-to-skin contact is the best way to:
- keep them at the right temperature
- encourage them to start breastfeeding.
Your pēpi will be checked within a couple of hours of being born to make sure that they are healthy and well.
Third stage of labour
After your pēpi is born you will feel some more contractions as the whenua comes away from the wall of your uterus (womb) and out through your vagina.
The whenua is what fed and supported your pēpi while they were growing inside you.
The cord from the whenua, which is attached to your pēpi, will be left unclamped for at least a few minutes after the birth. Giving you an injection is sometimes recommended to make the whenua come out more quickly.
Whether or not you will need this injection is something to discuss with your midwife or doctor in your birth planning.
After the birth you will be asked what you want to do with the whenua. The whenua is very special to some whānau and they choose to take it home. You could talk with your whānau before the birth and make a decision about the whenua with them. You can also include your decision about the whenua in your birth plan. Find out more about caring for the whenua.
The contractions to birth the whenua are not as strong as those you had during the first and second stages of labour.