Signs and symptoms of labor and delivery

Hospital phone numbers: Keep a list of important numbers in your handbag or near your phone. There is always enough time for you to write them down before labor starts.

You need to include the following:

• Your hospital and midwife’s phone numbers.

• Your partner and birth partner’s phone numbers.

• Your own hospital reference number (it will be on your card or notes). You will be asked for this when you phone in.

• A local taxi number, just in case you need it.

If labor starts early (Labor can start as early as 24 weeks), call your midwife or hospital immediately.

Labor signs   

You are unlikely to mistake the signs of labor when the time really comes, but if you are in any doubt, don’t hesitate to contact your midwife.

Labor Regular contractions

During a contraction, your uterus gets tight and then relaxes. You may have had these throughout your pregnancy – particularly towards the end. Before labor, these are called Braxton Hicks contractions. When you are having regular contractions that last more than 30 seconds and begin to feel stronger, labor may have started. Your contractions will become longer, stronger and more frequent.

All the labor signs except contractions  

• Labor back pain

or the aching, heavy feeling that some women get with their monthly period.

• Labor mucus plug loss.  

The plug of mucus in the cervix, which has helped to seal the uterus during pregnancy, comes away and comes out of the vagina. This small amount of sticky pink mucus is called the ‘show’. It usually comes away before or in early labor. There should only be a little blood mixed in with the mucus. If you are losing more blood, it may be a sign that something is wrong, so phone your hospital or midwife straight away.

• Labor waters breaking.

The bag of water surrounding your baby may break before labor starts. To prepare for this, you could keep a sanitary towel (not a tampon) handy if you are going out, and put a plastic sheet on your bed. If your waters break before labor starts, you will notice either a slow trickle from vagina or a sudden gush of water that you cannot control. Phone your midwife when this happens.

• Nausea and vomiting in early labor.

• Diarrhea is assign of labor.