You've waited for it for the last nine months – with excitement, a little bit of trepidation, and no doubt a great deal of anxiety. Baby birth is a miraculous, but sometimes also a terrifying and overwhelming experience for mum. But imagine what it is like for baby?
THE THREE STAGES OF LABOUR
Labour is the physical process during which mum's uterus contracts and her cervix opens to allow the baby to enter this world.
The first stage
Early labour feelings
For many women, the very first sign of getting ready for labour is a cramping feeling - a bit like period pains. You may also feel bloated, constipated or have a bit of pain in your tummy or back. Some women can also have some diarrhoea or feel sick or nauseous.
During the early stages of labour your digestive system slows down, so it’s a good idea to only have light meals like soup, cereal or toast and drink plenty of water.
The feelings of discomfort may not feel like anything unusual at first, but if you are in labour they will gradually develop into more regular and intense pains, otherwise known as contractions.
Getting your show
A plug of mucus has been sealing off your cervix while you’ve been carrying your baby. During the early stages of labour or even before, this plug may come free and appear as a thick sticky blood-tinged discharge in your underwear or in the toilet. This is known as a ‘show’.
Not all women get a show in the early stages, so don’t worry if yours hasn’t appeared yet. Your plug will come out naturally at some stage during your labour.
Breaking waters
The ‘waters’ are actually the amniotic fluid that surrounds your baby throughout pregnancy. When your body’s getting ready to go into labour, the sac around the fluid tears and the fluid comes out of your vagina. Some women say they hear a little ‘pop’ when it happens. Some describe the release of fluid as a trickle, others as a gush.
If your waters do break in the early stages of labour the risk of infection is increased, so it’s very important to keep your vaginal area very clean. Don’t put anything into your vagina, like a tampon and don’t have sex or any hot baths.
If your waters have broken you should also contact your doctor straight away, so they can check if you are in labour.
Contractions
Contractions are a tightening and relaxing of the muscles in your tummy and back and they’ll feel stronger than the irregular ones you may have experienced during pregnancy.
If you’re in labour you’ll start to experience contractions at increasingly shorter intervals and they’ll become longer and stronger in intensity.
A typical pattern for your early phase contractions begins by lasting about 40 seconds and coming every ten minutes. By the time you’re ready to give birth; the contractions will last for more than a minute and come every 30 seconds. These timings are just a guide; they will vary from person to person.
Making the first stage more comfortable
For advice about how to have a more comfortable labour, read our tips for getting through labour or if you want to know how to keep your energy levels up read our article food & drink during labour
Baby is getting ready for birth
At this stage baby should be getting into the optimum position for birth – with head facing down, so that will be the first thing that enters this world during baby's birth. Some babies don't get into this position and need help from the doctor. If that doesn't work, then possibly a caesarean section may be advised.
The second stage
The second stage of labour begins when mum's cervix has dilated to ten centimetres. And it ends with the birth of your baby!
Ever wonder how a 8 or 9 pound baby ends up going through the birth canal? Don't worry, you're in good company! Most mums find this the most baffling part of baby's birth. That's why your baby has a very soft skull, which is able to squeeze through the vaginal passage. Sometimes that means baby's head is a little oddly shaped in the first few hours after baby's birth – but within a few days everything goes back to normal.
Breathe and relax
During labour, as the contractions become more frequent, it starts to feel a little bit tighter in the womb for baby. Make sure you keep doing your deep breathing exercises, and try not to panic. Focus on the little bundle of joy that is hopefully just hours away, as you prepare for your baby's birth.
Pushing your baby out
Your body will tell you when to push – in fact the urge will probably be overwhelming and pretty difficult to resist!
Once your baby’s head comes through the opening of your vagina the doctor will probably ask you to stop pushing and to pant instead. It’s a delicate stage and being gentle is important as it helps reduce the risk of tearing. You’ll gently push your baby out on the next contraction.
At last your baby will be born and once they’ve been checked you’ll be able to say hello to one another. Congratulations!
The third stage
It might seem a bit odd that you’ve still got another stage of labour to go after your baby has been born! That’s because there’s still a little bit of work left to do - delivering the placenta. Don’t worry, your doctor will stay with you and guide you through it.
Delivering the placenta
Your doctor will offer you an injection to help with the delivery of the placenta. If you choose to have the injection, delivery will probably take about 5 –15 minutes. But if you decide to deliver naturally it could take up to an hour.
You’ll find that the contractions will start again but they won’t be nearly as intense as during second stage labour. You’ll gently push the placenta down and out of your vagina.
Once delivered, the placenta will be checked over, and your doctor will also feel your tummy to check that your uterus has started to contract now the placenta has gone.
Breastfeeding straight after birth
After 9 months inside a safe, warm and dark environment – it's likely that baby may be feeling slightly overwhelmed by the unfamiliar, cold and bright world outside. The only things that seem familiar are you and dad. So cuddle her up in a warm blanket, bring her to your breast, and let her smell you and see you and dad. It's not clear how much newborns can see or hear in the first few weeks after birth – but what they can feel and sense is your love.
If you asked for skin-to-skin contact after birth, your doctor will encourage you to try to breastfeed straight away. This will help your baby to feel immediately bonded to you.