Thea Clayhill
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Learn about the different pain relief options available to you during labour, such as gas and air, pethidine, epidural and spinal anaesthesia. Find out more about caesarean birth, translated information and latest updates from the Obstetric Anaesthetists' Association.
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Learn how to recognise the signs that labour has begun, such as contractions, backache, show, waters breaking and more. Find out when to call your midwife or maternity unit and how to cope with labour.
Learn how to recognise the signs of labour, such as contractions, the show, waters breaking and back pain. Find out when to call your midwife or maternity unit and get tips for early labour.
- Strong, Frequent Contractions
- Bloody Show
- Belly and Lower Back Pain
- Water Breaking
- Baby Drops
- Cervix Begins to Dilate
- Cramps and Increased Back Pain
- Loose-Feeling Joints
- Diarrhea
- Weight Gain Stops
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You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions (rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by assessing the pain’s frequency, intensity and location. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions: 1. Are the contractions evenly spaced? True labor contractions are spaced at regular intervals and become more frequent as time goe...
You may notice the loss of your mucus plug— the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world. It can come out in one large piece (it looks similar to the mucus in your nose) or lots of little ones, though you may not get a glimpse of it at all (and some women don't lose it before delivery). In the last days before labor, you'll likely see in...
You may feel like you’re having strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset or lower abdominal pressure. You could also have pain in your lower back that radiates down into the legs. This pain won’t go away if you change positions.
While movies would have you think you’ll learn you’re in labor only when your water breaks(in the middle of a romantic dinner date at a busy restaurant, of course), that’s a very unlikely scenario. For most women, membranes rupture and amniotic fluid leaks after other labor symptoms have already begun. And you won’t necessarily lose it all in one b...
If you’re a first-time mom, expect your baby to drop, or descend into your pelvis, a few weeks before labor begins (usually around two to four weeks before, but it can vary). In subsequent births, this “lightening” doesn't often happen until you’re truly in labor. Your baby is getting into position to make his exit, ideally with the head down and l...
Your cervix, too, is preparing for birth: It starts to dilate (open) and efface (thin out) in the days or weeks before you deliver. At your weekly check-ups in the home stretch of your pregnancy, your provider may measure and track dilation and effacementvia an internal exam. But everyone progresses differently, so don’t be discouraged if you’re di...
You may feel some cramping and pain in your lower back and groin as labor nears, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. Your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for birth.
Throughout your pregnancy, the pregnancy hormone relaxin has made your ligaments loosen up a little (it’s also responsible for your potential bouts of clumsinessthis past trimester). Before you go into labor, you may notice that the joints all over your body feel a bit less tight and more relaxed. It’s just nature’s way of opening up your pelvis fo...
Just as the muscles in your uterus are relaxing in preparation for birth, so too are other muscles in your body — including those in the rectum. And that can lead to prelabor diarrhea (as if the ongoing pregnancy diarrheayou may have experienced wasn’t bad enough!). Though annoying, it's completely normal. Just be sure to stay hydrated and remember...
Pregnancy weight gainoften levels off at the very end. Some moms-to-be even lose a couple of pounds. This is normal and won’t affect your baby’s birth weight. He’s still gaining, but you’re dropping due to lower levels of amniotic fluid, more bathroom breaks and maybe even increased activity.
Learn how to recognize the signs of labor, from early contractions and bloody show to water breaking and active labor. Find out what to do if you think you're in labor and when to call your doctor.
Jul 20, 2023 · Learn what labor pain feels like, how it changes throughout the stages of labor, and how to cope with it. Find out about pain management options, such as medications, natural methods, and support systems.
Labor Pains is a 2009 American romantic comedy film directed by Lara Shapiro and written by Stacy Kramer. It stars Lindsay Lohan, Luke Kirby, Bridgit Mendler, Chris Parnell, Cheryl Hines, and Kevin Covais.
Learn about the different options to relieve pain during labour, such as gas and air, pethidine, epidural and remifentanil. Find out how they work, their side effects and when to use them.
