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Breaking your watersīreaking the membrane that contains the fluid around your baby (your waters) is often enough to make contractions stronger and more regular. If this is the case, your doctor or midwife may talk to you about 2 ways to speed up your labour: breaking your waters or an oxytocin drip. This can happen if your contractions are not coming often enough, are not strong enough, or if your baby is in an awkward position. Labour can sometimes be slower than expected. If you have electronic monitoring with pads on your bump because there are concerns about your baby's heartbeat, you can take the monitor off if your baby's heartbeat is shown to be normal.Ī foetal scalp electrode will usually only be removed just as your baby is born, not before. Having electronic monitoring can sometimes restrict how much you can move around. You can ask to be monitored electronically even if there are no concerns. This can give a more accurate measurement of your baby's heartbeat. Sometimes a heart monitor called a foetal scalp electrode can be attached to the baby's head instead. These pads are attached to a monitor that shows your baby's heartbeat and your contractions

One pad is used to monitor your contractions and the other is used to monitor your baby's heartbeat. Your midwife may suggest electronic monitoring if there are any concerns about you or your baby, or if you choose to have an epidural.Įlectronic monitoring involves strapping 2 pads to your bump.

SET TIMER TO 1 HOUR 20 MINUTES FREE

You'll be free to move around as much as you want. This will include using a small handheld device to listen to your baby's heart every 15 minutes. Your midwife will monitor you and your baby during labour to make sure you're both coping well. When you reach the end of the 1st stage of labour, you may feel an urge to push. It's often quicker (around 5 to 12 hours), in a 2nd or 3rd pregnancy. In a 1st pregnancy, the time from the start of established labour to being fully dilated is usually 8 to 18 hours. This is what's called being fully dilated. Your cervix needs to open about 10cm for your baby to pass through it. If you do not want to have these, you do not have to – your midwife can discuss with you why she's offering them. Your midwife will offer you regular vaginal examinations to see how your labour is progressing. You can either walk around or get into a position that feels comfortable to labour in. Once labour is established, your midwife will check on you from time to time to see how you're progressing and offer you support, including pain relief if you need it. If you go into hospital before your labour has become established, they may suggest you go home again for a while.

your contractions are very strong and you feel you need pain relief.

your contractions are regular (every 5 minutes or more often).

Established labour (1st stage of labour)Įstablished labour is where your cervix has dilated to about 4cm and your contractions are stronger and more regular. This helps your baby move down into your pelvis and helps your cervix to dilate.īreathing exercises, massage and having a warm bath or shower may help ease pain during this early stage of labour.

If your labour starts during the day, stay upright and gently active. If your labour starts at night, try to stay comfortable and relaxed. There’s no set pattern to how many contractions you get or how long they last.ĭuring the latent stage, it's a good idea to have something to eat and drink because you'll need energy for when labour is established. It's usually the longest stage of labour.Īt this stage, your contractions may range from being slightly uncomfortable to more painful. You may begin to feel irregular contractions, but it can take many hours, or even days, before you're in established labour. The latent stage of labour is where your cervix starts to soften and open (dilate) so your baby can be born.

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