Braxton Hicks contractions begin in intensity during your last trimester and generally increase with intensity as you progress toward your time of birth. You will feel these contractions for very short time periods and then nothing at all for hours or days. These contractions are normal and are your body’s way to condition your uterus for delivery. Braxton Hicks can also be a sign of dehydration in the mother, drinking two glasses of water and laying down on your left side should stop or slow the Braxton Hicks if they are being caused from dehydration or if this is false labour. 

 

Most healthy babies are born about 10 days after an estimated due date. It is very hard not to be disappointed if the baby does not arrive on the due date. Babies are born in a range of time and due dates are not targets to hit. The more “womb time” your baby has the healthier your baby will be. Waiting for labour to begin automatically will always give you a better result than attempting to force birth or terminating a pregnancy by induction drugs.

 

As you become closer to the birth you may lose some or all of your mucous plug, you will have more discharge, your water may leak or gush, you may feel your baby’s head drop lower in your pelvis. As your baby drops you will also feel the pressure to urinate more frequently and may feel a dull backache as your body adjusts to the new positioning of your baby. You will begin to feel impatient and excited about your baby’s impending arrival. You will also feel ready to have the baby right now. This is part of nesting to help you look forward to labour. None of these signs mean that your labour has actually started, just that your body is preparing for birth, which can take weeks. Keep in close contact with your health team during this period. Always telephone your doctor or midwife if you have any health changes during pregnancy. 

 

True labour pains are constant and rhythmic, even during early labour, occurring every fifteen to twenty minutes. After a few hours, the contractions occur about every five minutes. False labor occurs when the painful contractions diminish in intensity after a few hours and labour does not progress. The best way to tell the difference between true and false labour is to drink two glasses of water and sit down or lay down on your left side. The contractions will subside if this is false labour or the beginning of premature birth.

 

A first-time mother can labour for hours or days before going into delivery and moving too quickly to the hospital can frustrate everyone. This is where your professional labour support person can be an invaluable asset to you as she will come to your home when your labour contractions begin and she can time your correct departure to the hospital or birth clinic if you will be leaving your home. 

 

Most hospitals will send you back home if you are not experiencing contractions every five minutes and they usually need to be so strong that you cannot speak when you are having a contraction. Being sent back home is very disappointing if you have gone in too early.  Always telephone the hospital before you go in to avoid this frustrating situation.

 

To reduce pain in early labour drink plenty of fluids and eat high protein snacks to keep your strength up, remain active, change your position every twenty minutes, walk, climb stairs, rock on your hands and knees. It is activity, gravity and motion that helps the baby move into optimal positioning during labor making delivery more efficient and effective. 

 

Today's hospitals are very crowded and this is why so many hospitals have started this late entry policy. If the hospital is sending you back home again do not take anything for pain before you leave the hospital as this can stall or stop your labour. This is a good time to use all those natural methods for pain relief like drinking plenty of water, eating protein based snacks and staying active and upright as much as possible during beginning labour. Maintain telephone contact with your doctor, midwife, hospital or doula at this time.

 

-- Gail J. Dahl
 

   an excerpt from “Pregnancy & Childbirth Secrets”