Have scary thoughts of going into labour? Here’s what you need to know

Labour can be a scary thought. Learn more about this stage of pregnancy.

Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : November 2, 2015 6:55 PM IST

You are pregnant and are thrilled by the good news. You can't wait to see your little bundle of joy but before that, there is a scary phase called labour. The thought of it can be quite daunting and you may have a million questions running in your mind. Worry not, we tell you what you will go through in this last stage of your pregnancy.

What is labour?

Usually, a pregnancy lasts for about 40 weeks or 280 days. Labour is the process by which contractions of a pregnant uterus cause birth. During this process, the cervix i.e. the mouth of the uterus thins out and the cervix gradually opens which is known as dilatation.

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Different stages of labour

There are three stages of labour first, second and third. The first stage is the longest one and it involves the initiation of the dilatation from a closed cervix (0 cm) to full dilatation (10 cm). The second stage involves the delivery of the baby and can take from 20 minutes to two hours. The shortest stage, i.e. the third stage of labour is where the placenta is expelled.

Signs that you are approaching labour

Though it is impossible to know when you may go into labour, there are some signs which can help you convey it's time to go to the hospital. If you have any of the following, visit the hospital for a check-up to confirm you in labour:

Your contractions come in at regular intervals and increase in intensity with time.
Your membranes rupture water runs down your thighs without any contractions.
Your vagina starts bleeding.
You have severe, constant pain.
The baby is moving less often or not moving at all.

True and false labour

There are times when you may feel you are in labour but it may turn out to be a false alarm. Here are a few differences between true and false labour.

Why you shouldn't eat when in labour

It is best to refrain from eating any solid food during active labour. This is because, as the cervix dilates, there is a tendency to vomit. If required, take small sips of water or juice or milk. In case of a caesarean section, you may only be allowed some water as it will make giving anaesthesia less risky.

Induction and augmentation of labour

There are times when the contractions are irregular and the cervix is not dilated. In such a case, your obstetrician may decide to augment labour. The most common drug used for augmentation is the synthetic form of oxytocin hormone given through an intravenous drip. This will help in creating effective contractions which will cause the cervix to dilate and baby's head to descend into the birth canal.

Another way is amniotomy which involves manually rupturing the membranes to check the amniotic fluid and help the labour progress faster.

Induction of labour makes use of artificial means such as medications to start the process of childbirth. There are various circumstances under which labour is induced. These include:

Post-dated pregnancy when it is 7 to 10 days past the due date.
The mother has high blood pressure caused by pregnancy.
If the baby is small due to growth restriction.
The mother has diabetes and is taking insulin.

Once in labour, the three stages take place which ends in the delivery of the baby and the placenta being expelled from your body. (Read: Understanding Induced labour and Caesarean sections)

With inputs from the book 'Passport to a Healthy Pregnancy' authored by Dr Gita Arjun and published by Westland. Buy the book here.

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