Short answer
Signs of labour include regular contractions that become stronger and closer together, a “show” (pink, jelly-like mucus), backache and your waters breaking. Come to hospital when contractions are regular, about every 5 minutes, or straight away if your waters break, you bleed, your baby moves less, or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.
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- Dhruva Hospitals, Kadapa
Signs that labour is starting
- Contractions or tightenings that come regularly and grow longer, stronger and closer together
- A “show”: the plug of pink, jelly-like mucus from the cervix comes away
- Backache or a heavy, aching feeling
- An urge to open your bowels, as the baby’s head presses down
- Your waters breaking, as a slow trickle or a sudden gush of fluid
Real labour or practice contractions?
Practice contractions (Braxton Hicks) are tightenings in the last weeks that are usually painless, short and irregular, and do not build up. Real labour contractions keep coming, last longer, get stronger and come closer together.
Come to hospital straight away if
- Your waters break, especially if the fluid is green, brown, bloodstained or smelly
- You have bleeding from the vagina
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think labour has started
- A contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes, or you have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes
- You feel a strong urge to push
Do not wait until morning. Call +91 90368 52311 or come to the hospital at any hour. For an ambulance, call +91 81421 88108.
Hospital bag checklist: for the mother
- Pregnancy file, all scan and blood reports, and Aadhaar or another ID
- Loose, comfortable clothes, and nightwear that opens at the front for breastfeeding
- Two packs of maternity or sanitary pads and several pairs of underwear
- Nursing bras and breast pads
- Toothbrush, paste, soap, comb, towel and slippers
- Your regular medicines
- Phone and charger, a water bottle and light snacks
Hospital bag checklist: for the baby
- Soft cotton vests or bodysuits, and an outfit for going home
- A cap, mittens and socks
- Nappies, and cotton or baby wipes
- Soft cotton cloths and a blanket or shawl
Plan ahead
Pack your bag at least 3 weeks before your due date. Only about 1 in 20 babies arrives on the due date.
Save our emergency number in your phone and plan how you will reach the hospital at night. We are at Venu Gopal House, S Reddy Hospital, 1/705-1, Beside Raithu Bazar, Dwaraka Nagar, Old, Kadapa, Andhra Pradesh 516001.
Common questions
My waters broke but I have no pains. What should I do?
Call us or come to the hospital. Wear a pad, not a tampon, so the colour of the fluid can be checked. Most women go into labour within 24 hours; if not, induction is usually offered because of the small risk of infection.
Can I eat in early labour?
In early labour you can usually drink fluids and have a light snack if you feel like it, unless your doctor has advised otherwise.
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Sources
This article is general information, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. In an emergency, call +91 90368 52311.