Labour Pain Symptoms: Signs of Labour and When to Go to Hospital or Call 1122

Labour pain symptoms build in strength and rhythm. Know the signs of labour, and know exactly when to go to hospital or call 1122.

1. What Are the Signs of Labour? Early Signs of Labour

Every labour is different. Some women have a clear start, others notice small changes over several hours. The NHS lists these as the common signs that labour has begun:

• Contractions or tighteningsThe belly tightens and relaxes. In true labour they come in a pattern and build up over time.
• A “show”A plug of mucus from the cervix, usually pink from a small amount of blood. Mayo Clinic describes clear, pink or slightly bloody discharge.
• Waters breakingA slow trickle or a sudden gush of fluid. It usually happens during labour but can happen before it starts.
• Backache and an urge to use the toiletBoth can be early signs that labour is starting.

Mayo Clinic also mentions “lightening”, when the baby’s head settles deep into the pelvis. Early (latent) labour is when the cervix starts to soften and open, and it can take many hours or even days.

2. Labour Pain Symptoms: True Labour or Braxton Hicks?

Braxton Hicks are practice tightenings, often felt late in pregnancy. They can feel real, so here is how Mayo Clinic tells them apart:

• True labour contractionsAbout 2 to 5 minutes apart in labour, lasting about 60 to 90 seconds. They get stronger over time and keep going whatever you are doing.
• Braxton Hicks contractionsMay come and go without a pattern and are typically weak. They might stop when you walk, rest or change position.

3. Water Breaking Signs: What They Look Like and What to Do

When the waters break, it can feel like a slow trickle or a sudden gush you cannot control. The fluid is usually clear and pale, and it can be hard to tell apart from urine. It may be slightly bloodstained at first. MedlinePlus adds that amniotic fluid usually has no colour and smells sweeter than urine.

• Call your doctor or hospital right away, even at night. Mayo Clinic says to call even if you are not sure whether the fluid is amniotic fluid, urine or something else.
• Use a sanitary pad, not a tampon, so the colour of the fluid can be checked.
• Tell them at once if the fluid is smelly or coloured, or if you are losing blood.

Labour usually starts within 24 hours of the waters breaking. If it does not, the NHS says you will be offered induction. Waters that break before 37 weeks are more serious, and MedlinePlus says the earlier it happens, the more serious it is.

4. When to Go to Hospital for Labour

Mayo Clinic says most people with a low-risk pregnancy can stay home during early labour, and advises you to ask your doctor in advance when to leave for the hospital. Ask your doctor whether your pregnancy counts as low risk.

Call your doctor, midwife or maternity unit if:

• You have regular contractions coming every 5 minutes or more often
• You think you are in labour, or you are unsure or worried about anything
• Your waters break
• You have any vaginal bleeding
• Your baby is moving less than usual
• You think you may be in labour before 37 weeks

If you arrive before labour is properly established, the NHS says staff may suggest going home for a while. That is common and does not mean you came too early for help.

5. When to Call 1122 for Labour

If you have a doctor or hospital to call, call them first. Call 1122 when you cannot wait.

Call SIEHS 1122 right away if:

• You think the baby is coming now
• You have a strong urge to push

The NHS gives this same advice for a baby that is about to arrive. Every SIEHS ambulance ride is free.

Not sure whether it is labour, or cannot reach your doctor? You can speak to a doctor for free on Tele-Tabeeb 1123. To see how a 1122 call can end, read Hello 1122, My Wife Is in Labor, and about SIEHS ambulance teams that have delivered babies.

Labour Pain Symptoms FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

6. Early Labour at Home: What You Can Do While You Wait

Early labour pain symptoms can come and go over many hours, or even days, and the contractions follow no set pattern. Dard shuru hone par ghabrayein nahi. The NHS suggests:

• At night: try to stay comfortable and relaxed.
• During the day: stay upright and gently active.

Our own advice: note how often the contractions come and how long they last, keep your phone charged, and keep your doctor’s number and 1122 saved, so help is one call away.