258 Where There Is No Doctor 2011
SIGNS THAT SHOW LABOR IS NEAR
• A few days before labor begins, usually the baby moves lower in the womb.
This lets the mother breathe more easily, but she may need to urinate more often
because of pressure on the bladder. (In the first birth these signs can appear up to
4 weeks before delivery.)
• A short time before the labor begins, some thick mucus (jelly) may come out.
Or some mucus may come out for 2 or 3 days before labor begins. Sometimes it is
tinted with blood. This is normal.
• The contractions (sudden tightening of the womb) or labor pains may start
up to several days before childbirth at first a long time usually passes between
contractions—several minutes or even hours. When the contractions become
stronger, regular, and more frequent, labor is beginning.
• Some women have a few practice contractions weeks before labor. This is
normal. On rare occasions, a woman may have false labor. This happens when the
contractions are coming strong and close together, but then stop for hours or days
before childbirth actually begins. Sometimes walking, a warm bath, or resting will
help calm the contractions if they are false, or bring on childbirth if they are real.
Even if it is false labor, the contractions help to prepare the womb for labor.
Labor pains are caused by contractions or tightening of the womb.
Between contractions the womb is relaxed like this:
During contractions, the womb tightens and lifts up like this:
The contractions push the baby down farther. This causes the cervix or
‘door of the womb’ to open—a little more each time.
• The bag of water that holds the baby in the womb usually breaks with a flood of liquid
sometime after labor has begun. If the waters break before the contractions start, this
usually means the beginning of labor. After the waters break, the mother should keep
very clean. Walking back and forth may help bring on labor more quickly. To prevent
infection, avoid sexual intercourse, do not sit in a bath of water, and do not douche or
put anything in the vagina. If labor does not start within 12 hours, seek medical help.