When does labour start?

It’s week 38 From now on, all pains and contractions – in fact, anything happening around the middle of your body – needs to be carefully monitored, especially by the person with the big tummy Because now might be the time!

Never mind that your estimated due date is in two weeks Babies sometimes arrive two weeks early By this stage, all mothers are hoping for this, with no exceptions Of course, the baby might equally be two weeks late… But you’d rather forget this possibility when your belly feels like a lead weight, it’s impossible to find a comfortable sleeping position and you hardly remember what your feet look like

Practice contractions
But how do you know it’s really started? After all, minor pains are to be expected around this time Your tummy contracts and becomes as hard as rock at regular intervals But that’s probably only Braxton Hicks contractions

In movies, labour always starts with the waters breaking It looks dramatic, but in real life it’s usually a more gradual affair The waters dribble rather than gush But labour can also start before the waters break

Regular contractions
There’s only one sure sign that labour has started: contractions Regular contractions that become progressively more intense and frequent Sometimes they may subside, but they’ll start up again

Now you know you’re in labour!

(The labour actually started a few weeks ago, when a hormone began to soften the cervix Most women don't feel this happening, but some say that it feels like mild period pains or a slight aching in the back)

Stay home as long as you feel comfortable
This is the real thing and it's starting to hurt Now your cervix is ripening and it’s time to call your LMC
But you can stay home as long as you feel comfortable Many mums-to-be prefer staying at home, sitting in their own bath, lying on their own bed and drinking from their own mug Others feel safer going into hospital as soon as they can

Contractions every three minutes
When the contractions are happening regularly at the rate of about three every 10 minutes and you no longer want to sit around at home, your LMC will probably advice you to head to the hospital

You're anxious you may not get there in time… But don’t worry – this very rarely happens

Good luck!