What is labour?

• First stage labour is defined as regular coordinated contractions that cause your cervix to dilate. The onset of labour is when your contractions cause this to happen. There may be increased uterine activity in the days or even weeks before true labour starts. This can cause confusion in knowing the time of the onset of actual labour.
• Second stage labour starts when your cervix is fully dilated (10cm). This is the time you are encouraged to push and deliver your baby.
• Third stage labour starts after your baby is delivered and ends when your placenta is delivered.

When does labour happen?

Labour usually happens at term gestation, which between 37 and 42 weeks pregnancy. If its onset is before 37 weeks it is called pre-term labour. After 42 weeks you are post-term.

How do I know I am in labour?

• You will become aware of regular contractions of increasing frequency and severity. For most women you should call the Labour Ward  / Birth Unit midwife when aware and she will usually advise you to come to the hospital when the contractions are 5 - 10 minutes apart. Also contact your husband / partner to come home and start organising care for children you have. Some woman want to stay home longer as there are no risk factors that mean they should attend the hospital at this stage and they are coping. That's ok!  Just don't get caught out where you go from "I am coping" to "I want to push" and you are still at home!
• Labour can be heralded by a show (mucus streaked with blood from the vagina), though this sometimes may occur days before labour starts. If blood loss is more that this phone the hospital immediately.
• Sometimes there is spontaneous rupture of the membranes before the onset of labour, though usually this happens the other way round. It this happens contact the hospital.

What happens at the hospital?

You will have an internal examination by the midwife assigned to you when you arrive in labour in Labour Ward / the Birth Unit unless this is contraindicated for some reason (eg low placenta or preterm labour). There will periodic internal examinations in labour to assess your progress. With these examinations you will be checked for how dilated your cervix is, how thick your cervix is, how low your baby's head is in the pelvis and as you progress the way your baby's head is turned. Your progress in labour is recorded on a labour ward chart in your notes called a partogram. There is an accepted normal rate of progress in labour. It should be at least 1cm/hour first labour and 1.5 cm/hour subsequent labours. Your well being and your baby's well being will also be monitored by he midwife.

If your progress is suboptimal the reasons will be considered. Often rupturing of your membranes (if this hasn't happened) and possibly also a Syntocinon intravenous infusion will be suggested to accelerate labour. If despite these measures there still suboptimal or sometimes even no progress in labour then a Caesarean section will be considered because it is likely your baby is too big for your birth canal. This is called an obstructed labour or cephalo-pelvic disproportion. 

When you are in second stage labour the midwife will encourage you to start to push your baby out. The timing of the onset of pushing in second stage will vary. If all goes well you will be able to push your baby out. You will have had a normal or spontaneous vaginal delivery. If there is lack of progress in second stage labour despite your best maternal effort and optimal contractions you may need an operative vaginal delivery. This will usually be with vacuum device. I am also highly skilled with the use of forceps and in some circumstances forceps may be the more suitable option. I have noticed most obstetricians starting out now have little or no experience in forceps and so do not have the  same skill  set and confidence with operative vaginal deliveries. Occasionally a Caesarean section is needed despite being in second stage labour. This is because is clear that an operative vaginal delivery has too much risk for your baby. 

From delivery on the baby until after the placenta is delivered is called third stage labour. This is usually quite quick. The placenta separates from the uterine wall and is delivered by controlled cord traction. Occasionally it doesn't separate and so is retained and a manual removal is done with suitable anaesthesia.