You should continue to feel your baby move as normal for you right up to the time you go into labour and during labour. Your contractions are very strong, and you feel you need pain relief.Your contractions are regular and coming about 3 times in every 10 minutes.This will make you less aware of the pain.Ĭontact your midwife, maternity unit or labour ward if: use a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) machine, which attaches to your back with sticky pads and sends out tiny electrical impulses to block pain signals sent from your body to your brain.Gently bounce or rock on a birthing ball.Take paracetamol according to the instructions on the packet – paracetamol is safe to take in labour.Have a massage – your birth partner could help by rubbing your back.

Try any relaxation and breathing exercises you've learned.Have small, regular snacks, such as toast, biscuits or a banana (although be aware that many women don't feel very hungry and some feel, or are, sick).Sports (isotonic) drinks may also help keep your energy levels up. Rest and sleep between contractions, particularly if this labour starts at night or your feeling tiered.

The aim during the latent phase of labour is to stay as calm and comfortable as possible. This is when your cervix opens (dilates) to at least 4cm and your contractions become stronger and more regular. If you are more than 37 weeks with an uncomplicated pregnancy, you’ll probably be advised to stay at home until your labour is ‘established’'. It’s a good idea to contact your midwife at this point so they can assess you. The latent phase tends to be longer in a first pregnancy. It can take hours or, for some women, days. It’s normal to lose a small amount of blood with the mucus and you may notice this as fresh red or brown but contact your hospital or midwife straight away if you’re losing more blood.Įvery woman’s labour is different, so it can be difficult to say how long the latent phase will last. This small, sticky, jelly-like mucus may come away in one blob or in several pieces. This is called your show and you may notice it in your underwear or when you wipe after going to the toilet. But when labour starts, the mucus plug may come out. Some women say they feel pain in their back and thighs instead of, or as well as, pain in the front of their bump.ĭuring pregnancy, your cervix is closed and plugged with mucus, to keep out infection. When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains. You may start to have regular contractions and then over time they slow down or stop completely. During the latent phase of labour, you will begin experiencing contractions which may be irregular and vary in frequency, strength and length. This is when your cervix becomes soft and thin as it gets ready to open up (dilates) for your baby to be born. Make friends with other parents-to-be and new parents in your local area and see what NCT activities are happening nearby.The start of labour is called the latent phase. We also offer antenatal courses which are a great way to find out more about birth, labour and life with a new baby. Our support line offers practical and emotional support with feeding your baby and general enquiries for parents, members and volunteers: 03. However, if it’s accompanied by more blood loss, or if the plug itself is very bloody, then give the midwife or antenatal ward a call to ask for advice. You don’t normally need to tell your midwife about it. Or it could be in smaller pieces which come away over several hours or more. It could be in one single piece, like a blob of gel. When you are losing the mucus plug, You’ll notice it on your underwear or on toilet paper after going to the loo. You’ll see it as a jelly-like substance, which might be clear or slightly pink or streaked with a small amount of blood. You might be asked ‘have you had a show?’ if the midwife is assessing you in early labour. The plug coming away is known as ‘having a show’. 'If your mucus plug is very bloody, do give your midwife a call.' What is 'a show' in pregnancy?

It loosens and comes away fully any time near the end of your pregnancy, from between about two weeks to a few hours before you begin contractions (although some women may never notice it at all). This ‘plug’ acts as an additional barrier, protecting your baby from bacteria. During pregnancy, your cervix is ‘sealed’ by a plug of mucus, which normally stays in place until the start, or close to the start, of labour.

Losing mucus plug at 30 weeks