Arriving at the Hospital Dilation of the cervix alone does not determine when you are in a labor. In some cases, a woman may only be dilated 1 cm but experience strong and frequent contractions. Others may experience dilation even before labor begins.

You can walk around with dilation of 4 or even 5 centimeters, but without regular contractions, you’re not in labor.

The cervix must be 100 percent effaced and 10 centimeters dilated before a vaginal delivery. The first stage of labor and birth occurs when you begin to feel regular contractions, which cause the cervix to open (dilate) and soften, shorten and thin (effacement). This allows the baby to move into the birth canal.

During labor, the cervix opens to accommodate the passage of baby’s head into the vagina, which is around 10 centimeters (cm) dilated for most term babies.

Pressure – Once the water breaks, some people will feel increased pressure in their pelvic area and/or perineum. Water in an intact amniotic sac acts as a cushion for baby’s head (or the presenting part of baby). When the cushion is gone, baby will move down further causing pressure. All of this is normal.

It is fine to take a bath or a shower, but please avoid sexual intercourse as this may increase the risk of infection. We will arrange a time for you to return to hospital if your labour does not start within 24 hours. This will either be for your induction of labour or a check-up.

Once the membranes rupture there is a risk of infection so use a pad, not a tampon, to catch the fluid, and avoid sexual intercourse. “You shouldn’t take a bath, but you’re safe to shower,” says Murdock.

Do you need to go to the hospital when your water breaks – right away? Short answer: no. Waters, or the amniotic fluid held in the amniotic sac or ‘bag’ of water around the baby, breaks before the onset of labor in 1/10 naturally occurring birth events.

If your waters break before you go into labour Most women go into labour on their own within 24 hours. If this doesn’t happen your midwife will offer to induce labour and you’ll be advised to give birth in hospital, if you’re not there already.

Also call the doctor if your water breaks, you experience any bleeding or bright red discharge (not brown or pinkish), or if you experience blurred or double vision, a severe headache or sudden swelling.

The bag of waters around your baby has broken and the fluid is able to trickle out, but your labour has not started yet. This is called pre-labour rupture of membranes (PROM). You may have experienced a small trickle of water, or a gush of water.

Sometimes, water breaks while you’re sleeping. If you’re concerned about flooding the bed, consider protecting your mattress with a waterproof cover.

These contractions may be slightly uncomfortable and feel like mild to moderate menstrual cramps. Usually, they’re intermittent and variable, seven to ten or even twenty or more minutes apart. You may be able to sleep or do other activities while experiencing them.

Spending most of your time in bed, especially lying on your back, or sitting up at a small angle, interferes with labor progress: Gravity works against you, and the baby might be more likely to settle into a posterior position. Pain might increase, especially back pain.

Most likely, these contractions are non-labor contractions (also called Braxton Hicks contractions) that are helping your body “warm-up” for the big day. But they may also signal when things are getting ready to go. One study has suggested that night-time contractions kick up a notch in the days leading up to delivery.

At the start of labour, your cervix starts to soften so it can open. This is called the latent phase and you may feel irregular contractions. It can take many hours, or even days, before you’re in established labour.

As the countdown to birth begins, some signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away can include low back pain, weight loss, diarrhea — and of course, your water breaking.

Cramps and increased back pain You may feel some crampiness and pain in your lower back and groin as labor nears, especially if this isn’t your first pregnancy. Your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for birth.

You Are More Fatigued Than Usual Extreme fatigue is one of the early signs of labor, and you may notice that you are much more tired than usual. Rest as needed, and don’t over exert yourself.

Because of big time pressure put on the pelvic veins and the inferior vena cava from your growing uterus, constipation, and the hard core pushing you’ll be doing to birth that babe.