Appearance

He probably weighs about 2.49 kilograms and is about 35.5 cm, about as long as a loaf of bread, from head to rump (plus an additional 12.7 cm or more in legs!).The white, waxy coating protecting your baby's skin (vernix) thickens this week. The soft downy hair (lanugo) that insulated your baby's skin so effectively for months is now almost gone. Your baby's fingernails have reached the tip of his fingers.

What is Labor?

Labor is the process by which the fetus and the placenta leave the uterus. Delivery can occur in two ways, vaginally or by a cesarean delivery. There are three stages of labour. The amount of time taken for each varies from woman to woman. It also tends to be longer for women in their first pregnancy than for those who have already given birth.

What are three stages of labor?

Stage 1: from the start of regular contractions and the opening of the cervix until the cervix has fully dilated (10 cm). With a first baby this take an average of 10-12 hours.

Stage 2: from full dilatation of the cervix to the birth of the baby. When the cervix is fully open you will be able to push the baby down the birth canal. With a first baby, this takes an hour on average. The second stage is often shorter in subsequent pregnancies.

Stage 3: from the birth of your baby to the delivery of the placenta and membranes (the bag of fluid that surrounded your baby. This can last between 10 min to half an hour.

How will I know when I am in labor?

Every woman's labor is different. So pinpointing when yours begins isn't really possible. However, some specific changes take place in pre-labour (early labor) and active labour. In pre-labour or early labour , you may have:

• Persistent lower back pain or abdominal pain, with a pre-menstrual feeling and cramps.
• Painful contractions that occur at regular and increasingly shorter intervals, and become longer and stronger in intensity.
• Your membranes (water bag) may rupture with a gush or a trickle of amniotic fluid. Either way, call your maternity unit to let them know.
• A brownish or blood-tinged mucus discharge (bloody show). If you pass the mucus plug that blocks the cervix, labour could be imminent, or it could be several days away. It's a sign that things are moving along.
• An upset tummy or loose bowels.
• A period of feeling very emotional or moody.
• Disrupted sleep.

What should I do early on in labour?

Enjoy the excitement of knowing that things are probably starting to happen, but try to pace yourself. Keeping relaxed is the key to coping with labour. The longer you stay at home the better. A new environment is bound to make you tense, and labour ward is no exception. It is natural to be excited about going into hospital but being there does not mean that your baby will arrive any quicker. In fact, many women find that the contractions stop once they get to hospital because anxiety inhibits their labor. Therefore, unless your waters break, or the contractions are strong and 5 minutes apart, it is too early to turn up at the maternity unit.

In first stage it is important to walk about as you can between contractions. This affects the speed of the contractions, your ability to cope with them and also the progress of the labour. However, if your contractions start in the middle of the night, do not leap out of bed and pacing around because it is also important that you go into labor rested and with sufficient energy to see you through the next few hours.