Waiting For The Birth And Signs Of Preterm Labour

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Article Summary

There's no real way of knowing whether your baby will arrive on schedule so it make advance plans to cover all eventualities. Your baby may arrive after 38 weeks gestation but 41 weeks is not considered unusual either. Of course, if you notice worrying symptoms that might indicate preterm labour, try not to panic but do seek medical help. MUM CARE

Being prepared for the unexpected, and look out for signs of early labour

THE WAITING GAME

Unless you are having a planned caesarean there is no way of predicting whether this baby will be early, come on time or will leave you waiting for two extra weeks.
It’s a good idea to think about your options now and discuss the possibility of induction with your midwife. Find out about natural methods used to help stimulate the birth, such as reflexology and yoga - even if these prove fruitless, it’s a nice way of spending time!

It’s also worth putting in place emergency childcare in case your little one decides to make an early appearance. If you know that certain friends or relatives will be away over the next few weeks, make alternative arrangements to cover their absences so that you can be sure that your child will be cared for if you suddenly go into labour.

PRETERM SIGNALS

There is no need to worry about premature birth if your pregnancy has been normal and trouble free. But very occasionally, preterm labour does occur, and you should be aware of the signs, as these may always as obvious as the symptoms you experience during full-term labour. Read ‘Why babies are born early’ http://pampers.ph/en_AU/content.do?type=101&contentId=14016

Contact your midwife or the maternity unit if you notice any of the following:

- Cramping of the stomach or lower back that is more severe and last longer than Braxton Hicks contractions.

- Sudden strong pressure or pain in your groin, pelvic area or thighs.

- Increased vaginal discharge, spotting, signs of your plug coming away or a trickle of coloured fluid

- A noticeable change in your baby’s activity

- Upset stomach, diarrhoea, vomiting.

Try not to panic if you develop any of these symptoms. Stay calm, make sure you have someone with you for support and to help with your child, and call your midwife.

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