For second-time mothers the advice is to head for hospital as soon as you think labour has started because things can happen quickly. But for first-time mums, unless your waters have gone or you lose fresh blood, there’s no hurry

If all is going normally, you can spend some time at home in the hope that when you eventually arrive at hospital, you’ll be well on the way, perhaps 2-3 cms dilated.

Early signs of labour are:

• A bout of diarrhoea and possible vomiting
• A headache
• Feeling ‘flu-like’
• An unusual urge to tidy or decorate

But generally things really get going with regular contractions. Towards the end of pregnancy it’s normal to feel ‘mock’ contractions. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions and usually become more noticeable the nearer you get to your EDD.

How do I know the difference?

When you’re really in labour, the contractions generally last the same length of time, with the same interval in between.

If you’re not sure whether the contractions you are experiencing indicate ‘false’ or ‘true’ labour, go to bed and try to rest or sleep.

• If you find that lying down makes the contractions more noticeable, you’re likely to be in true labour.
• If you find that you fall asleep, you’re likely to be in false labour.

Ring the hospital to let them know you are coming in when:

• Your contractions are regular and last 40 seconds or longer
• You need to use your breathing during a contraction
• You feel you want to go into hospital. (This sixth sense is important)

What should I be doing in early labour?

Once labour has started, try walking around. This will make the contractions more efficient. Experiment with different positions to work out which one helps you manage the contractions best.

Now is the time to start doing the breathing you learnt in your antenatal classes

At the beginning of a contraction, breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. As the contraction gets stronger, your breathing will become more rapid. Try to keep your breathing as slow as the contraction allows. At the end of the contraction give a sigh and relax.

You might also want to have a bath

Sometimes lying in water helps you cope with the contraction better.

Can I eat?

You can eat and drink whatever you feel like – something high calorie, like pasta or a sandwich is best.

What about the plug?

The plug is a blob of jelly-like mucus that is contained by the cervix as a second barrier to infection. It can sometimes be streaked with watery blood. As the cervix becomes softer at the end of pregnancy, this mucus starts to slip away. Some women find that they go to the loo and notice the whole plug has come away, but most women don’t notice anything.

If you lose your plug, it’s a sign that you are at the end of pregnancy, not that you’re in labour. You can lose your plug and not go into labour for three weeks.