Labour
The act of giving birth to a baby. When you go into labour, the unborn baby moves down (normally head first) into your pelvis.
The first signs that you are going to give birth may happen suddenly or may be more spread out. You may start to feel emotional and energised, but labour is different for each woman and each birth.
Labour can last a long time (generally between 12 and 24 hours), especially if this is your first pregnancy. If you have had a baby before, it will probably not last as long.
Other signs of labour can include strong, regular contractions, a 'show' (the plug of mucus sealing your cervix is expelled), and the breaking of your waters.
If the signs start slowly, it is quite possible you may not even recognise you are going into labour, especially if it is your first pregnancy.
If you are not sure what the signs and symptoms of labour are, you should ask your midwife or obstetrician for advice.
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