Birth - frequently asked questions

What do contractions feel like?

Women describe and experience contractions in different ways.

They may feel like:

• lower abdominal cramps that feel like period pain
• persistent dull lower backache
• inner thigh pain that may run down your legs.

At first these contractions are short and may be far apart – sometimes as much as 30 minutes apart.

As your labour progresses, they will get longer, stronger and closer together; until they last for about a minute and are coming faster, about every two or three minutes.

In this guide:

1. When does labour start?
2. When will my waters break?
3. How long does labour last?
4. What is pre-labour?
5. What do contractions feel like?
6. How do I time contractions?
7. When do I come to hospital?
8. What do I bring to hospital?
9. What happens when I get to hospital?
10. What if my labour is progressing slowly?
11. What is the best position for giving birth?
12. What is an episiotomy?
13. How will my baby be monitored during labour?
14. What is a CTG?
15. Why do I need internal (vaginal) examinations?
16. Can I take my placenta home?
17. How do I register my baby’s birth?

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