Women in labour

When should I contact the labour ward or birth centre? 

You should contact us when:

• You think you are in labour
• Your waters break
• You are worried
• You are concerned about your baby moving less than usual
• You experience vaginal bleeding
• You experience fever, headache, blurred vision or abdominal pain
• You go into labour, but are booked at a different hospital and wish to come to one of our hospitals

How will I know if my waters have broken?

During pregnancy your baby is surrounded by a sack of fluid called membranes. Most pregnant women’s membranes ‘rupture’ during labour. This is known as your ‘waters breaking’. Some women’s waters break before their contractions start. Once your waters have broken there will be a continuous leaking fluid from your vagina, that you are unable to control. Some women see a large amount of fluid when their waters break, while others only see a trickle or experience mild dampness.

If you believe your waters have broken, please call us and we will see you within four hours to confirm whether or not they have. If your waters have broken, we will wait for 24 hours to see if your labour starts on its own or if you prefer, we will offer to induce your labour (start your labour off) as soon as we can.

Important:         

• If your waters break and the colour is clear, pink or straw coloured, please call us
• If your waters break and the colour is green, brown or heavily blood-stained, please call us and we will ask you to come in to the hospital straight away

When will we ask you to come in?

• If your waters break
• If you think you are in active, established labour. Your contractions are a good indication of whether you are in established labour. When in active, established labour, each contraction will: last 60 seconds or more, be of equal intensity and pain or occur regularly and in a predictable pattern over one hour

It’s a good idea to time your contractions. If you are unsure as to whether you should come into hospital or not, please call your birth centre or triage phone number. If you think your baby is coming very quickly and you are feeling an urge to push, please call 999 and contact the London Ambulance Service.

Please Note:

If you arrive at hospital and you are in early labour we may advise you to return home. This is usually only with first labours, which may stop and start in the early phase. We will make a plan with you so you know when to contact us again and return.

What can I do in early labour to manage the pain?

• Ask your birthing partner to massage your lower back
• Apply a form of heat to your lower back area or soak in a warm bath or shower
• Use a TENS machine: this is a device which transmits gentle, electrical impulses through your skin via an electrode pads you stick onto your lower back. Some pregnant women find it helps manage the pain associated with labour but you will need to arrange this in your pregnancy by either hiring one or buying one
• Use a birth ball to sit upright and forwards
• Take a mild painkiller like paracetamol, if you are not allergic

What do I do if I experience vaginal bleeding?

If you are bleeding and have been pregnant for less than 20 weeks, call the early pregnancy assessment unit. 

If you are bleeding and have been pregnant for over 20 weeks, please contact our triage phone or the birth centre where you are booked in.

Who can I bring to hospital with me?

• You may have one named birthing partner with you for the duration of your labour and delivery
• If you have a caesarean section with regional anaesthesia, you may have a named birthing partner present. In some circumstances, we may not be able to allow birth partners to be present in our maternity theatres
• Birth partners must wear face coverings at all times while in the hospital
• Unfortunately, if your planned birthing partner has suspected or confirmed coronavirus, or live in a household where another member has symptoms, they will not be able to attend hospital with you