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posts related to: contractions
Question: Braxton Hicks Contractions
Q: “I am 28 weeks pregnant. I’ve noticed that sometimes my womb gets very tight and hard. At first I thought this was due to the baby moving, but my friend told me that I am having “practice contractions”. What does this mean? Is there anything I can do to stop them?” A: Braxton Hicks contractions…
Posted in Am I in labour?, Pregnancy, Question & Answer
Tagged Braxton Hicks, contractions, Labour, Placenta, Pregnancy
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Glossary of pregnancy terms: C
Cephalic presentation Your baby is lying with his or her head above your vagina ie head down. Cephalopelvic disproportion When a baby’s head or body is too large to fit through the mother’s pelvis. Cervix The cervix is the lower, narrow portion of the uterus where it joins with the top end of the vagina…
How long is the second stage of labour
The second stage begins when the cervix is fully dilated. You may not have strong pushing contractions straight away. Some women have a short pause – if this happens to you, make the most of it and gather strength for the work ahead. This stage may consist of just a couple of contractions, or it may take as…
Posted in Labour and Birth
Tagged Cervix, Childbirth, contractions, Labour, Midwife, Pregnancy, second stage of labour
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How painful is the second stage of labour
Most women’s experience of second stage contractions is that they feel less painful and more positive than those of the first stage. You are now adding your own efforts to those of nature, as you work to push your baby out into the world. You may feel clearer in your mind, knowing that very soon your baby will…
Advantages of waterbirths
Immersion in warm water is an excellent form of pain relief. Some women feel the relief as soon as they lower themselves into the pool, for others it takes 10-15 minutes to get the full benefit The depth of the water gives support and makes it easier to try different positions The warm water is a natural…
Posted in Labour and Birth, Water birth
Tagged Baby, benefits, contractions, Entonox, gas and air, labour and birth, pain relief, Relaxation, Water birth
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Am I in labour?
Some women know for certain the moment that labour has started, but often the signs aren’t clear. Even if you know that you are in labour, you may wonder what you should do next. Use this guide to find out what’s happening and what steps to take. Have your waters broken? Yes: Did they go…
The second stage of labour
The second stage begins when the cervix is fully dilated and your baby passes through your open cervix, down the birth canal and out into the world. Once your cervix has opened fully, there’s sometimes a lull when the contractions die down or stop. This period is know as the ‘rest and be thankful’ period,…
Established labour – When should you go into hospital?
When should you go into hospital? If you are having a hospital birth, this is a question that a lot of pregnant women and their partners are keen to know the answer to, but in fact there isn’t really a definitive answer. It depends on various things, including how far you live from the hospital…
The first stage of labour
The first signs After days or weeks of impatiently waiting for labour to start, it can be difficult to tell just when labour begins. If you are experiencing regular, mild contractions these could be Braxton Hicks (practice) contractions, or the beginning of a stop and start labour, or the real thing. Technically speaking, you’re not…
Practising breathing for labour
There’s no need to learn any complicated breathing patterns for labour, but it can be useful to practise it during your pregnancy in preparation. How deep breathing helps: It helps you relax It keeps your womb (and your baby) supplied with oxygen It gives you something to focus on other than the pain of the…
