If you are admitted and have had a positive culture for Group B Beta Strep during your pregnancy, or have any risk factors, you will receive antibiotics prior to delivery. We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy Cookie Preferences. Error was Detected. Your browser doesn't support JavaScript code, or you have disabled JavaScript.
Choose location Choose Location. Sign in or Enroll Enter a search term:. Change Location X. We've expanded your view You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip. Search Close Search. True Labor. Pre Labor vs. Onset of Labor Several theories exist as to why labor begins: The physical aging of the placenta may cause insufficient nutrients to reach the fetus. The uterus reaches a crucial point of distension, which may cause tension on muscle fibers and stimulate their activity.
Nerve impulses from the uterus to the posterior pituitary gland may bring about release of oxytocin a hormone which causes the uterus to contract. Decrease in the level of the hormone pregesterone, may cause uterine changes. Adrenal glands of the fetus, when mature, may release a substance to stimulate labor. Prodromal labor contractions will often come and go at the same time each day or at regular intervals.
Many mothers, even experienced ones, end up calling their birth team or going to the hospital, thinking labor has begun. Prodromal labor is really common and can start days, weeks, or even a month or more before active labor begins. Your health care provider will want you to deliver as close to 40 weeks your due date as possible. The majority of pregnant women will experience this type of contraction at some stage during their pregnancy.
Braxton-Hicks are essentially practice contractions. They rarely last a long time or grow in intensity. Prodromal labor can follow a very regular pattern. The contractions can vary and grow in intensity. Your cervix can also slowly dilate or efface during prodromal labor. Prodromal labor contractions usually occur less than every five minutes and may stop for long periods. Once active labor begins, your contractions will become more and more frequent and will no longer start and stop.
The closer together your contractions are, the closer you are to meeting your baby. Real labor contractions get longer, stronger, and closer together and progress to delivery without stopping or slowing. There are several potential contributing factors:.
But if you do have concerns, you should always contact your healthcare provider. Prodromal labor can occur any time within the last month of your pregnancy. Here are some common telltale signs that may signal that baby will soon be on the way. Whether or not you need to contact your doctor or midwife will depend on your individual situation. However, it may be difficult to tell if your contractions are a sign of active labor or prodromal labor.
You should always reach out to your healthcare providers if you have concerns and to rule out other problems. If this happens, phone the Labour Ward immediately on If you are having a home birth - telephone the Midwifery-led Unit and they will arrange for a Midwife to come to your home.
When you come into hospital, the Midwife will ask you questions about your pregnancy, when your contractions started and whether your waters have broken. The Midwife will undertake an Antenatal assessment the same as the Midwife does in the community clinic. Depending on the frequency of your contractions, the Midwife will offer you a vaginal examination to determine whether labour has started.
The latent or early stages of labour last until your cervix is about 4cm dilated and you have regular strong contractions, sometimes this can take a long time. If you go to hospital before you are in established labour you may be asked if you would prefer to go and enjoy the comfort of your own home again for a while, rather than spending many extra hours in hospital.
Being relaxed and confident helps labour to progress but if you are feeling very uncomfortable at this point please discuss this with your Midwife. There is lots of evidence to support that a change in your birth environment can have a hormonal effect on your body, which may affect the progress of your labour.
Often, when women come into hospital, they become anxious and stressed. A hormone called adrenalin is released which reduces the effects of oxytocin. As a result, women often find that their contractions slow down or even stop when they come into hospital. This is ok and is a natural hormonal response. Do not worry - your Midwife will help to make you feel comfortable and at ease. Attend a tour of the hospital so that you know what to expect, and what the hospital looks like.
Your birth partner will also be less anxious as they know where to park and when to bring you when you are in labour. Bring some of your favourite music with you we do have some CD players or you could bring your iPod. Your birth partner can provide support through massage or distraction techniques to guide you through this stage. Remember: Working with your body, adopting upright positions, will encourage effective regular contractions, resulting in a quicker, less painful labour.
For more information about the stages of labour, please see the Labour and Birth Information section of the website internal link. Search our Site Search our site. Members What is a Member? Work for us Why Work For Us? You are unlikely to mistake the signs of labour when the time comes, but if you are not sure contact the hospital for more information or advice: If you are booked to have your baby on the Midwifery-led Unit contact - Labour can be divided into stages: The latent phase or preparation for labour stage The first stage Transition Second stage Third stage.
The Latent Phase of Labour.
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