What happens when labor begins?
In most cases labor will begin on its own. It can sometimes be hard to tell if your labor has started.
When labor has started contractions will be regular, get closer together, last longer and get stronger. These contractions will not go away when you rest or change positions.
Your doctor or midwife will talk with you about when to come into the hospital. Once you are admitted to your labor room, you and your baby will be monitored by nurses, midwives or doctors.
Your baby’s heartbeat will be monitored continuously during labor. This is called electronic fetal monitoring (EFM). This shows how your baby is doing in labor. EFM may not stop a problem from happening but will help your provider to act quickly if a problem does occur.
The monitor tracks the baby's heart rate and shows when you are having a contraction.
- What if I do not go into labor by my due date?
- If labor does not start by the due date, your doctor or midwife may recommend ‘inducing labor’. This is when medicines or other methods are used to start labor. This can be done in different ways. Your doctor or midwife will talk with you about methods to get labor started.
- There are some extra risks for mom and baby when labor is induced. There are different risks and benefits with each method of induction.