Introduction

There is no way to be sure when a woman's labour will begin, but there are some signs that it will start soon. Babies often drop lower in the mother's belly about two weeks before birth, which is known as lightening; commonly, mothers feel that the baby is no longer lying "high" in the abdomen, and not pushing her stomach upwards. If she has had babies before, this baby may not drop until labour begins.

At this study session we are going to see how you recognise true labour from false labour, identify the character of ordinary labour, stages of labour and mechanism of labour. You will also learn how to rapidly assess women in labour and how to determine the danger signs and manage accordingly.