Human Growth and Development / Unit 2 HGD 0203 short lesson, about 20 seconds
How Labour Begins
Captions available
The idea
Labour usually begins with contractions, after hormonal changes including a rise in oxytocin; Braxton-Hicks contractions, false labour, are usually painless.
In practice
The amniotic sac breaking before labour in only about one pregnancy in eight.
Where people slip
The misconception is that the water breaking is how labour usually starts. Contractions come first in most births.
Your place on the trail
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