IMPORTANT SERIES FOR MOTHERS-TO-BE .sx No .sx 6 The Long Wait Over .sx DURING pregnancy , a baby lies curled up in his mother's womb , surrounded by a bag of warm , protective fluid .sx The neck of the womb ( cervix ) is tightly closed beneath him , and sealed with a plug of jelly-like mucus , which prevents infection from getting to the womb .sx When he is ready to be born , three things must happen .sx The plug of mucus must drop away , then the womb is no longer sealed .sx The cervix must stretch sufficiently to let the baby pass through into the front passage , and the bag of membrane which holds the protective fluid must give way , allowing the fluid to escape- otherwise the baby would be held in the womb even after the cervix had stretched completely .sx Usually , the first thing that the mother notices when labour begins , is that the tightening and relaxing of her womb ( which has been going on for some time during pregnancy ) has suddenly taken on a rhythm .sx That is , the contractions are occurring regularly .sx When this happens , even though half an hour , or even longer , may pass between contractions , she will know that her labour has started .sx With or without regular contractions , she may have a " show .sx " This is just the plug of mucus which has left the cervix and passed down the vagina .sx Usually it is streaked with a little blood .sx Although it's as well to notify hospital or midwife when labour contractions are coming at fifteen minute intervals , or less , there's no need , as a rule , to do anything about a show which is not accompanied by either of the other two signs of labour .sx However , if the show contains more blood than would go on a penny , then it's a wise precaution to seek advice .sx For this might mean that labour is progressing more rapidly than is expected .sx Sometimes the first sign that labour has begun is the breaking of the bag of waters , or " rupture of the membranes .sx " There is a sudden , uncontrolled gush of fluid , which comes from the womb , not from the bladder .sx In point of fact , the waters can break at any time during labour .sx Sometimes this doesn't happen until the baby is ready to be born .sx But when they break right at the beginning , even though there have been no regular contractions , and no show , it's a sign that Baby is starting his journey , and the expectant mother should notify hospital or midwife .sx The first stage of labour progresses steadily , but quite slowly , as a rule .sx With first babies it may take anything up to twenty-four hours or so .sx During this time , the regular , rhythmic contractions of the womb gradually draw open , or stretch , the cervix .sx As the cervix stretches , the baby sinks lower in the womb .sx Usually an expectant mother is quite happy to remain up and about during the early first stage of labour- unless it's night time , of course .sx It's when contractions are stronger , and more frequent , that she prefers to lie down .sx Various preparations and examinations are carried out during this stage of labour .sx Preparations such as shaving away body hair , and giving an enema , to ensure cleanliness when the baby is born .sx And examinations to discover how rapidly labour is progressing , and to check the condition of both mother and baby .sx The commonest , and most frequent , of these examinations is a regular pulse , temperature and blood pressure check , and gentle examination of the mother's tummy to track Baby's downward progress .sx Combined with careful listening to his heartbeats through a little metal stethoscope .sx But , in addition to these regular examinations , it is quite usual for an internal examination to be made some time during labour- or maybe more than one .sx This is nothing to be alarmed about .sx If the doctor or midwife decides that such an examination is needed it doesn't mean that there is anything wrong .sx Simply that it's the most accurate way , at that point , of checking how far labour has progressed , of estimating how much longer it is likely to last , and of deciding how best to help the mother relax , so that she can co-operate with the contractions that are bringing her baby into the world .sx It's during the first stage of labour that the fruits of an expectant mother's daily practice of relaxation and breath control can really come into their own .sx For if she is able to relax , and " go with " each contraction , she will not only be helping herself to experience the minimum of discomfort , but she will also be helping the contraction to exert the maximum stretching power on her cervix .sx This can result in a shorter labour , for it follows that the more the cervix stretches with each contraction , the fewer contractions will be needed for the end result .sx This does not mean , however , that an expectant mother carries the responsibility for the duration or outcome of her labour .sx Simply that she can help , as a rule .sx In addition to her efforts in this direction , she should never hesitate to accept any drug or gas that may be offered to help her .sx For such drugs in no way prevent her from having a natural birth , and their use does not in any way mean either that something is not quite right or that she is not managing splendidly .sx Far from it .sx The purpose of these drugs is to back up the mother's work , to help her relax not only between , but also during contractions , and to diminish the sensation of those contractions when they become strong .sx But to diminish the sensation without in any way undermining their usefulness .sx As the first stage of labour draws towards its close , the contractions become stronger and much closer together .sx Usually they arrive at two to three minute intervals just before Baby is ready to be born .sx It's at this stage that many a mother feels a bit panicky- feels that she's being swept along on a tide that she can't control .sx She wants to bear down , perhaps , but it's not quite time for her to do so .sx She longs for her labour to be over , and for a very little while she may be afraid .sx But it will help her if she will hold hard to the knowledge that all this is quite natural , and that it simply means that it's almost time for her to work really hard , and push her baby into the world .sx Deep breathing , and the use of the gas and air apparatus which is usually offered , will help her over this last difficult phase of the first stage of labour .sx And , in a very short while , the moment will come when the midwife or doctor will say that the cervix is stretched completely , and that now she can do what she's been waiting to do- work as hard as she possibly can , with the contractions of her womb , to help her baby to be born .sx For now , instead of relaxing both between and during contractions , it's a case of relaxing between them to gather strength for the next effort , and really working when it comes .sx With each contraction , she will be asked to take a really deep breath , to hold it , and to bear down as hard as she can , and for as long as she can .sx For with each contraction , Baby comes a little nearer the outside world .sx Soon the head can be seen .sx A few more pushes , and it's half born .sx And then the mother will be asked to stop pushing , and to breathe quickly in and out- like a dog panting .sx This helps whoever is delivering the baby to hold the head gently until the force of the contraction passes , and then to guide it gently into the world between contractions , so reducing the possibility of stitches being needed .sx Once Baby's head is delivered the rest of the body follows quickly .sx The second stage of labour is over .sx Baby is born .sx Here at last .sx A gasp , and a lusty yell .sx The cord is tied and cut , and Baby is snugly wrapped in a warm blanket .sx And , for the first time , Mother can hold him in her arms .sx It just remains for the afterbirth to come away .sx This only takes a few minutes as a rule , and we call it the third stage of labour .sx The new mother needn't give it a thought .sx She can lie back and enjoy her baby , until the midwife , knowing that the afterbirth is ready to pop out , either asks her to relax while her tummy is pressed gently , or else to take a deep breath and to push down as she did when the baby arrived .sx One contraction , and the afterbirth comes away !sx Everything is over .sx A proud mother is made clean and comfortable , and is given the best cup of tea she's ever tasted .sx A brand new baby is washed , weighed and dressed .sx Then when both have rested from their efforts , they can lie back and receive the congratulations and good wishes of relatives and friends .sx And how well deserved they are !sx OTHER MOTHERS' PROBLEMS .sx Answered by JOAN WILLIAMS , S.R.N. , S.C.M. .sx Vitamin C .sx My baby , Aileen , is ten weeks old , fully breast fed , and thriving well .sx But there's just one difficulty- neither welfare orange juice , rose hip syrup , nor blackcurrant juice , seems to suit her .sx All three bring her out in a rash , even though I follow the directions very carefully when giving them .sx Have you any suggestions , please ?sx POSSIBLY your baby may be sensitive to some substance contained in all three of the vitamin C drinks you have given her .sx If that is so , then your doctor is the person to guide you .sx But before taking Aileen to him , try giving her fresh orange juice .sx Squeeze the juice from a cut orange , making quite sure that it contains no pips or bits , and give Baby just one teaspoon of this in a little cool , boiled water , with just a tiny bit of sugar- less than a quarter teaspoon- to taste .sx If she tolerates this without trouble , then gradually work up the amount until she is having a tablespoon of pure juice , in a couple of ounces of boiled water , and a teaspoon of sugar .sx But don't continue giving the juice if she shows the slightest sign of sickness , loose motions , tummy discomfort or a rash .sx If any of these happen , take Baby to your doctor .sx He may think it a good idea to try her on guava juice , as this is rich in vitamin C , or the juice of fresh tomatoes .sx Or he may prescribe vitamin C tablets .sx Baby Book .sx I believe that you have written a book to help expectant mothers .sx Please could you give me details ?sx MY little book " Baby and You , " has recently been completely revised , and brought up to date .sx It includes sections on how a baby develops in the womb , how his mother can care for her general health during the waiting months , how she can prepare herself for the birth , plan his layette , and care for him after he is born .sx It also includes a section on the actual birth of the baby .sx The booklet costs one shilling and sixpence , post free , from this address .sx An order form is on page 27 .sx Small Operation .sx My doctor tells me that I have a polyp on the neck of my womb , and I am waiting to go into hospital to have it removed .sx But I would like to know what this entails , and what is meant by a polyp .sx I can't help worrying .sx REMOVAL of a polyp is a very simple operation , and one that certainly needn't alarm you .sx The polyp is a tiny little growth attached to the neck of the womb .sx It has nothing at all to do with cancer , or indeed with any other serious condition .sx But it does cause " nuisance " symptoms as a rule- bleeding between periods , for example , or a vaginal discharge- and therefore it's best removed .sx You'll probably be asked to go into hospital one or two days before the operation is to be performed .sx