The Untold Secrets Of Labour

The pain, the pressure and yes, the poop. There is so much that goes on in the delivery room that no one talks about. MH spills it all.

- Nurulhuda Suhaimi

If you’re expecting, you’ve probably tried to gather as much information as possible from anywhere and anyone on what to expect during labour. As much as you try to prepare yourself, however, your own labour might still fill you with a few surprises that no one told you about.

Your water might not break in one go.

Don’t expect your water to break all at once like what you see in television shows and the movies. While there are some mothers who have water breaking experiences akin to what is usually portrayed on screen, this isn’t necessarily the case for others. For some, their water breaking feels more like a slow trickle of fluid – it might even be mistaken for peeing. If you experience this, wear a sanitary pad to keep your clothes clean.

Labour may not be as painful as you think.

Horror labour stories from mothers are a plenty out there, but not all mothers will undergo the same experience. “Different women have different pain thresholds. Some women find the pain associated with early labour contractions unbearable and need pain relief early in labour. There are others who do not need any pain relief until very late into labour,” says Dr Goh Shen Li, senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist at S L Goh Women’s Clinic at Mount Alvernia Hospital. Luckily, there are pain relief options available, so discuss this with your OBGYN to know what you should best opt for.

A hundred per cent pain relief isn’t guaranteed.