Take your time with this information
Week 40
You are officially at your due date!1
Signs of labour
Typical signs of labour include:2
- Contractions
These may begin as menstrual-like cramping, but they will increase in intensity, frequency and duration as labour progresses - Bloody show and loss of mucus plug
This may appear as thick vaginal discharge that looks red, brown, or pink - Water breaking
Remember to monitor the progress of labour and call your healthcare provider for advice if you are unsure of your symptoms.
Contact your healthcare provider immediately if you:
- Experience any bleeding or bright red discharge
- Your water breaks, the fluid looks green or brown or smells
- Experience any visual disturbances, severe headache, or sudden swelling
Tips for looking after your newborn
Caring for a newborn can be exciting but also daunting to think about, especially for first-time parents.
Some key tips for the first moments and days of meeting your newborn include:3
- Wash hands with soap and water prior to handling your newborn
- Keep baby dry and warm with two layers of clothes more than adults and keep the head covered with a hat
- Perform skin-to-skin and allow baby to feed on-demand
- Delay a bath for 24 hours
- Keep umbilical cord dry and avoid the use of any ointment or cream
- Ensure general well-being checks, hearing and sight testing is completed by your healthcare provider
Be aware of any signs of ill health and know when to seek immediate medical attention. If baby is not feeding well, has fast breathing or a high temperature, contact your healthcare provider for medical attention.