Why does labour usually start at night?

[HotI]

Just wondering why labour usually starts at night. Is it a hormonal thing? Or a movement thing?

[Pandora]

I reckon its go to do with the whole moon/water relationship.
Lots of maternity wards are busier on full moon also.

[blackduckies]

I believe it is to do with hormones, i can't remember what though??? I have read something about it, persoanlly I find it inconvieniant, I would much prefer to being doing it through the day...when you could get outside and move around your surronds etc verus the scary dark night!!!!!??? It s currently a fullmoon..(I think) I hope that does;nt mean my hospital ward is going to be too full, selfish me does'nt want to share a room!!!!

[CinderToriella]

mine began durung the day got stronger at 5 in afternoon but i gave birth at 230 in the morning

hhmm not sure why

[Mildez]

I think to make sure your tired before you start
Also sometimes you don't notice the very early signs of labour until your quiet and resting so maybe you suddenly notice when you lie down to go to bed or during the night your woken with discomfort.
Mine both started at 5am-ish

[harleysgirl]

I think its when your body relaxes more at night

[Cassius2]

when i was pg with DD my OB was convinced it had to do with the moon and tides. he told me that full moons and the odd eclipse send the wards bonkers with truckloads of babies deciding to make the entrance lol!

(i also laboured throughout the night...so annoying as you really do miss that night of sleep lol!)

[jesses_girl]

My midwife and me joke about this, on my first appointment i told her i was scared to give birth during the day She laughed at me (obviousley hehe) and said babies are made at night, so they come at night Obviously only a joke lol But on a funny note, she told me about a woman who was in labour and asked the same question and the lady responded with "Lucky hes not coming where we made him, or ill be on the kitchen bench!" I REALLY hope i go at night time

[ElleJay]

I'm not too sure - but the question flashed me back to when I was in labour with DS - started regularly contracting at 10pm and had DS at 6:56am the next day

[jackrose]

I think it's a primal, safety, security thing.

the darkness and the quietness of night is much more likely to make a calm birth space for the mother. There is too much going on during the day and the daylight for the body to really engage in labour.

I read something about it last pregnancy and it made so much sense. I haven't come across it again this time around but I have been looking for the passage as it really resonated with me last time.

Labouring though the night can be very good, you can make real progress! Just make sure you do try and get some sleep... and if things slow down during the day again - definitely get some sleep!!!

[Lisa]

Wow... all mine have started either through the day, or first thing upon waking in the morning.

[CrazyLady]

I saw some statistics thing and it was saying because the partner is more likely to be home or something like that. I thought was odd.

[Inanna]

It is true that generally women begin to labour when they feel safest. For some women that is the solitude of night - and that is a primal safety thing. A cocooning of the Woman, darkness is safety and privacy. Also women labour best when they are more relaxed - thus the end of the day after winding down it will sometimes be that that is when women begin the labour process...

Also someone mentioned partners being around. Birth & death have much in common. When a woman needs or wants a particular person there she will feel more relaxed, calm etc. Often her body "waits" for that person to arrive. I have done this in some of my labours.

I have also seen dying people do this. Hold off until that son or daughter or husband arrives from overseas or interstate... When theyare calm and at peace they quietly go.

Birth is about that safety and security. I feel most at peace at night. I love the darkness, the moon - I feel most alive then. Perhaps I would think if you don't feel so safe at night due to a trauma or even jsut that you most feel calm in the morning. Maybe it will be different for you?

I know a bit about dairy cows living adjacent to a dairy... They birth at night mostly - in the safety and cocoon of night. The moon is bright then there are more births... It just works that way as women weather they are aware of it or not. Weather they pay honour to it or not are lunar beings. We are in sync with the seasons, the moon & the Earth...

Just my little ramble at nearly midnight Qld time after a day of way too many chocolates...

Kate if I don't get to say it before you bring your babe to your arms - I am thinking of you - sending you lots of positivity and Woman Energy as your body prepares for the miracle of birthing this little oops! You are going to do an amazing job of the transition to Motherhood... Be strong, and be brave & remember in the middle of the fury that birth can be that you can do this. YOU can do this - YOU are made for this & your baby chose you to bring him/her Earthside... I look forward to celebrating the news of Oops arrival...

[Neenee Jellybeanie]

I think it's an evolutionary thing; during the day, there was work to be done and more dangers about so it made sense to labour and birth in the night where there are people around to support you in relative safety.

Speaking of your body waiting; I think your body can do the opposite as well. I've read stories of women being threatened with an unwanted emergency c/s and dilating very quickly! On the day DD2 was born, DP had an appointment that absolutely couldn't be rescheduled, I was terrified that he was going to miss the birth. But sure enough, she came out with 4 hours to spare!

[smiles4u]

Just wondering why labour usually starts at night. Is it a hormonal thing? Or a movement thing?

... i was thinking all was going to happen at night too then come one morning at 9am and that all changed, LOL

[~Trish~]

I've read that it's because your oxytocin levels peak at around 4am (give or take) in the morning which is what starts labour off. Two of my labours started at 4am!

ETA - Just found a quote from a great thread:

Oxytocin levels are highest between about 2-4am...which is why many women go into labor in the early wee hours (at term).

The thread is here, it's a great, informative read : https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...f-methods.html

[Glamourcide]

I believe it is because babies are bloody inconvenient at the best of times, and they're getting a head-start on making us lose sleep by sitting on our bladders all night, then making us go into labour in the wee hours just when we're finally getting comfy. I was in labour with mild contractions from about 2pm on a Saturday afternoon, 5cm dilated at around 6pm, went home from hospital and went to bed at 11 feeling quite comfortable, then BANG GTFO OF BED MUM IT'S 3:30AM AND I FEEL LIKE MAKING AN APPEARANCE. :/

Best of luck

[Lulu]

I couldn't imagine labouring during the day. It's too bloody noisy!

Kate with my last 2 bubs, one made an appearance the night I finally found what I wanted to wear in labour, the second the day I found the new couch I wanted. I refused to have visitors for the new bubs sitting on a cruddy couch.

Baby and I were home before the couch was delivered

I think now you have finished those last few things and DH will be home soon - bubs will follow Can't wait to read your BA xoxoxo