when delivery pain starts?

Giving birth - first stage of labour
The first stage of labour is your body preparing for giving birth, with signs such as your waters breaking, the start of contractions, and a 'show'.
Regular contractions

When you have a contraction, your womb (uterus) gets tight and then relaxes. You may have had contractions throughout your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. During pregnancy, these painless tightenings are called 'Braxton Hicks' contractions.

When you are having regular, painful contractions that feel stronger and last more than 30 seconds, labour may have started. As labour gets going (gets established) your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent.

During a contraction, the muscles in your womb contract and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you can feel it getting harder. When the muscles relax, the pain fades and your hand will feel the hardness ease. The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening your cervix (entrance to the womb) ready for your baby to go through.

Your midwife or doctor will probably advise you to stay at home until your contractions are frequent. When your contractions are coming every 5 minutes, it's time to go to the hospital.
While you are pregnant, a plug of mucus is present in your cervix. Just before labour starts, or in early labour, the plug comes away and you may pass this out of your vagina. This small amount of sticky, jelly-like pink mucus is called a 'show'.

It may come away in one blob, or in several pieces. It is pink in colour because it's blood-stained, and it's normal to lose a small amount of blood mixed with mucus. If you're losing more blood, it may be a sign that something is wrong, so telephone your hospital or midwife straight away.

A show indicates the cervix is starting to open, and labour may follow quickly, or it may take a few days. Some women do not have a show.
Your waters breaking

Most women's waters break during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts. Your unborn baby develops and grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it's time for your baby to be born, the sac breaks and the amniotic fluid drains out through your vagina. This is your waters breaking.

When this happens, call your midwife or doctor, so they can ask you some questions and check your condition.

You may feel a slow trickle, or a sudden gush of water that you cannot control. To prepare for this, you could keep a sanitary towel (but not a tampon) handy if you are going out, and put a plastic sheet on your bed.

Amniotic fluid is clear and a pale straw colour. Sometimes it's difficult to tell amniotic fluid from urine. When your waters break, the water should be clear or slightly pink. If it appears greenish or bloody, see a doctor or your hospital immediately, as this could mean you and your baby need urgent attention.

If your waters break before labour starts, phone your midwife or the hospital for advice. Without amniotic fluid your baby is no longer protected and there is a risk of infection.
Coping at the beginning of labour

At the beginning of labour:

You can be up and moving about if you feel like it.
You can drink fluids and may find isotonic drinks (some sports drinks) help keep your energy levels up.
You can also snack, although many women don't feel very hungry and some feel sick.
As the contractions get stronger and more painful, you can try relaxation and breathing exercises — your birth partner can help by doing them with you.
Your birth partner can rub your back as it may help relieve the pain.

Dilation

The cervix needs to open about 10cm for a baby to pass through. This is called 'fully dilated'. Contractions at the start of labour help to soften the cervix so that it gradually opens.

Sometimes the process of softening can take many hours before you're in what midwives call 'established labour'. Established labour is when your cervix has dilated to more than 3cm. If you go into hospital or your birth centre before labour is established, you may be asked if you'd prefer to go home again for a while rather than spending many extra hours in hospital or the birth centre. If you go home, you should make sure you eat and drink, as you'll need the energy.

At night, try to get comfortable and relaxed. If you can, try to sleep. A warm bath or shower may help you to relax. During the day, keep upright and gently active. This helps the baby to move down into the pelvis and helps the cervix to dilate.

Once labour is established, the midwife will check you from time to time to see how you are progressing. In a first labour, the time from the start of established labour to full dilation is usually between 6 and 12 hours (about 8 hours on average). It is often quicker for subsequent pregnancies.

Your midwife will tell you to try not to push until your cervix is fully open and the baby's head can be seen.

To help you get over the urge to push, try blowing out slowly and gently or, if the urge is too strong, in little puffs. Some people find this easier lying on their side, or on their knees and elbows, to reduce the pressure of the baby's head on the cervix.
Foetal heart monitoring

Your baby's heart rate will be monitored throughout labour. Your midwife will watch for any marked change in the rate, which could be a sign that the baby is distressed and that something needs to be done.

Read more on how your baby's heart will be monitored during labour.
Speeding up labour

Your labour may be slower than expected if your contractions are not frequent or strong enough or because your baby is in an awkward position. If this is the case, your doctor or midwife will explain why they think labour should be sped up and may recommend the following techniques to get things moving:

Breaking your waters (if this has not already happened) during a vaginal examination — this is often enough to get things moving.
If this doesn't work, you may be given a drip containing a synthetic version of the birth hormone oxytocin (a drug called syntocin), which is fed into a vein in your arm to encourage contractions — you may want some pain relief before the drip is started.
After the drip is attached, your contractions and your baby's heartbeat will be continuously monitored with a cardiotocograph (CTG).