Is a woman required to pray and read the Quran from the Mushaf when labor pains begin?

If a pregnant woman sees only water, she should perform ablution for every prayer, pray, and fast like other pure women. However, if she sees blood with water, or only blood before childbirth, scholars have three sayings:

1. Blood of disorder (Istihadah (definition)): This is the view of the Hanafis and Shafi'is, and in this case, the woman is treated like someone experiencing istihadah. 2. Postpartum bleeding (Nifas (definition)): This is the view of the Hanbalis, and it is defined as the blood released by the uterus with childbirth or two or three days before it, accompanied by signs of labor. 3. Menstruation (Hayd): This is the view of the Malikis, and their preponderant opinion is that blood discharged before childbirth is menstruation.

The more cautious approach is that blood discharged before childbirth is blood of disorder (istihadah). Thus, the woman should perform ablution for every prayer, pray, and fast if she is able, and make up any obligatory fasting. She is permitted to recite the Qur’an, and she is considered pure until actual labor begins.