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The closer the due date, the more often the woman begins to think about how she will understand that she needs to go to the maternity hospital. In order not to give birth to a baby on the way to the doctor and not to arrive earlier than the due time, you should know what signs of childbirth appear in a pregnant woman long before the onset of labor, and which ones take place immediately before the baby is born.
Early signs of onset of labor
A pregnant woman needs to learn about the signs of an imminent birth as much as possible in advance in advance, so that she feels confident and calm, knows how to behave in a given situation.
The first signs of labor, after the appearance of which it can take from several hours to several weeks, are called harbingers
The precursors of childbirth include the so-called “abdominal prolapse” of a pregnant woman. A week before childbirth, the presenting part of the fetus moves lower into the small pelvis, the baby’s head is gradually inserted into the perineum. Primiparous women notice abdominal prolapse two to three weeks before childbirth, and in multiparous women, this process can occur immediately before the onset of labor. Due to the lowering of the abdomen, pregnant women in the last weeks pay attention to the fact that it has become easier to breathe, heartburn has decreased, the uterus does not press so much on the internal organs.
A sign of impending labor is the discharge of the mucous plug. Women observe an increased secretion of mucus from the vagina, which has a thicker consistency than with normal discharge, with possible bloody streaks.
In late pregnancy, pulling pains in the lumbar region are often noted. They arise due to the pressure of the fetus descending into the small pelvis and stretching of the ilio-sacral connective tissue.
A sign of the imminent onset of labor is the cleansing of the body, expressed in kalodefecation
Preparing the uterus for labor, hormones have a laxative effect, so a pregnant woman may even have diarrhea. Also, urination is becoming more frequent.
A woman’s weight may decrease by 1,5–2 kg, as the body begins to release fluid, the release of which could be difficult during pregnancy.
The baby becomes less active in the womb, tremors are replaced by coups and stretching.
Some women, on the other hand, report increased fetal activity. If the reason for this is not oxygen starvation of the child as a result of aging of the placenta, this phenomenon is also considered the norm.
Appetite for a few days before the onset of labor decreases, and in some cases even absent.
A sharp change in the mood of a pregnant woman is possible, due to a new hormonal change. The so-called “nesting instinct” appears, when the expectant mother begins to constantly actively wash something, clean, clean, that is, prepare the room for the birth of a baby.
In the last weeks of pregnancy, training contractions may begin – irregular contractions of the muscles of the uterus. They are distinguished from real contractions by a shorter duration and strength, irregularity. Such contractions do not lead to the opening and smoothing of the uterine pharynx.
Symptoms of an early onset of labor in multiparous women are no different from those pregnant with their first child, but they can appear much later, even just before the onset of labor.
Signs of labor before birth
Obstetricians-gynecologists distinguish a preliminary period before the onset of labor. It occurs immediately before the onset of active labor duration and does not exceed six hours in duration. During the preliminary period, cramping pains, irregular in frequency, appear in the lumbar region and lower abdomen, while the pregnant woman can calmly go about her business or sleep. These contractions gradually intensify and pass into birth.
Real contractions are manifested in rhythmic pressure on the abdominal cavity. Over time, they intensify, their frequency increases. During labor pains, the uterus hardens like a stone, and between them relaxes.
If the mucous plug does not come out a few days before the onset of labor, thick mucus with bloody streaks is released during the opening and smoothing of the cervix.
The amniotic fluid is draining from the woman in labor. In some situations, there is a sharp outpouring of them, in other cases, they flow out gradually. Some pregnant women require a puncture of the amniotic fluid.
Pregnancy is considered full-term at 36–37 weeks; at the onset of labor at an earlier date, one can speak of premature birth. The symptoms of premature birth are not much different from the signs of an imminent birth of a child during a full-term pregnancy. If ultrasound or gynecological examination reveals softening and shortening of the cervix, the appearance of regular strong cramping sensations, discharge or leakage of amniotic fluid, the beginning of vaginal bleeding, the absence of fetal movements for more than 12 hours in a row, you should immediately contact your doctor. Even in the presence of most of the listed signs of the imminent appearance of a child, labor can be stopped.
Harbingers of childbirth
There are several indirect signs that show that labor is about to begin. They are called “harbingers of childbirth.”
Prolapse of the abdomen
- What’s happening?
The most protruding point of the abdomen goes down, while its circumference does not become smaller. The breathing of the expectant mother is facilitated, but the urge to urinate, on the contrary, may become more frequent.
- Why is this happening?
The baby is introduced head into the birth canal – he is ready to be born. It no longer rests against the diaphragm and ribs, the child’s head presses on the bladder and rectum.
- How long until childbirth?
It is difficult to say exactly – from several days to several weeks.
- Is this an accurate indication?
Not really – when the head is inserted into the birth canal, the shape of the abdomen may not change outwardly. And in multiparous women, the most convex point of the abdomen can be directed downward from the very beginning of its growth.
Removal of the mucous plug
- What’s happening?
A clot of mucus is released from the vagina. It can be of different colors, from white to yellow-brown or reddish, come out whole or in parts.
- Why is this happening?
Before childbirth, under the influence of hormones, the cervix begins to shorten and soften to make it easier for the baby to be born. The mucous plug, which previously tightly closed the entrance to the neck so that microbes and bacteria do not penetrate there, simply falls out.
- How long until childbirth?
Most likely, not very much, from several hours to several days.
- Is this an accurate indication?
Yes, this is a fairly accurate sign showing that the mother’s body is ready for childbirth.
Training or false contractions
- What’s happening?
You feel irregular contractions, in which the stomach turns to stone. Closer to the beginning of labor, they become more noticeable than before, but their duration does not increase.
- Why is this happening?
The muscles of the uterus are preparing for childbirth, its lower part is stretched, the cervix softens, but has not yet opened.
- How long until childbirth?
Probably from several hours to several days.
- Is this an accurate indication?
More likely than not, but if in the 2nd or 3rd trimester you felt strong training contractions of Braxton-Hicks, then you may not feel that anything has changed.
Outflow of amniotic fluid
- What’s happening?
Fluid is secreted from the vagina, the color of which can be either transparent or greenish or pink. The waters do not always pour out at once, as they like to show in the movies, before the fights begin, they can simply leak.
- Why is this happening?
The membranes of the fetal bladder are torn or torn and the amniotic fluid comes out through the cervix. Contractions may not be felt or be very weak.
- How long until childbirth?
Just a few hours. Pay attention to the color of the waters – if it is transparent, you can safely pack your things and go to the hospital on your own. If the waters are green or there is a lot of blood in them, call an ambulance immediately.
- Is this an accurate indication?
Yes, sure. If you are at 36 weeks or more, then the baby will be born soon. It is undesirable for the baby to be in an anhydrous period for more than 12 hours, and if labor does not begin on its own, the doctor may offer you stimulation. If your due date is less than 36 weeks, call 911 immediately.
How to distinguish real contractions from false ones
Increasing frequency and intensity
If you notice that the interval between contractions is decreasing, get ready for the hospital. At the first birth, it can take many hours, in some cases even more than a day, from the onset of contractions to the birth of the baby. So, if the interval between contractions is more than 7 minutes, and the contraction itself lasts less than 1 minute, you have time to calmly pack your things. With the second and subsequent births, it is better to hurry, with each subsequent pregnancy, the likelihood of a rapid birth increases.
Soreness
If during false contractions there was no pain at all or it was very weak, then with real contractions the pain is noticeably more intense. Moreover, the pain will increase along with the frequency of contractions.
Other signs
Lower back pain or bloody discharge from the vagina occurs only with real contractions. Real contractions may also be accompanied by chills or trembling.
When to count contractions?
To arrive at the hospital not too late and not too equal, you need to count the contractions. Find an online contraction calculator on the Internet or download it to your smartphone. Or you can use paper, a pencil and a stopwatch or a clock with a second hand in the old fashioned way. In any case, your task is to mark the beginning and end of each fight. If the onset of contractions caught you at home, ask someone from the household to write down the duration of the contractions and the intervals between them, and simply rest before giving birth.
When to go to the hospital?
If you feel one of these signs or several at once, consider that you need to be in the hospital within 1-2 hours:
- Outflow of amniotic fluid
- Reducing the interval between contractions to 5 minutes
- Increasing the duration of the fight to 45-60 seconds
- Intense lower back pain, felt with a certain frequency (these are also contractions)
- Increasing pain in contractions to such an extent that you can no longer carry on a conversation calmly
According to statistics, most babies in natural childbirth are born in the morning or in the morning. From this we can conclude that the onset of labor often occurs at night or early in the morning. Be especially attentive to your feelings at this time of day. However, at any time of the day or night, if you suspect that childbirth has begun, it is better to go to the hospital and see the doctor once again.
Cikin wata 8 sati uku Yana rikini ga yawan fasari ga gudawo
Cikina wata 8 da sati 2 kafa ta kumubura bana iya tafiya mai nisa ga ciwo mara