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Among pregnant women, it is difficult to find a woman who would not be interested in the questions: “What are the harbingers of childbirth” and “How to recognize contractions before childbirth?” When there are only a few days left before the first meeting with the baby, it is extremely important that the expectant mother does not worry and be sure that she will not miss the start of an important event!
The first signs of an impending delivery are not easy to overlook, which is a concern for many women who have never been pregnant before. Recognizing the symptoms of labor correctly will tell you when to go to the hospital, so it will be useful to know the most common symptoms of labor.
The first signs of an upcoming delivery
The first signs of your impending labor include both typical and unusual symptoms of labor. We will look at the common signs, the list of which is long. However, it should be remembered that all the symptoms of labor may or may not appear at once.
Symptoms of childbirth – list
Common signs of labor include:
- lowering of the abdomen – it results from the lowering of the uterine floor and occurs when the baby’s head descends into the birth canal,
- Braxton-Hicks contractions – they can be as strong as labor contractions, which makes them confused, but Braxton-Hicks contractions (predictive) weaken or disappear with a warm bath, walk or change of position,
- departure of the mucus plug – this symptom occurs a few days or hours before delivery, its presence (a large amount of colorless or pinkish mucus) means that the cervix is shortening and softening to prepare for delivery,
- back and thigh pain – it may appear a few days before delivery, it means that the baby’s head is inserted into the birth canal and compresses the nerves, it is also possible to experience pain similar to before the period,
- diarrhea – both diarrhea and vomiting may appear before delivery – this is a sign that the body is cleansing so that the food content does not interfere when the baby’s head lowers in the birth canal,
- weight loss – a slight weight loss (within 1 kg) may occur a few days before the due date,
- a surge of energy or fatigue – specific mood swings are a sign that there are only a few days left until delivery – this is how the body prepares for the upcoming effort,
- less mobility of the child – when the child enters the birth canal (which takes place a few days before delivery), his movements will be smaller and less frequent, because it will be harder for him to move, but if you have any concerns, consult your doctor,
- appetite disorders – in the period preceding delivery, there may be appetite disorders characterized by increased appetite or a lack of it – depending on individual circumstances,
- spotting – you may have spotting or light bleeding before birth – these are typical symptoms and are the result of shortening and dilating the cervix, usually appearing a few hours before delivery,
- loss of amniotic fluid – this is a symptom of labor that has already begun, in women giving birth for the first time, it may appear only after frequent and strong contractions, but the water may also go away before contractions begin; Usually, water drains out slowly, but if you do not go into labor within a few hours of starting water, contact your doctor or midwife immediately; you should also pay attention to the color of the waters – they should be transparent or whitish – if they are brown or greenish, medical intervention is necessary,
- regular contractions – contractions become longer, more frequent and more painful every hour (in the final stage it is a pain that makes it impossible to talk) – at the beginning they may be painless, last from 15 to 30 seconds and appear every 10-20 minutes to then extend to 30-90 seconds and reappear more frequently; contractions usually appear in the upper abdomen, radiating throughout and around the lower back, and is not felt in the position you are using; you should go to the hospital when the contractions last about 60 seconds and appear every 5-7 minutes.
As you can see, the first signs of upcoming delivery can be very different, and their occurrence depends on many factors, but the presence of at least some of the above-mentioned signs can be considered a signal that you should go to the hospital.
At what time can labor begin?
Each woman will find out the expected date of birth (DA) by being observed in the antenatal clinic. And the closer the long-awaited event is, the more she “listens” to herself, wondering “whether it’s time to get ready for the hospital”? On average, with a favorable course of pregnancy, you should carefully monitor changes in your condition (for precursors of childbirth) no earlier than 2 weeks before the due date. It is during this period that the female body completes preparations for the expulsion of the fetus through the birth canal. In a pregnant woman, the hormonal background changes: the amount of estrogen (hormone of childbirth) increases, and progesterone, which until now was responsible for the safety of the fetus in the uterine cavity, decreases.
8 Signs and Symptoms of Labour You Should Look Out For
What sign of approaching childbirth should you pay the most attention to?
Watch the nature of the discharge. If the expectant mother sees a scarlet discharge and in a sufficiently large amount, she should quickly pack her things and come to the maternity hospital for an appointment with a doctor. Experts will figure it out: it’s time to give birth, or we are talking about a false alarm.
In addition to the main signs of imminent childbirth, there are also a number of additional precursors. They can appear up to 20 days before the expected date of birth. These include:
- loss of appetite ;
- increased energy (“nest syndrome”, in which a woman is very active in everyday life – puts things in order, prepares a children’s room, etc.);
- a decrease in fetal movements (the baby becomes cramped, and he rarely pleases his mother with movements).
Can the expectant mother make a mistake in assessing the signs of imminent childbirth?“
Of course, all signs are very subjective. One woman can feel them, and the other cannot. And that’s completely normal, because every pregnancy is unique. Even for a woman expecting a second child, pregnancy will proceed differently (compared to the first), because all babies are different. Therefore, even one of these signs is a reason to consult a doctor.
It is important for a woman who has no more than 14 days to give birth not to worry. The expectant mother should be patient: do not rush things, but do not ignore the unusual changes taking place in the body. But the necessary documents and a package with things for the maternity hospital must be collected in advance.
How to distinguish real contractions from training ones?
Also, contractions testify that labor will soon begin. It is important to distinguish real from training ones (a woman is not always able to do this on her own). Training contractions may appear from 37 weeks. They are less painful and less regular. Real contractions are characterized by an equal interval between their appearance. And the closer the birth, the shorter the intervals between contractions become.
How does the second birth begin?
The presence or absence of any of the listed signs depends on how many times a woman is pregnant in a row. Signs of childbirth in multiparous and first pregnancies may differ. Primiparous may not have all the signs, but only one or two. And in those who have given birth before, for example, breathing relief most often does not occur until almost the day of birth, because the prolapse of the uterus occurs immediately in front of them.
How to understand that childbirth has begun?
The main signs of the onset of labor include the discharge of amniotic fluid and regular contractions. But do not forget that everyone is individual! Obstetricians and gynecologists do not get tired of repeating: the first signs of childbirth are not a dogma, much depends on the individual characteristics of the body. For example, the classics of the genre (if the pregnancy is uncomplicated) is the order in which the woman first of all has contractions, and only then (before the start of attempts) amniotic fluid leaves. However, in practice, the reverse picture is often observed, and this is not considered a pathology.
Real contractions usually begin with a frequency of 15-20 minutes. If the interval between them is 10 minutes or less, you need to go to the hospital. Of course, we are talking about those cases when the birth goes according to plan. If you notice any other warning signals, such as abdominal pain, bleeding, increased pressure, flies before the eyes, etc., you need to come to the maternity hospital for a consultation with a doctor.