Signs and Symptoms of LaborProbably every woman who shares her labor experience tells a different story. Your delivery will be just as unique. However, the following information will prepare you for the signs of labor. Show Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days:1.
Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm which helps you to not be so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, however, meaning more trips to the bathroom. 2.
Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects the cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is naturally expelled. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucous or discharge. 3. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of amniotic fluid. This event usually happens at home, often when you are in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks prior to labor, and because your uterus is resting directly on top of your bladder, it can cause you to leak urine. If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. The discharge can be a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you should try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you should contact your healthcare provider. 4. Nesting: Burst of energy. For most of your pregnancy, you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you should easily recognize this symptom. A day will come when you will wake up feeling full of energy! You will be motivated to make lists of things to do, things to clean, things to buy, etc., and you will feel a sense of urgency about everything you’ve put off doing. Despite these urges, remember that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner, so try to conserve your energy. 5. Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. In the last month of pregnancy the cervix will begin to stretch and thin. This is an indication that the lower portion of the uterus is getting prepared for delivery, as a thinner cervix dilates more easily. Your health care provider can check for effacement in the final two months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You might hear your health care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%…” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not have the ability to evaluate your degree of effacement. It can only be determined by a healthcare provider’s exam. 6. Dilation: Opening of the cervix. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. “Fully dilated” means you’re at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. Your healthcare provider can tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated and is also something that you cannot determine on your own. One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening:Consistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, it is the strongest indication that you are in labor. When this happens, it is a good time to get out your notebook and record the exact time each contraction begins and how long they last. These contractions can feel like menstrual cramps or like a lower backache that comes and goes. During early labor, they might be as far apart as 20 to 30 minutes. Over the course of time, your contractions are likely to begin occurring at shorter intervals of perhaps every 10-15 minutes or less. When your contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart, it is time to call your healthcare provider. Labor Contractions Have the Following Characteristics:
Want to Know More?
Compiled using information from the following sources: 1.
William’s Obstetrics Twenty-Second Ed. Cunningham, F. Gary, et al, Ch.
17. How can you tell if labor is close?Learning the signs of labor before your due date can help you feel ready for your baby's birth. Signs of labor include strong and regular contractions, pain in your belly and lower back, a bloody mucus discharge and your water breaking. If you think you're in labor, call your health care provider.
What are the signs that the baby is ready to be born?Jump to:. Signs of labor.. The baby drops.. Regular contractions.. False labor contractions vs. real labor contractions.. Water breaks.. Lower back pain & cramping.. Bloody show.. Diarrhea or nausea.. How do you feel a few days before labor?A few days before labor, you may notice looser, more relaxed joints in your pelvis and lower back. You might also experience an unexpected side effect of relaxin — diarrhea. This can happen as the muscles around your rectum relax.
What should I be feeling at 39 weeks pregnant?Some moms-to-be are diagnosed with this blood pressure disorder in the last weeks of pregnancy. A few possible symptoms at 39 weeks pregnant include swelling of your face and hands, headaches, nausea and vomiting, sudden weight gain, shortness of breath, and vision changes.
|