What is a contraction and how to recognize it. How to distinguish false contractions from real ones. After the child is displaced down, the woman may experience uncomfortable sensations in the lower back. These sensations are caused not only by pressure from the child, but also by the increase in races

26.04.2019

What sensations indicate the approach of childbirth

From the grasp before childbirth - periodic spasms of the muscles of the uterus, characterized by increasing dynamics and intensity. Understanding the mechanism of this process and its purpose will help to overcome fear and act consciously during childbirth.

In modern obstetrics practice, childbirth begins precisely with the appearance of rhythmic uterine contractions of increasing intensity. It is important to know the difference between true contractions in order to be in the hospital in a timely manner.

As obstetricians note, the behavior and mood of the woman in labor have a noticeable effect on the course of labor. The correct attitude gives a woman an understanding of the processes taking place in her body. Contractions are indeed one of the most difficult periods in childbirth, but they are the force that contributes to the birth of a child. Therefore, they should be perceived as a natural state.

Training, precursor or prenatal contractions

From the fifth month of pregnancy, expectant mothers may experience occasional tension in the abdomen. The uterus contracts for 1-2 minutes and relaxes. If you put your hand on your stomach at this moment, you can feel that it has become hard. Pregnant women often describe this condition as "petrification" of the uterus (stone belly). These are training contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions: they can occur constantly until the end of pregnancy. Their characteristic features are irregularity, short duration, painlessness.

The nature of their appearance is associated with the process of gradual preparation of the body for childbirth, but the exact causes of their occurrence have not yet been clarified. In addition, there is an opinion that "training" is provoked by increased physical and emotional activity, stress, fatigue, they can also be the response of the muscles of the uterus to fetal movements or sexual intercourse. The frequency is individual - from once every few days to several times an hour. Some women don't feel them at all.

The inconvenience caused by false contractions can be easily eliminated. You need to lie down or change your posture. Braxton Hicks contractions do not open the cervix or cause any harm to the fetus, so they should only be taken as one of the natural moments of pregnancy.

Approximately from the 38th week of pregnancy, the period of precursors begins. Along with the lowering of the fundus of the uterus, weight loss, an increase in the amount of secretions and other processes noticeable for a pregnant woman, it is distinguished by the appearance of precursor or false contractions.

Also, like training ones, they do not open the pharynx of the uterus and do not threaten pregnancy, although by the strength of the sensations they are brighter and may well inspire excitement in primiparous women. Harbinger contractions have intervals that do not diminish over time, and the severity of the spasms that compress the uterus does not increase. A warm bath, sleep, or snack can allay these contractions.

It is impossible to stop real or labor pains with rest or change of position. Contractions manifest themselves involuntarily, under the influence of complex hormonal processes in the body, and cannot be controlled by the woman in labor. Their frequency and intensity is increasing. In the initial phase of labor, contractions are short, last about 20 seconds, and repeat every 15 to 20 minutes. By the time the cervix is fully opened, the interval decreases to 2-3 minutes, and the duration of the contractions increases to 60 seconds.

Characteristic	Braxton Hicks contractions	Harbinger skirmishes	True fights
When it starts to feel	From week 20	From 37-39 weeks	With the onset of labor
Frequency	Single abbreviations. Occur sporadically.	Approximately every 20-30 minutes. The interval is not shortened. They subside over time.	Approximately once every 15-20 minutes in the first phase and once every 1-2 minutes in the final of labor.
Duration of contractions	Up to 1 minute	Does not change	From 20 to 60 seconds depending on the phase of labor.
Soreness	Painless	Moderate, depending on the individual sensitivity threshold.	Increases with the course of childbirth. The severity of pain depends on the individual threshold of sensitivity.
Localization of pain (sensations)	The anterior wall of the uterus	Lower abdomen, ligament area.	Small of the back. Girdle pain in the abdomen.

In order to make sure at the beginning of real fights, it is worth calculating the interval between them correctly. As a rule, false contractions are chaotic, the interval between the first and second can be 40 minutes, between the second and third - 30 minutes, etc. While in the process of real contractions, the interval becomes stable, and the length of the contractions increases.

Description and function of contractions

A contraction is a wave-like movement of the muscles of the uterus in the direction from the bottom to the pharynx. With each spasm, the neck softens, stretches, becomes less convex, and, thinning, gradually opens. Having reached an opening of 10-12 cm, it is completely smoothed out, forming a single birth canal with the walls of the vagina.

Visualizing the process of labor pains can help you cope with pain and uncontrollable emotions.

In each stage of labor, the spastic movements of the organ are aimed at achieving a certain physiological result.

In the first period, contractions provide opening.
In the second, along with attempts, the function of grasping contractions is to eject the fetus from the uterine cavity and move it along the birth canal.
In the early postpartum period, the pulsation of the uterine muscles promotes separation of the placenta and prevents bleeding.
In the late postpartum period, spasms of the muscles of the uterus return the organ to its previous size.

After that there are attempts - active contraction of the muscles of the press and the diaphragm (duration 10-15 seconds). Arising reflexively, attempts help the child to move along the birth canal.

Phases and duration of contractions before childbirth

There are several types: latent, active and deceleration phase. Each of them differs in the duration of the period, intervals and the contractions themselves.

Characteristic	Latent phase	Active phase	Deceleration phase
Phase duration	7-8 hours	3-5 hours	0.5-1.5 hours
Frequency	15-20 minutes	Up to 2-4 minutes	2-3 minutes
Duration of the fight	20 seconds	Up to 40 seconds	60 seconds
Disclosure degree	Up to 3 cm	Up to 7 cm	10-12 cm

These parameters can be considered averaged and applicable to the normal course of labor. The real time of contractions strongly depends on whether a woman is giving birth for the first time or it is a repeated birth, her physical and psychological readiness, anatomical characteristics of the body and other factors.

Contractions before the first and subsequent childbirth

However, a common factor affecting the duration of contractions is the experience of previous labor. This refers to a kind of "memory" of the organism, which determines the differences during certain processes. During the second and subsequent births, the birth canal opens on average 4 hours faster than during the first. This is due to the fact that in women giving birth to a second or third child, the inner and outer pharynx open at the same time. At the first birth, the opening occurs sequentially - from the inside to the outside, which increases the time of contractions.

The nature of contractions before repeated childbirth may also differ: women in labor note their intensity and more active dynamics.

The factor that smooths out the differences between the first and subsequent births is the time interval separating them. The likelihood of prolonged disclosure is higher if more than 8-10 years have passed since the birth of the first child.

In articles devoted to the topics of motherhood and pregnancy, there is information that contractions before the second birth more often come not before, but after the waters have departed, and this happens not at 40, but at 38 weeks. Such options are not excluded, but there is no scientifically confirmed data indicating a direct connection between the serial number of genera and the nature of their onset.

It is necessary to understand that the described scenarios are only options, and by no means an axiom. Each childbirth is very individual, and their course is a multifactorial process.

Feelings in contractions

In order to determine the onset of contractions, it is worth paying attention to the nature of the pain: before childbirth, they are similar to menstrual pains. Pulls the lower abdomen and lower back. You may feel pressure, a feeling of fullness, heaviness. It is more appropriate here to talk about discomfort rather than pain. Soreness occurs later, with increasing contractions. It is caused by the tension of the uterine ligaments and the opening of the cervix.

The localization of sensations is quite subjective: in some women in labor, the spasm has a shingles in nature, its spread can be clearly associated with a wave that rolls from the bottom of the uterus or from one of the sides and covers the entire abdomen, in others the pain arises in the lumbar region, in others - directly in the uterus ...

However, in the vast majority of cases, women experience the peak of spasm as compression, strong contraction, "grasping", which follows from the very name of the contraction.

Is it possible not to notice the contractions?

Not all women in labor have the tension of the muscles of the uterus causing unbearable pain. How a woman tolerates it depends on the threshold of sensitivity, emotional maturity and special preparation for childbirth. Someone suffers contractions, for someone they are too painful to restrain a cry. But it is impossible not to feel the contractions. If they are not there, then there is no labor activity, which is an essential condition for physiological childbirth.

Some uncertainty in the expectations of expectant mothers can be introduced by the stories of women who have already given birth, in whom childbirth began not with contractions, but with the passage of water. You need to understand that this scenario in obstetrics is considered a deviation. Normally, at the peak of one of the contractions, intrauterine pressure pulls and tears the membrane of the fetal bladder, the amniotic fluid is poured out.

Spontaneous discharge of water is called premature. This situation requires the immediate intervention of a doctor; waiting for contractions at home is unacceptable.

Mechanism of action at the onset of contractions

It is important to understand what to do at home if labor starts and labor is imminent. A few recommendations:

The first is not to panic. Incompetence and unconstructive emotions interfere with concentration, lead to unreasonable actions.
Having felt the beginning of contractions, you need to determine their type: are they really contractions before childbirth or harbingers. To do this, you need to use a stopwatch or special applications in your mobile phone to record the time and count the duration of intervals and contractions. If the frequency and duration do not increase, then there is nothing to worry about. Harbingers usually subside completely within two hours.
If the spasms have become regular, the pause time between them is clearly defined, you can start going to the hospital. Departure should be planned so as to be examined by a doctor by the time the frequency of contractions reaches once every 10 minutes. In the normal course of labor, this will happen approximately no earlier than 7 hours later. Therefore, if the contractions began at night, you should try to get at least a little rest.
You can take a shower, do hygiene procedures.
In case of repeated births, you should go to the hospital immediately after the contractions become regular, without waiting for their interval to shorten.

Pregnancy is a time of many exciting questions. Especially a lot of them arise in the last trimester before childbirth, when the long-awaited event is already so close. How to recognize contractions? It is this question that worries girls most of all.

What sensations arise, how strong the pain will be and how soon the labor itself will begin - all this is important information that will help determine their onset. Especially, such questions are of concern to women who are going to give birth for the first time. But it is also important for re-giving birth to remember the key points of this process, which will help to better prepare for it.

What are contractions?

In order to know how to determine the onset of contractions and not to miss them, you first need to familiarize yourself with what this process is and what its importance is. Everything in order. So, contractions are called periodic contractions of the uterus, which cannot be regulated. They are the main harbingers of close childbirth. Pain in the lower abdomen, as well as in the intestines, hips, lower back and pelvic region are considered a symptom of them. The level of discomfort depends on the woman's pain threshold and other individual characteristics of the body. In addition, feelings are associated with the psychological mood of the expectant mother.

The description of contractions can cause fear in a pregnant woman, especially if this is the first birth, and she does not know what exactly awaits her. But it should be borne in mind that the more you are afraid of them, the more painful they will be. Positive emotions will ensure an easy delivery.

False and true contractions: how to recognize

There is such a phenomenon as false contractions, which are also called training contractions. In terms of the degree of painful sensations, they have nothing to do with the true ones. False contractions can begin after 20 weeks, depending on the individual characteristics of the body. You can even skip them, because, as a rule, it is only mild discomfort in the lower abdomen. They are irregular and short-lived, in addition, they disappear if you take a warm bath or walk a little.

And although real contractions begin quite calmly, the painful sensations gradually increase. The more often and more intensively they are, the sooner you will get to the delivery room. That is why it is advisable that by the time they begin, you are already in the hospital.

The intensity of contractions and the interval between them

The first contractions start off pretty harmlessly. You will only feel a slight tingling sensation in the abdomen and may even miss the sensation. The more the uterus begins to contract, the more pain you will feel. A sign of an imminent birth is the discharge of the mucous plug, which protects the baby from external influences, as well as the flow of amniotic fluid. By this time, the contractions will intensify and become more frequent, which in most cases means that very little is left before your baby is born.

Moreover, they can last long enough, up to 20 hours. Therefore, if a woman is not yet in the hospital, but she has contractions, this does not always mean that she has to rush to the hospital. Many expectant mothers who give birth not for the first time prefer to stay at home until the last minute. However, such a decision can be risky, at this time there must be specialists nearby. In general, do not delay the trip to the hospital!

But if you still decide not to go to bed in advance, you need to be ready to count the frequency of contractions and their duration. There are three phases:

initial;
active;
transitional.

The first stage lasts an average of 7-8 hours with an interval of about 5 minutes between contractions. And their duration is approximately 30-45 seconds. Dilation of the uterus in this phase is from 0 to 3 cm.

The next stage lasts 3-5 hours, with an interval of 3-4 minutes and a duration of 50-60 seconds. At the same time, the neck opens by 3-7 cm.

The last transitional stage is the shortest, it lasts from 30 minutes to 1.5 hours. However, at the same time, the contractions intensify and lengthen, they are felt for 70-90 seconds with an interval of no more than a minute. Here the cervix opens up to 7-10 cm, and the doctors are preparing to receive the child.

Such phases are common to both primiparous and re-births. The only difference is in the duration of contractions and the interval between them. If a woman does not give birth for the first time, everything happens, as a rule, faster.

Special cases

Generic activity is different for everyone. There are non-standard situations when doctors have to take certain actions to start and successfully complete it.

For example, it may be that the due date has already come, and the plug has come out. But at the same time, the contractions did not begin, and the water did not leave. In this case, the doctor conducts an examination to find out if the body is ready for childbirth. In case of a positive decision, an amniotomy is performed - a puncture of the fetal bladder. After that, as a rule, water immediately leaves and contractions begin. At the same time, the sensations are quite painful, because this is not an initial stage, but a transitional (prenatal) phase. If after this action the contractions do not start, doctors conduct stimulation by introducing drugs into the body to induce them. After that, childbirth takes place as usual.

Such examples are usually not dangerous. Therefore, if you have just such a case, do not worry.

How to reduce pain during labor?

Every woman wants to keep discomfort to a minimum. In modern times, there are many ways to relieve pain during labor and childbirth, but you should not resort to them unless absolutely necessary. After all, they can negatively affect the health of the child. It is much safer to try to relieve the pain yourself. This can be done in several ways that are available to every expectant mother.

First of all, create the right mental attitude. Instead of thinking about pain, direct your thoughts to the soon-to-be-born baby. Imagine how it will feel when it is in your hands, and it will become much easier to endure the pain.

Proper breathing is an effective way to relieve the condition. This technique can be mastered in special courses or independently using techniques. Labor will be much easier if you breathe in and out correctly, as this will help relax the muscles, bringing relief.

A special massage of the lower back also helps. You can do it yourself or ask a loved one. These are simple strokes that help you relax. Such a technique will help to wait out the contractions and it is easier to endure the pain.

In order for the childbirth not to be a shock for the expectant mother, it is recommended to attend special courses. It is advisable to visit them with your spouse so that both parents are psychologically ready for changes in life. In addition, the support of a loved one means a lot for a pregnant woman during this period. In such courses, they will teach you how to breathe, massage, and also help you create the right mood.

Do not forget that you will give birth yourself, doctors can only help you. Therefore, the better you prepare for such an important event, the easier it will be for you. Correct behavior, positive emotions, theoretical knowledge and self-confidence are the main components of an easy and quick birth.

What sensations indicate the approach of childbirth

Training, precursor or prenatal contractions

Characteristic	Braxton Hicks contractions	Harbinger skirmishes	True fights
When it starts to feel	From week 20	From 37-39 weeks	With the onset of labor
Frequency	Single abbreviations. Occur sporadically.	Approximately every 20-30 minutes. The interval is not shortened. They subside over time.	Approximately once every 15-20 minutes in the first phase and once every 1-2 minutes in the final of labor.
Duration of contractions	Up to 1 minute	Does not change	From 20 to 60 seconds depending on the phase of labor.
Soreness	Painless	Moderate, depending on the individual sensitivity threshold.	Increases with the course of childbirth. The severity of pain depends on the individual threshold of sensitivity.
Localization of pain (sensations)	The anterior wall of the uterus	Lower abdomen, ligament area.	Small of the back. Girdle pain in the abdomen.

Description and function of contractions

Visualizing the process of labor pains can help you cope with pain and uncontrollable emotions.

In each stage of labor, the spastic movements of the organ are aimed at achieving a certain physiological result.

In the first period, contractions provide opening.
In the second, along with attempts, the function of grasping contractions is to eject the fetus from the uterine cavity and move it along the birth canal.
In the early postpartum period, the pulsation of the uterine muscles promotes separation of the placenta and prevents bleeding.
In the late postpartum period, spasms of the muscles of the uterus return the organ to its previous size.

After that there are attempts - active contraction of the muscles of the press and the diaphragm (duration 10-15 seconds). Arising reflexively, attempts help the child to move along the birth canal.

Phases and duration of contractions before childbirth

There are several types: latent, active and deceleration phase. Each of them differs in the duration of the period, intervals and the contractions themselves.

Characteristic	Latent phase	Active phase	Deceleration phase
Phase duration	7-8 hours	3-5 hours	0.5-1.5 hours
Frequency	15-20 minutes	Up to 2-4 minutes	2-3 minutes
Duration of the fight	20 seconds	Up to 40 seconds	60 seconds
Disclosure degree	Up to 3 cm	Up to 7 cm	10-12 cm

Contractions before the first and subsequent childbirth

The nature of contractions before repeated childbirth may also differ: women in labor note their intensity and more active dynamics.

It is necessary to understand that the described scenarios are only options, and by no means an axiom. Each childbirth is very individual, and their course is a multifactorial process.

Feelings in contractions

However, in the vast majority of cases, women experience the peak of spasm as compression, strong contraction, "grasping", which follows from the very name of the contraction.

Is it possible not to notice the contractions?

Spontaneous discharge of water is called premature. This situation requires the immediate intervention of a doctor; waiting for contractions at home is unacceptable.

Mechanism of action at the onset of contractions

It is important to understand what to do at home if labor starts and labor is imminent. A few recommendations:

The first is not to panic. Incompetence and unconstructive emotions interfere with concentration, lead to unreasonable actions.
Having felt the beginning of contractions, you need to determine their type: are they really contractions before childbirth or harbingers. To do this, you need to use a stopwatch or special applications in your mobile phone to record the time and count the duration of intervals and contractions. If the frequency and duration do not increase, then there is nothing to worry about. Harbingers usually subside completely within two hours.
If the spasms have become regular, the pause time between them is clearly defined, you can start going to the hospital. Departure should be planned so as to be examined by a doctor by the time the frequency of contractions reaches once every 10 minutes. In the normal course of labor, this will happen approximately no earlier than 7 hours later. Therefore, if the contractions began at night, you should try to get at least a little rest.
You can take a shower, do hygiene procedures.
In case of repeated births, you should go to the hospital immediately after the contractions become regular, without waiting for their interval to shorten.

A rare pregnant woman has not heard that there are false contractions. This happens in everyone, so the uterus "trains" before childbirth, they are also referred to as "training". But it happens that a woman does not feel them in any way. Therefore, neither the presence nor the absence of this phenomenon indicates any violation.

Symptoms of false before childbirth Expectant mother
contractions clothing pain
monitoring pregnant pain

What is it and why is it needed

The phenomenon of fake labor has been known for a long time. One of its names is given by the name of the doctor who first described it. It happened in 1872 by the British John Braxton Hicks. They say differently:

Braxton Hicks cuts;
harbingers or forerunners;
training;
braxtons;

Primiparous women usually feel this from the second trimester, multiparous earlier. Some have noticed their appearance in recent weeks, while others do not notice them at all. Abroad, the phenomenon is usually not given importance, as necessary explaining to a woman what is happening. In Russia, false contractions during pregnancy can be designated as an increased tone of the uterus and put in the hospital “to be saved”.

Increased tone of the uterus

The muscles of the uterus react to the hormonal background of the pregnant body, sometimes the phenomenon is given the importance of preparing smooth uterine muscles for future childbirth. Compare it with sports training. This happens in all pregnant women. But the most sensitive of them find false contractions, others simply do not notice contractions, except just before childbirth.

This is manifested by the following symptoms.

Spontaneous, non-periodic tension of the uterus.
It can happen several times, over several days in a row.
There is usually no pain.
For many women, false contractions cause uncomfortable sensations of a "stony", "stiff" uterus.
Duration - from a few seconds, but no more than two minutes.
The strength and number of contractions usually increase with the duration of pregnancy.
There is no dilatation of the cervix.

The symptoms of training contractions can vary from woman to woman. This is especially true of their severity. It happens that even some soreness appears, which grows closer to childbirth. If there are no warning signs, don't worry.

Contractions occur involuntarily, but some causes have been seen to trigger the signs of training contractions. Some of them can be eliminated, which will reduce the number and duration of spasms. These factors are:

too high or, conversely, insufficient physical activity of the mother;
increased fetal activity;
strong emotions - positive or negative;
lack of water;
overflowing bladder;
sexual intercourse;
even touching the belly.

Just before giving birth, false contractions are even helpful. They help to soften the cervix, shorten it. This makes the opening process easier and faster.

Training exercises just before childbirth

Differences between false and "true" manifestations

It is quite understandable that for the first time such a phenomenon is alarming. Therefore, you need to know how to distinguish training contractions from birth, or real. To do this, take into account their duration, frequency, periodicity, intensity, the place in which the contraction is felt.

Sign	During training	With generic
duration	last a few seconds, no more than 120	gradually increasing
frequency	from once a day to four to five per hour	more than five per hour
periodicity	messy	regular, the interval between contractions decreases
intensity	decreases rapidly	constantly growing
soreness	during pregnancy there is usually no pain from training contractions	usually have
a place	usually felt in one place, any	the spasm starts from the back, flowing to the stomach entirely
other signs	usually absent	the cork comes off, water is poured out, the cervix of the uterus opens

Knowing how to distinguish false contractions from real ones, a woman avoids unnecessary worries and visits to the doctor. But for your own reassurance, it is better to check again, discuss this state. Repeated uterine "training" will already be quite predictable, expected and not so scary.

Each woman experiences the symptoms of the harbingers in her own way. The strength of these sensations is different, the time of their occurrence is also different. Some report cramps as early as the sixth week, others just before childbirth. Most often, pregnant women describe their experiences as follows.

This happens more often in the morning or in the evening.
Suddenly, the abdomen sharply tenses, usually it is felt even with the palm, if you put it below or above the navel.
During training contractions, it is uncomfortable to move for as long as they last.
If you change your posture, stand up or, conversely, lie down, the spasm quickly disappears.

There are ways to relieve spasms, you can train generic breathing during them. Immediate action requires the appearance of additional warning symptoms.

Correct behavior of a pregnant woman

Trial fights differ from real ones in that they pass quickly. There are ways to speed up this process.

Eliminate the causes of uterine contractions as much as possible.
Drink a glass or more liquid, consume at least one and a half liters per day. You can have a snack.
A simple way, like changing the position of the body, will help distinguish contractions from precursors. If the woman was lying, you need to get up and walk, and vice versa. Light massage helps.
Warm water soothes muscles, shower or bath will help.
If emotions are the cause, you can distract yourself, listen to music, just close your eyes.

False contractions can be beneficial for when labor begins. During them, breathing exercises are done. They will soften the spasm, provide the flow of oxygen through the placenta.

When the muscles tighten, you need to slowly, slowly exhale the air. Then take a good deep breath.
When it starts to catch, often shallow breathing. This exercise is done for no longer than three to four minutes so that your head does not spin.
Inhale deeply through your nose, hold your breath. Then quickly and sharply release the air through the mouth.

The intensity of training contractions increases at 38 weeks gestation. Sometimes it is difficult to understand that this is not childbirth yet. Then it is better to see a doctor. A gynecological examination will reveal whether the cervix is dilating and will dispel all doubts.

Mom-to-be is resting

Additional signs will indicate that the process has really started. Distinguish labor pains from fake ones are such additional signs as:

drained water;
mucous bloody discharge;
the back hurts from the lower back and below.

This happens already in the last weeks of pregnancy. Sometimes, in the later stages, real contractions can be distinguished from fake ones only by such a sign as a stable increase in frequency and intensity. Everything else - water, pain - will appear much later.

But there are symptoms in which an urgent need to go to the doctor. The fact that these are not false contractions, but signs of premature birth, no matter how many days before them, are indicated by the following symptoms:

discharge with blood (placental abruption is possible);
mucous or watery discharge;
strong painful sensations;
decreased fetal activity;
a feeling of pressure in the groin;
contractions that are repeated more than four times per minute.

Attention!

The information published on the site is for informational purposes only and is intended for information only. Site visitors should not use them as medical advice! The editors of the site do not advise to self-medicate. The determination of the diagnosis and the choice of the treatment method remains the exclusive prerogative of your attending physician! Remember that only complete diagnostics and therapy under the supervision of a doctor will help to completely get rid of the disease!

Pregnancy is coming to an end, and childbirth, no matter how scary it sounds for the expectant mother, is inevitable. However, the main frightening factor for women is not the birth itself, but the contractions during childbirth. The stories told by grandmothers, mothers and girlfriends, about how difficult it was to cope with pain during labor, only exacerbate the situation.

In such cases, there is only one advice: to listen to others less, because each organism is individual, therefore any processes in it proceed in different ways. Some easily cope with the pain, others faint with a light injection. Therefore, in order to cope with fears, one should study the birth process and learn how to breathe correctly during childbirth.

Childbirth and their periods

Childbirth is a complex physiological process that completes pregnancy. Depending on the gestational age at which childbirth occurred, preterm labor (up to 36 weeks), urgent labor that occurred on time (38-41 weeks), and delayed labor (42 weeks) are distinguished. The process of childbirth itself is divided into three periods:

the period of contractions or the period of the opening of the pharynx of the uterus;

the period of expulsion - the withdrawal of the fetus (birth of a child);

the subsequent period - the removal of the birthplace.

The longest is the period of cervical dilatation. At this time, contractions and accompanying pain are present. Most women consider the period of fetal expulsion to be childbirth, but normally this process lasts 5-10 minutes and is distinguished by attempts that follow from contractions. Thus, the fetus is pushed out of the uterus. The birth of the placenta is also a short-lived stage and lasts about 5-15 minutes, with a maximum of 30 minutes. From the foregoing, it follows that childbirth is not only the process of expulsion of the fetus, but also the period of contractions with the discharge of amniotic fluid and the birth of a child's place (placenta).

Contractions

Contractions are involuntary uterine contractions that are carried out thanks to the muscular layer of the organ. They occur regularly and are required to move the fetus out of the uterus. Contractions are classified as true and false.

A pregnant woman begins to experience contractions before childbirth (false contractions) a few weeks before the very process of giving birth. For the first time, such uterine contractions are recorded after 24 weeks. They are characterized by a short duration (from a few seconds to a minute), irregularity, the interval between shocks is from 10-15 minutes to 2 hours. False contractions that occur at the final stage of gestation indicate the imminent approach of childbirth. Such contractions of the uterus are also called training, because thanks to them, the woman's body is prepared for the upcoming work of the uterus during childbirth.

True contractions are the starting point of the birth act. It is impossible to let them go or not notice, such an opinion and fear is inherent in women who give birth for the first time. Firstly, the onset of labor is evidenced by the precursors of the process, of particular importance is the discharge of the mucous plug (usually 3-7 days before the onset of labor). Secondly, amniotic fluid may drain. Thirdly, contractions have characteristic parameters, knowing about which, it is difficult to doubt the beginning of labor, even if they are the first for a woman.

Contractions are required in order for the opening of the uterine pharynx to occur, since the baby's head will first pass through it, and then the torso with limbs. The uterine pharynx is the internal and external pharynx of the cervical canal. During the normal course of labor, the uterine pharynx is closed and can pass the maximum of the fingertip. During childbirth, to facilitate the passage of the baby, it opens up to 10-12 centimeters. This disclosure is called complete.

In addition, in the process of the birth act, contractions provide the movement of the fetus along the planes in the small pelvis. When the cervix is fully dilated, and the head of the fetus passes the bony ring of the pelvis and reaches the pelvic floor (vagina), attempts occur, which indicate the beginning of the next stage of the labor process. Contractions and attempts are fruit-driving forces, without which the process of childbirth is impossible.

How to recognize contractions

As mentioned earlier, contractions cannot be missed, even if the woman is giving birth for the first time. However, one should not trust films where such situations are quite common: a woman is in the last stages of pregnancy and suddenly, without the slightest prerequisites, labor occurs, which ends after a couple of hours, and she is already a happy mother. Yes, such situations cannot be completely ruled out, but they refer to rapid childbirth, which lasts no more than 4 hours in primiparous women. If the birth is the second - two or less hours pass from the moment the uterine contractions begin until the baby is born.

True contractions begin (with a normal course) gradually and gradually increase, and the interval between contractions decreases. In order to understand that contractions have begun, you need to listen to yourself. Feelings can be very varied. Some people compare the contractions of the uterus to pain during menstruation, for others it is a stretching or pulling pain in the abdomen that spreads to the lumbar region, which eventually becomes shingles. True labor is the beginning of labor. In order to recognize labor pains, you need to know their characteristics:

pain sensations increase systematically (gradually);

contractions are always regular with breaks at regular intervals;

the duration of contractions of the uterus gradually increases, while the interval between contractions is reduced.

Another sensation that most expectant mothers describe during labor is the "uterine petrification" (especially if the pain does not bother much). This condition is easily identified by palpation. With the onset of labor, the uterus contracts and hardens, and by the end of the labor process, it gradually relaxes.

Duration of contractions

At the initial stage of labor, each contraction of the uterus lasts 10-15 seconds, while moving to the second stage of labor, the duration of the contractions is 60-90 seconds. The breaks between contractions are initially 10-15 minutes, as the process progresses, the intervals are reduced. In the tugging period, the break is 90-120 seconds, and in some cases even 60 seconds.

Phases of the period of contractions

Given that the cervical dilation is uneven and the fetus moves along the bone ring at different speeds, the period of contractions is usually divided into three separate phases:

The first, or latent phase.

The beginning of the phase coincides in time with the establishment of regular uterine contractions, and the end of the phase is reflected in the smoothing of the neck and its opening to a diameter of 3-4 centimeters. The duration of uterine contractions in this phase is 20-45 seconds, and the intervals between contractions last about 15 minutes, the duration of the phase itself is about 6 hours. This phase is usually called latent (latent), since at this stage the pain is either mild or absent altogether, respectively, drug anesthesia is not required.

Second, or active phase.

Immediately after the opening of the cervix up to 4 centimeters, the active phase takes effect. This phase is characterized by rapid dilatation of the cervix and intense labor. It lasts about 3-4 hours, while the duration of the contractions increases to 60 seconds, and the intervals are shortened, to 2-4 minutes. If the cervix has expanded to a diameter of 8 centimeters, and the fetal bladder remains intact, then a timely amniotomy (opening the fetal bladder) should be performed.

Third phase (deceleration phase).

It takes effect upon reaching the disclosure of the uterine pharynx up to 8 centimeters in diameter, and ends with its maximum disclosure. If contractions are present during the first birth, the duration of the third phase is from 40 minutes to 2 hours. If the woman is in the second childbirth, then the deceleration phase may be absent altogether. Contractions of the uterus last 60-90 seconds, and the interval between repetitions is 1 minute.

Based on the information above, it is easy to calculate the total duration of contractions as well as labor in general. Thus, the duration of the first stage of labor for primiparous women generally ranges from 10 to 12 hours. If childbirth is repeated, then the distance of the first period is reduced to 6-8 hours. If the duration of the first stage of labor is exceeded relative to the specified time, we should talk about protracted labor.

When to go to the hospital

Many people are interested in the question: "When, after the start of labor, to go to the hospital"? Quite often, especially if the first birth is planned, women arrive at the hospital too early (which causes excessive nervousness of the woman in labor), or, conversely, are late. In order to avoid such situations, you should determine when it is time to call an ambulance.

It is quite easy to understand that the contractions have begun, especially during the first birth. Contractions of the uterus become regular, and the interval between contractions reaches 10 minutes, gradually it begins to decrease, first to 7 minutes, then to 5 and further. When the woman herself determines that the period between contractions is within 5-7 minutes, you should call an ambulance. With repeated births, the regularity of contractions is established almost immediately, and the intervals between contractions are quickly reduced. Accordingly, a doctor should be called immediately, in order to exclude a rush with admission to the maternity hospital, when, when the cervix is fully dilated, just having arrived, it is already necessary to be on the delivery table. In such cases, the likelihood of road birth also increases (this problem is especially relevant for large cities with difficult traffic ("traffic jams")).

In addition, you need to immediately contact an ambulance in such cases:

discharge of amniotic fluid (very often this happens in a dream, and a woman, waking up, thinks that she has wet herself);

suspicion of an outpouring of amniotic fluid (a light liquid begins to leak, or a light, odorless, rather liquid discharge appears);

bloody discharge with clots, scarlet or dark color appeared (probably placental abruption).

The onset of labor with regular contractions makes not only the woman, but also her family, to be nervous and fidgety. Thus, the bag necessary for admission to the hospital must be collected in advance, according to the existing list, so as not to miss something important in a hurry. Before the arrival of the ambulance team, relatives should support the expectant mother psychologically and set her up for a positive outcome of the event (quite often, upon the arrival of an ambulance, the doctor does not know who to help first, a woman in labor or her semi-faint relatives).

Relief of labor pain

This is not to say that the pain during childbirth is so unbearable that it would be easier to die than to survive it. We repeat once again, to believe the stories of loved ones about how unbearable and painful it was for them during childbirth, that almost every second of them gave birth to one or more children. So it wasn't that hard. Every woman in her life must go through this natural process, because this is the only way to become a happy mother.

Undoubtedly, soreness, and sometimes intense pain will accompany the process of contractions and expulsion of the fetus. Yes, it is possible to stop painful sensations with the help of medications, but is it necessary for the unborn child. In addition, there are a number of techniques and recommendations, with the help of which pain during contractions will significantly decrease or disappear altogether.

How to relieve labor pain?

Psychoprophylactic training.

This preparation begins in the second half of pregnancy. In the classroom at the antenatal clinic (the so-called "school of mothers"), midwives and a doctor explain in detail the entire process of childbirth and answer questions of interest to expectant mothers. The algorithm of behavior at each stage of childbirth, the technique of correct breathing to ease contractions and relieve pain is explained. The main fears of women come from ignorance of the process itself and the lack of information about how to behave correctly in a given situation. Competent psychoprophylactic training not only eliminates gaps in the understanding of childbirth, but also sets up a pregnant woman for a positive outcome and meeting with her unborn child.

Abstracting from fears.

You do not need to constantly scroll through the upcoming birth process in your head and worry about possible pain, or think about how to survive possible complications. If this is not stopped, a vicious circle is formed in which the more a woman experiences and fears, the more likely complications will arise, against the background of nervous tension. Childbirth should be expected not with fear, but with joyful feelings, after such a long bearing of the baby under your heart, it is possible to see him and press him to the breast.

Warm water.

If contractions have appeared at home and time allows, then doctors recommend taking a warm, but in no case hot bath (only on condition that the amniotic fluid has not departed). The warm water bath maximizes relaxation and relieves tension in the uterine muscles, resulting in smoother contractions and faster cervical dilatation. If the waters have already departed, you can take a warm shower. In the maternity hospital, a woman in labor is also sent to the shower, where she can relax under streams of warm water.

Maximum relaxation.

If contractions occur at home, long breaks between contractions should be carried out in a state of maximum comfort and relaxation. You can turn on your favorite music, drink tea in peace (only if you do not have a caesarean section), watch your favorite show. The first stage of labor is very long (especially in primiparous women), so it should be used in order to gain energy and strength for the upcoming active labor.

Active behavior.

Active behavior during the period of uterine contractions is the adoption of comfortable postures and walking during contractions. More recently, in obstetric practice, there were recommendations according to which a woman in the first period should be exclusively in a horizontal position, but today it has been proven that an upright position only accelerates the favorable dilation of the cervix and greatly facilitates the process of contractions. You can also make circular movements with your hips or swing your pelvis, dance.

Massage.

The first stage of labor is most suitable for massage. You can perform self-massage, but it is better to involve your husband in this process. Light circular movements (clockwise) can stroke the abdomen. It is also allowed to massage the sacrum and lower back, pressure with fists on the sides of the spine and thumbs in the area of the anterior upper spines of the pelvic girdle (they are easily identified, since the bones protrude here most of all).

Correct posture.

At the moments of the fight, the expectant mother should take the most comfortable position for herself. You can lean forward and lean against the headboard or wall, while spreading your legs shoulder-width apart. You can squat down or get on all fours, and in some cases, lifting one leg helps, as an option, you can put it on a chair and lean against the wall. Many maternity hospitals are equipped with special huge balls, on which it is convenient to lie or jump during the uterine contraction. The main thing when taking a comfortable position is not to forget about the correct breathing technique.

We breathe correctly.

As mentioned above, proper breathing not only helps to reduce pain during labor, but also saturates the fetus with oxygen as much as possible. It is not advisable to scream during contractions, because, firstly, during the cry, breathing is held, respectively, the fetus does not receive oxygen. Secondly, screaming requires a lot of energy, which will come in handy during pushing. Thirdly, the child is simply frightened, because if the mother screams, then something is wrong.

We are distracted.

A variety of distractions can help you forget about or relieve pain. You can sing songs or read poetry, perform arithmetic calculations aloud, or repeat the multiplication table.

Confidence in the doctor.

An important point for influencing the intensity of painful sensations is trust in the attending physician. If the doctor for any reason makes the mother worried, you should ask the obstetrician to replace the doctor. However, the best option is to arrange in advance with the doctor whom the woman in labor wants to see in the role of the delivery person.

Correct breathing

Correct breathing during labor and childbirth not only eases painful sensations, but also relaxes the body as much as possible, saturates the body of the fetus and the expectant mother with oxygen, and promotes the rapid opening of the uterine pharynx. To our great regret, a significant number of expectant mothers are skeptical about learning the technique of correct breathing, not believing in the "miraculous" possibilities, such a simple thing as breathing, and, as practice shows, then complain about their skepticism in this matter. Correct breathing techniques are taught in "mothers' schools" (usually with antenatal clinics) for a period of 30-32 weeks. It is necessary to master this technique in order for the execution of movements to become automatic and in the future to facilitate the course of childbirth.

Breathing technique

Correct breathing primarily depends on the phase and strength of the contraction. It is very important to follow the rule: the more intense and longer the contractions, the more often you need to breathe. Correct breathing techniques:

We breathe slowly and deeply.

This breathing technique is recommended for use in the latent phase of contractions, namely during the period when they bring only discomfort and do not cause pain. The inhalation is carried out quickly and shortly, and the exhalation is done as long and slowly as possible. Inhalation should be through the nose, and exhalation through the mouth, while the lips should be folded into a tube. Doctors recommend breathing in a count - when inhaling, count to three, and exhale, counting to five.

Candle technique.

With a set of contractions of power and duration of contractions, it is necessary to begin to breathe frequently and shallowly. Inhalation is done through the nose, and exhale - through the mouth, with the lips "tube". Breathing should be quick and shallow, as if trying to put out a candle. At the end of the bout, we return to slow deep breathing. The occurrence of light dizziness after breathing according to the "suppository" technique can be explained by hyperventilation of the lungs. In addition, shallow breathing promotes the release of endorphins into the bloodstream, which relieve pain.

The Big Candle Technique.

This technique is applied at the end of the first period of labor. Inhalation is carried out with effort (as with a stuffy nose), and exhalation is carried out through almost closed lips.

Breathing on early attempts.

When the cervix is not yet fully open, and the head begins to descend, early attempts appear, which are contraindicated, since they can cause a rupture of the cervix. In such cases, it is necessary to change the position of the body (squat down or stand up), at the beginning of the fight you need to breathe in the candle technique, then inhale briefly and repeat the “candle” again. You should breathe at this rate until the end of the bout. It is recommended to breathe freely between contractions.

The "doggy" technique.

Breathing is shallow and frequent, but the mouth should be open (exhale and inhale through the mouth).

Breathing on pushing.

Initially, when pushing, we inhale as deeply as possible, and then push into the perineum, making efforts to push the child out. It is impossible to translate the pushing into the face, as there will be a headache and rupture of blood vessels on the retina. During the period of the contraction, you need to push three times. After the appearance of the child's head, you should stop pushing and switch to breathing according to the "doggy" method. At the command of the doctor, the attempts are resumed, at this stage the child is born.

Postpartum contractions are postpartum contractions. The fact is that after the baby is born, you still need to give birth to the baby's place (placenta, afterbirth). After the separation of the placenta from the uterine walls, pain recurs, however, its intensity is much lower than in the first period. In such cases, there is no need for strong attempts; small efforts are enough to leave the placenta.