The onset of labor pains signs and sensations. How labor pains begin: sensations and signs. What to expect from contractions
The last trimester of pregnancy is the most exciting period for a woman. The closer the delivery is, the more questions arise. The most relevant of them relate to how contractions begin before childbirth, what sensations arise during this, whether pain is felt.
It is this process that is most afraid of the fair sex, in whom pregnancy is the first. You really shouldn't be nervous about this. With negative emotions, the pain can feel intense. The less you think about it and the fear of contractions, the easier the birth will be.
Yes, and there are special techniques to reduce pain in this natural process.
A woman carrying a baby under her heart can be misled by false (training) contractions. They can start from the 20th week of pregnancy. False contractions before childbirth cause slight discomfort, but are irregular, short-lived, and in most cases practically painless. A warm bath or walking can help relieve uterine tension and discomfort. It is important to remember that the bath temperature should be between 36 and 38 degrees.
True contractions are the main harbinger of childbirth. How are contractions before childbirth and what do they look like? Every woman experiences contractions differently. It depends on the physiological characteristics of the pregnant woman and on the position of the baby in the tummy. For example, some may feel mild aching pain in the lumbar spine, which after a certain period of time spreads to the abdomen and pelvis, encircling the woman.
Others note that the sensation of labor is comparable to the discomfort that occurs during menstruation. The pain intensifies afterwards. With contractions, the uterus may seem to be stiff. This can be well seen if you put your hand on your stomach.
All of the above signs can be characteristic of false contractions of the uterus. Then how to recognize real contractions before childbirth? There are general signs of this natural process by which every pregnant woman can determine that she will soon begin labor:
- regularity of occurrence;
- gradual increase in frequency;
- increased pain over time.
In the beginning, a pregnant woman may feel labor pains over a long period of time. The pain is not severe. In the future, the intervals between contractions gradually decrease, the soreness of this natural process increases.
Based on the general signs of contractions before childbirth, 3 phases of the process can be distinguished:
- initial (latent, hidden);
- active;
- transitional.
The initial stage lasts on average about 7-8 hours. The duration of the contraction can be 30-45 seconds, the interval between them is about 5 minutes. During this period, the cervix opens up to 0-3 cm.
During the active phase, which lasts from 3 to 5 hours, contractions can last up to 60 seconds. The frequency of contractions during childbirth is 2-4 minutes. The cervix opens 3-7 cm.
The transient phase (deceleration phase) is the shortest. A woman can stay in it for 0.5-1.5 hours. The contractions get longer. They now last for 70-90 seconds. The interval between contractions also becomes shorter compared to other phases. After about 0.5-1 minutes, the woman in the position will feel the contractions of the uterus. The neck of this organ opens up to 7-10 cm.
Contractions in a second birth are also divided into three phases, but the total duration of each is shorter than in a first birth.
What if contractions start?
When contractions occur, a pregnant woman should calm down, because vanity is not the best helper. It is advisable to take a comfortable position in a chair, on a chair or on a bed and start recording the intervals between contractions and their duration. It is desirable to record all this data. You do not need to think about what is more painful: contractions or childbirth. Fear will make the pain seem unbearable.
If the contractions do not last long and the duration between them is long (20-30 minutes), then it is too early for the baby to be born. The woman has time to collect the necessary things, call an ambulance. At this time, with the help of loved ones, you can take a warm shower. In case of contractions, the intervals between which are 5-7 minutes, you already need to go to the hospital.
A trip to a medical facility should not be postponed, despite the fact that the initial phase of contractions can last several hours. Amniotic fluid can leave earlier, and at this time it is already desirable to be under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. When the water is draining, in no case should you take a warm or hot bath, because this may increase the likelihood of developing infectious complications, bleeding, embolism,.
How to induce contractions and childbirth?
For many women, labor begins at 37-40 weeks. However, there are cases when pregnancy lasts 41, 42 and even 43 weeks. Representatives of the fair sex in such situations are already beginning to worry, get nervous, because they really want to see their baby faster, but he still does not want to be born. Yes, and there are cases when the child died at this time in the mother's tummy, and the contractions did not start.
The death of a child can occur due to the fact that the placenta begins to age. Oxygen and nutrients may no longer be enough for your baby. How to induce contractions and childbirth is a question that worries expectant mothers carrying a child longer than the date of the expected birth, which was calculated by the doctor.
In order to prevent the occurrence of negative consequences, contractions and childbirth can be caused. However, this decision should only be made by a doctor. If there are no pathologies, and the amniotic fluid is clean, then there is no need to stimulate the birth process. Everything has its time. If any deviations are found, then the doctor will certainly suggest stimulation of contractions and childbirth. You shouldn't refuse it.
Contractions can be triggered on your own. For example, it is recommended to be more upright, walk, move, but there is no need to provoke the appearance of fatigue, stress, since this will not be beneficial.
Feelings of contractions before childbirth can arise from sex. Semen contains prostaglandins, which prepare the cervix for childbirth by softening it. Sexual arousal, orgasm tone up the body and cause uterine contractions.
You can induce contractions by massaging the nipples of the breast. It can be started from the 37th week of pregnancy. During the massage, the body releases the hormone oxytocin, due to which the muscles of the uterus can begin to contract. The massage allows not only to stimulate labor, but also to prepare the skin of the nipples for breastfeeding the baby.
There are also folk remedies for stimulating labor and labor, but you should not try them on yourself. For example, certain teas and decoctions can adversely affect the health of the mother and her baby, because some herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women, as they can provoke a miscarriage.
How can you make labor pains easier during childbirth?
Doctors can help a pregnant woman relieve pain during labor and labor with drugs. However, don't rely on anesthesia. There is a possibility that the drug will negatively affect the mother and her baby.
The main way to relieve pain is breathing correctly during labor and labor. With its help, a woman in labor can relax. At the onset of a contraction, it is recommended to focus on the exhalation. At this moment, it is worthwhile to imagine that pain “leaves” the body together with the air. A woman in labor can "make noise" during labor and childbirth. Sighs, groans and screams will ease the condition. Correct breathing should be learned in advance and exercised more often, because childbirth is stressful, due to which all poorly memorized information can be easily forgotten.
A woman in labor can relax with a massage and simple gentle touches of a loved one. Contractions are the beginning of labor. It is at their onset that it is recommended to do a slow massage of the lower back. A woman at this time can stand or sit on a chair, leaning on its back with her hands.
Lumbar back massage during childbirth is considered to be very effective. This is because the sacral nerve travels to the spinal cord from the uterus through the lower back. If you massage this area, then the pain during contractions will be less felt. It is very good if the spouse wants to be present during childbirth and help his beloved in this difficult moment.
The psychological attitude is no less important. Positive emotions, thoughts that soon it will be possible to see the baby, will help reduce pain. In order to properly react to what is happening and not worry, a woman needs to understand how childbirth proceeds and what one can feel at this time.
There is no need to wait for the next contraction between contractions. This time is given to a woman to rest. If you are tensely waiting for the next contraction, you can quickly get tired.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that contractions are a natural process. All pregnant women go through this. The question - how the contractions begin before childbirth, worries many expectant mothers. It is worth noting that it is impossible to accurately describe all the sensations, since they are individual. Someone compares contractions with pain during menstruation, and someone with an intestinal disorder.
- Pain as during an intestinal upset
- Back pain
- Pain in unexpected places
- Contractions without pain
KEANA: In the department of pregnancy pathology, the beds are so hard that every morning I thought that I had contractions (pain in my back, like during menstruation, was definitely observed), but when the real contractions began, I realized that they could not be confused with anything, that's for sure!
mama_Levika: Two weeks before giving birth, he starts to prick a little in the lower abdomen, it seems like contractions, but, girls! You can't confuse contractions with anything, don't rush to call an ambulance ...
What are contractions
So, the moment comes when your baby is ready to be born. Labor begins, which many expectant mothers recognize by painful contractions. But what is a "fight" and what happens at this moment?
” A contraction is an involuntary contraction of the smooth muscles of the uterus of a wavy nature. It is they that allow the cervix to open - the only "way out" for the child.
To imagine how the muscles of the uterus move, remember a crawling snail: a wave passes along its sole from the tail to the head, and the straining muscles push it forward. It is the same with the uterus: not all of it is tense at the same time.
The upper part of the uterus is more "muscular". It is she who squeezes the fetal bladder. As you remember from the school physics course, the liquid easily changes its shape, but practically does not change its volume. So the ovum begins to press with all its strength on the lower part of the uterus - there are fewer muscle fibers, so that it does not shrink, but, on the contrary, stretches. The main pressure falls on the cervix - the "weak link" of the muscle sac. There the fetal bladder literally wedges in: the anterior waters (amniotic fluid in front of the child) press the fetal bladder into the birth canal and push it apart.
” It is believed that there is a dominant focus of excitation in the uterus, which is more often localized in its right corner ("pacemaker"), hence the wave of contractions spreads to the entire muscles and goes in a downward direction.
A woman cannot control contractions, unlike attempts, in which both the muscles, the perineum, and the muscles of the abdominal wall, and the diaphragm are involved. That is why in the last period of childbirth, the midwife asks the woman to push or, on the contrary, to restrain herself for a few seconds. Indeed, we can all strain the muscles of the press, but it is absolutely impossible to strain with an effort of will, for example, the muscles of the stomach.
During tension and stretching of the uterus, the blood flow to its muscles is blocked (if you clench your fist with all your might, you will see individual areas of the skin turn white), and the nerve endings leading to the uterus are compressed. This is what determines the sensations that arise: the pain is dull, periodic ("it grabs, then lets go"), and most importantly, it is perceived by all women differently (depending on the location of the child, the uterus, and also on where the nerve endings are most compressed ). But the pain during pushing, which is caused by the movement of the child through the birth canal, is perceived by all women in labor in the same way: the unpleasant sensations are concentrated in the vagina, rectum, perineum, and the pain is quite acute.
That is why the sensations during contractions raise so many questions - are they really contractions or, for example, osteochondrosis? Let's take a look at some of the most common pain experiences!
Pain "like with menstruation"
The unpleasant sensations are localized in the lower abdomen and resemble pain during the onset of menstruation.
Lyalechka: pain as with menstruation, only worse.
SV1980: contractions were similar to menstruation at the beginning.
As a rule, women in labor who perceive contractions as "pain during menstruation" also feel the onset - "petrification" of the abdomen.
Pain as during an intestinal upset
Pain in the abdomen during contractions for many expectant mothers resembles the discomfort with intestinal upset, cramping attacks accompanying diarrhea.
Anelli: at the beginning it didn't hurt, just the feeling that you want to go to the toilet because of great need, and when you go to the toilet early in the morning with an interval of 20-30 minutes, and there is no result, you understand that the intestines have nothing to do with it!
Zuleyka: I thought I was poisoned by something the day before, my stomach was twisting ...
By the way, immediately before childbirth, the work of the intestines is really activated, the chair can be repeated.
Back pain
Quite often, the lumbar region becomes the source of pain: “pulls”, “grasps”.
vedetta: I had such pains - it grabbed the lower back and the pain rose from the bottom up along the back and stomach. And then she also went down and passed. To be honest, it doesn't look like menstruation ...
Tanyusha_will be a mother: Suddenly, my lower back began to ache every 15 minutes and then decreased by a little bit ... I didn't wait right away and went to the hospital.
The phenomenon of back pain has two explanations: the pain can radiate to the lower back, or be felt lower, in the coccyx area - most likely it is caused by the divergence of the pelvic bones.
Pain in unexpected places
Sometimes the pain can radiate to the most unexpected places, so that the woman in labor complains that, for example, her hips or ribs hurt.
Alma: contractions began - and in the side it hurts and in the kidney and in the leg!
Most often, women identify radiating pains as "kidney pain", especially if they have experienced them before. Pain in the hips, knees, numbness of the legs - may be the result of compression of large blood vessels in the lower abdomen.
Contractions without pain
This also happens, especially at the very beginning of labor. The sensations, however, are rather unpleasant. Expectant mothers usually feel how the uterus is toned for a few seconds - the stomach “stiffens”, then relaxes again. Similar sensations arise if during contractions do .
Ksyusha_SD: I kept walking and thinking, but how can I understand that this is it, it has begun? I felt good, there was no change in my appetite either. I understood really, only when the contractions began - just periodically the tone of the tummy began.
Of course, not everyone is so lucky, but it happens that a woman is not very susceptible to pain. So at the beginning of labor, while the pressure on the cervix is low (or, for example, it has a flat fetal bladder, in which ), the sensations may be unpleasant, but not painful.
As you can see, the descriptions of the contractions are very different. How do you recognize them?
Periodicity. Contractions, however they feel, occur at regular intervals. In this, labor pains differ from "training" ones - .
Increase in frequency. During childbirth, contractions occur more and more often.
Gain. The intensity of pain is increasing.
Lack of response to your actions. Unpleasant sensations do not disappear if you change your body position, walk, lie down, take a shower.
Displacement of painful sensations. Gradually, the pain shifts to the perineal region, on which the child's head begins to press.
Did it all coincide? You should definitely go to the hospital!
Many pregnant women often wonder about the upcoming date. childbirth, and women who have to give birth for the first time are especially worried. As a rule, they are very afraid not to recognize the onset of labor in time and confuse them with temporary malaise. In many cases, a woman's close observation of the changes taking place in her body will help to resolve these unrest.Already at 38 weeks, the prenatal period begins, when the first harbingers of childbirth and the first, as yet irregular (training) contractions appear. Such contractions appear irregularly, and they disappear after a change in body position or a short rest. In primiparous women, such training contractions of the uterus can last for five, and in some cases even more, days before delivery. When they appear, there is no need to worry and urgently go to the hospital, but the expectant mother should notify her doctor, family and friends about such changes in her body.
When the first signs of leakage or discharge of amniotic fluid appear, which may indicate the onset of labor or premature labor, a woman should immediately notify a doctor or independently contact a medical institution to resolve the issue of further hospitalization.
If a woman has learned to recognize training contractions, then she will be able to distinguish them from the onset of labor, or true contractions. It is difficult to confuse these sensations with any other symptom, since they are characterized by periodicity and rhythm. For example, a fight lasts 20-30 seconds, and then there is a 20-minute pause - this is repeated many times in a row, and the time intervals hardly change.
At the beginning of the onset of labor pains, the woman in labor or her relatives must inform the doctor about the beginning of labor, call an ambulance or go to the maternity hospital on their own.
Reasons for the onset of labor
By the beginning of childbirth, many complex processes occur in the body of a pregnant woman, which, being in close interconnection, provide the onset of such a reflex act as labor.The main reason for the onset of labor is the readiness of the uterus for the birth of the unborn child and the maturity of the fetus.
Pregnant uterus:
- is gaining sufficient weight and size;
- her neuromuscular apparatus is ready for contractile activity;
- the placenta fully ripens.
Several factors influence the onset of labor:
- neuro-reflex - as a result of a decrease in the excitability of the brain, an increase in the excitability of the spinal cord and an increase in the sensitivity of the muscle fibers of the uterus to oxytocin, an increased contractile activity of the uterus is produced;
- hormonal- at the end pregnancy the production of progesterone decreases and the production of a complex of estrogens increases, which stimulate the onset of labor;
- neurohumoral - at the end of pregnancy in a woman's body, the synthesis of oxytocin, prostaglandins, serotonin and other bioactive substances increases, which increase the sensitivity of the uterus to substances that cause active contraction of her muscles;
- bioenergy - a sufficient amount of substances (glycogen, ATP, phosphorus compounds, electrolytes and trace elements) accumulates in the mother's body, which make the uterus capable of enhanced contractile activity;
- mechanical - the mature uterus loses its ability to stretch, and in response to the motor activity of the fetus and an increase in the level of oxytocin-like hormones, it begins to actively contract;
- trophic and metabolic - the accumulation of some waste products in the body of a ripe fetus leads to its active movement, and degenerative processes in the mature placenta and the complete maturation of the muscle fibers of the uterus contribute to the onset of labor.
The state of the nervous system of the woman in labor is of primary importance in the formation of all mechanisms of the onset of labor, since it is this system that ensures the readiness of the uterus for natural childbirth.
All of the above factors, being in close relationship, contribute to the appearance of contractions, which are replaced by attempts and ends with the expulsion of the fetus from the uterine cavity and the birth of the placenta.
Harbingers of the onset of labor
The harbingers of childbirth are called a set of signs that indicate the imminent onset of active labor. There are many harbingers of the onset of childbirth, but for each woman, their totality is individual and depends on the characteristics of the organism of the expectant mother. Harbingers of childbirth:
- Abdominal prolapse.
Such a change, which is determined externally by a slight downward displacement of the abdomen, is individual for each pregnant woman, and cannot always be noticed independently. In primiparous women, this harbinger may appear 2-4 weeks before the day of childbirth, and in multiparous women - a few days or immediately before childbirth. - Gait changes.
The gait pattern changes after abdominal ptosis. The woman begins to waddle because of the pressure of the baby's head on the pelvic bones and the bottom of the uterus. - Changes in the nature of urination and bowel movements.
Abdominal prolapse can cause increased urination or urinary incontinence as the uterus puts more pressure on the bladder. The mechanical effect of the pregnant uterus on the intestinal wall can provoke constipation, and in some cases diarrhea, several weeks or days before childbirth. - Changes in the nature of discharge from the genital tract.
Vaginal discharge under the influence of hormonal changes becomes more abundant and fluid. In some cases, to exclude the discharge of amniotic fluid, a special test is performed by an obstetrician. - Discharge of the mucous plug.
This harbinger of labor can occur 2 weeks before labor starts and several hours before labor starts. In some cases, the mucous plug does not come off entirely, but in small portions. In practice, this symptom looks like a discharge of vaginal discharge (sometimes with an admixture of a small amount of blood). The pregnant woman should inform her obstetrician-gynecologist about the discharge of the mucous plug. - Decrease in body weight of the expectant mother.
A few days before giving birth, a pregnant woman may notice that she weighs 1-2 kg less. This weight loss can be explained by the elimination of excess fluid from the body under the influence of changes in the hormonal background. - Reducing the number of fetal movements.
The fetus, a few weeks before delivery, moves less frequently. This is due to its rapid growth. The future baby becomes cramped in the uterine cavity, and his movements are difficult. - Training bouts.
Closer to the date of delivery, the uterus begins to increasingly come into an increased tone, which is expressed in the sensation of training contractions. They differ from labor pains in a number of features: short duration, irregularity, weak pain sensations (reminiscent of pain during menstruation), spontaneous disappearance after a change in body position or rest. - The manifestation of the "nesting" instinct.
Many women in the last days and even hours before childbirth begin to prepare their homes for the upcoming birth of a child. These actions can be expressed in the fact that the woman begins to diligently clean up, wash, and may even start repairs. - Changes in the cervix.
Only an obstetrician-gynecologist can notice such a harbinger of an impending birth when examining a woman on a gynecological chair. Under the influence of estrogen hormones, the cervix shortens and becomes more elastic by 38 weeks. The external cervical os begins to open before the onset of labor pains.
Harbingers of the onset of labor - video
Signs of the onset of labor
Reliable signs of the onset of labor are:1. Contractions;
2. Outpouring of amniotic fluid.
These two signs always indicate the onset of labor and every pregnant woman should know how they proceed.
Contractions
True, or labor pains are called contractions of the muscle fibers of the uterus, which occur at regular intervals, and which a woman cannot control. It is this sign that marks the moment of the onset of labor. The first true contractions are accompanied by minor painful sensations, which most women compare to pain during menstruation. The pain is tolerable and can radiate to the lower back or be localized in the lower abdomen. Most women in labor begin to experience contractions at night. Some women note that during a labor contraction, the uterus "turns to stone", that is, if a woman in labor puts her hand on her stomach during a labor contraction, she can feel the hard, tense uterus.
You can determine the truth of the contractions using a stopwatch. Their frequency and constant occurrence, which is not eliminated by a change in body position, taking a warm bath or rest, indicates the onset of labor.
Initially, contractions occur at intervals of half an hour (more often in some cases). With each contraction, the woman in labor begins to feel not only soreness, but also rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the uterus. Gradually, the contractions become more noticeable, and their frequency, duration and intensity increase. With each contraction, the amniotic sac and the head of the fetus press against the fundus of the uterus, causing the cervix to open gradually.
Outpouring of amniotic fluid
In the classical course of childbirth, the outflow of amniotic fluid occurs after the opening of the cervix up to 3-7 cm. Under the pressure of the fetus, the amniotic membrane ruptures, and part of the amniotic fluid is poured out.A woman in labor, with the classic outpouring of water, may think that she involuntarily urinated. In some cases, the water is poured out gradually, in small portions. In this case, a woman may notice the appearance of wet spots on underwear or bedding and experience sensations such as when vaginal or menstrual flow is separated.
Sometimes rupture of amniotic fluid can occur before the onset of regular contractions and the opening of the cervix, or much later than the full opening of the pharynx of the uterus. These conditions do not always mean that there will be a pathology of childbirth or fetus, but usually gynecologists use various special tactics for the further management of such labor to prevent possible complications.
Signs of the onset of labor - video
Contractions at the beginning of labor
Obstetricians-gynecologists distinguish three phases of labor pains:Initial (hidden) phase:
- bout duration - 20 seconds;
- the frequency of contractions is 15-30 minutes;
- dilation of the pharynx of the uterus - 0 or up to 3 cm.
Active phase:
- the duration of the bout is 20-60 seconds;
- the frequency of contractions is 2-4 minutes;
- the opening of the pharynx of the uterus is 3-7 cm.
Transient (transient) phase:
- bout duration - 60 seconds;
- the frequency of contractions is 2-3 minutes;
- opening of the pharynx of the uterus - 7-10 cm.
Labor pains occur in the first stage of labor (the period of disclosure).
The beginning of labor in primiparous
Probable harbingers of childbirth in primiparous have their own characteristic features. As a rule, they have a more pronounced time gap between the day of childbirth and the date of appearance of the precursors. Some mothers-to-be are overly emotional and take any slight ailment for the harbingers of childbirth. If they do not know about this or that sign, they may not notice them.All expectant mothers experience anxiety before childbirth. Primiparas of the fairer sex are especially afraid of this process. They have a lot of questions about their own behavior, the duration and pain of the procedure. If you are interested in what frequency they have, then the article is written about this.
There are several types of contractions before childbirth. They all differ in strength, frequency, duration and final outcome of the process.
Involuntary uterine contractions
To tell how contractions feel during childbirth (frequency, duration and intensity of the process), you need to define this concept. Contractions are called involuntary contractions of the genital organ - the uterus. A woman is not able to independently manage this process or somehow control it.
The substance actomyosin, a contraction protein, triggers contractions. It is produced by the placenta and also by the pituitary gland of the embryo under the influence of certain hormones. The process of contractions is very complex, and it is quite difficult to understand it for an inexperienced person in this area. In case of violation of the synthesis of actomyosin or its incorrect spatial distribution, various complications arise during childbirth. These include weak, unproductive contractions, a decrease in the strength of the woman in labor.
Early contractions: the threat
Contractions before childbirth are not always timely. What is the frequency of pathological uterine contractions? Even an experienced gynecologist will probably not be able to answer this question. Much depends on the length of the pregnancy.
The threat of interruption can occur in the first trimester. This happens most often. In this case, the sensations in women are as follows: pulling pain in the lower abdomen, thinning of the stool, often at these times is associated with insufficient release of progesterone. With appropriate therapy, the signs of pathology, like the problem itself, can be eliminated.
In the second trimester, starting contractions may already indicate the threat of premature birth. There can be many reasons for this: physical activity, sexual intercourse, cervical insufficiency, stress, and so on. At this time, the contractions are already felt more clearly. Some patients may even talk about the frequency and timing of uterine contractions.
or harbingers
From about the middle of pregnancy, expectant mothers can celebrate new sensations. False contractions before childbirth, the frequency of which is very different, most often do not pose any danger. At the moment of contraction of the uterus, the woman feels tension in the abdomen, which does not give her painful sensations. This state lasts from several seconds to a minute. A false contraction can be repeated in a few hours or days.
Harbinger contractions of the genital organ become more frequent with an increase in term. Before giving birth, a woman celebrates Braxton-Hicks contractions daily. Such spasms help prepare the cervix for childbirth: they soften and shorten it. If you feel false contractions, be sure to inform your doctor about it. You need to make sure of their real safety.
Signs
How are labor pains manifested? What is the frequency of uterine contractions? Here are the main signs of the onset of labor:
- increased frequency and thinning of the stool;
- outpouring of amniotic fluid;
- girdle aching pain;
- backache;
- pressure on the small pelvis;
- nausea and vomiting;
- feeling of tension, petrification in the abdomen;
- decreased motor activity of the fetus.
The frequency of contractions during labor can range from 2 minutes to an hour. It all depends on the stage of the process. Let's consider them.
latent phase
How does labor pain before childbirth feel? The frequency of uterine contractions always decreases steadily. At the very beginning, a woman may notice weak pulling sensations in the lower abdomen and lower back for up to 20 seconds. The interval between contractions is 15-30 minutes.
The expectant mother can take a shower and get ready for childbirth. Provided the integrity of the fetal bladder, the woman in labor does not experience severe discomfort. However, you shouldn't stay at home. Go to the healthcare facility of your choice.
Contractions before childbirth: frequency of the active phase
Such uterine contractions last at least 20-30 seconds (up to a minute). They are repeated regularly, the interval is gradually reduced and ranges from 2 to 5 minutes. Painful sensations in this period become more pronounced. It is already difficult for the expectant mother to move. Often it is at this stage of childbirth that the fetal bladder bursts and water is poured out. If this happened, then now the process will go much faster.
The duration of the active phase can be different. On average, it ranges from 2 to 5 hours. If the integrity of the membranes is preserved, then the painful sensations are significantly dulled, and the process is slower.
Attempts
There is an interesting feature that contractions have before childbirth. The frequency of uterine contractions decreases by the time the cervix opens. In other words, as soon as the birth canal is ready for the baby's passage, the frequency of contractions will decrease. If in the active phase you can feel painful contractions every two minutes, now the break will be 3-4 minutes. Increasing the term will allow the mother to squeeze out the fetus using each contraction.
During attempts, the expectant mother feels strong pressure on the bottom. Many people compare it to the urge to defecate. During this period, it is very important to listen to the doctor. Improper and untimely straining can lead to ruptures of the birth canal of varying degrees.
Let's make a conclusion
If you have contractions before childbirth (the frequency is 20 minutes or less), you need to collect all the necessary things and go to the maternity hospital. Tell your doctor about all your feelings. Tell us about the duration and frequency of contractions. A gynecologist or obstetrician will certainly conduct an examination and will be able to say for sure whether you are giving birth or if these are just precursors.
Doctors remind patients that second and further births are always faster than the first. Therefore, if you are preparing to become a mother again, do not delay a visit to the maternity hospital. Surely you already know about and what is their frequency. In case of rupture of the fetal bladder and the outpouring of amniotic fluid, you need to go to the maternity hospital even in the absence of contractions. Happy childbirth and good health!
By the way, when pushing, it is imperative to push down, into the stomach, and not into the head. The doctor will explain this during childbirth. Alternatively, you can draw air into your mouth, as when diving, and try to push, then it turns out exactly as it should. In this case, the obstetrician will control and prompt with what intensity you need to push and how to breathe correctly. This is also taught in courses or special lectures for pregnant women.
This is followed by the birth of the baby, after a while the afterbirth (placenta) is born. Ideally, the baby should be immediately attached to the breast, since drops of colostrum immediately after childbirth are the most valuable for a newborn baby. After that, the doctor processes the woman's birth canal, a hot-water bottle with ice is placed on the stomach so that the uterus contracts better and, now the mother, is transferred from the birth canal to the ward.
- The second scenario is when the contractions do not start at first, but the amniotic fluid leaves. By the way, this moment is very important, in no case should you miss it, you need to immediately call an ambulance and go to the hospital. After all, if the water has departed, then the fetal bladder has burst, and now the child does not have the usual amniatic fluid and there is no oxygen, when in such a situation for a long time, the baby may start hypoxia (lack of oxygen), and if the contractions do not start, then they will have to be stimulated the introduction of special drugs. Next, childbirth takes place according to the scenario described above.
There are also cases when natural delivery is impossible for a number of reasons: cord entanglement, breech presentation, other pathologies that are detected at the stage of pregnancy, you have to do a planned or urgent caesarean section, but this is another story and I will write about this in another article.
False contractions
Some women may have false contractions after pregnancy, they are also called Braxton Hicks contractions. They do not contribute to the opening of the cervix and are not precursors of childbirth. During them, not such painful sensations arise as with true ones, the intervals between them are uneven.
If you put your hand to your stomach, you feel a tense uterus. A walk or a warm shower can help relieve unpleasant sensations. They arise due to overstrain of the uterus, contribute to the fact that the neck is shortened and softened. They are harmless and go away by themselves. Only if they occur every day and bring discomfort, be sure to consult your doctor.
How to survive contractions
All women have different pain thresholds, and there have even been cases when the woman in labor weakly feels them, but these are isolated options, which are more the exception than the rule.
Yes, primiparous girls can take extraneous pains, including false ones, for true ones, but real contractions, when they begin, are difficult to confuse with something. Regardless of how long the contractions last, it is recommended to relieve pain:
- Massage the lower back in the coccyx area.
- Ideally, negotiate with your husband or other loved one about help during labor, so that he does massage, help walk, distract.
- A warm shower also helps, with its help, pain is more easily transferred.
- Do not lie on your back, move if possible, at least lie on your side. In some maternity hospitals, the old fashioned way, women are not allowed to get up or walk during labor, clarify these points in advance and choose a maternity hospital where free behavior during childbirth is encouraged. Someone is helped by sitting on a fit-ball, squatting, walking, bending over, everything is individual here. Just do not sit on a hard surface during contractions, especially if the water has receded.
- Sometimes standing on all fours and swaying helps.
In the intervals between contractions, you need to try to rest as much as possible. Also, try not to be tense. Yes, it is difficult, because when it hurts, you forget about various advice and recommendations, and you only think about how to alleviate your condition. So, it is advisable to learn relaxation even before childbirth: to meditate, to do yoga.
Harbingers of labor before labor starts
Approximately two weeks before giving birth, a woman's hormonal background changes. If during all nine months of pregnancy the main "character" was progesterone, which was responsible for the tone of the uterus, normal development of the fetus, cervical mucus, now estrogens come out on top. The concentration of progesterone decreases. The patency and elasticity of the birth canal: the cervix, vagina are provided by estrogens.
It is thanks to hormones and their certain concentration that the process of childbirth starts. There are several relative forerunners. Why relative? Because according to them it is impossible to understand that you will begin labor in a week or in an hour, but at least they make it clear that this will happen in the near future and that the body is ready.
- The passage of the mucous plug - the mucus that closes the cervical canal that forms in the fifth week of pregnancy and protects the baby from infections - leaves a few hours or days before delivery.
- The abdomen goes down (the bottom of the uterus goes down, the baby's head approaches the entrance of the small pelvis), it becomes easier for the woman to breathe, the pressure on the diaphragm decreases.
- Leakage of amniotic fluid. Attention, if there is such a suspicion or if the secreted fluid is greenish or grayish, you urgently need to consult a doctor, this indicates fetal hypoxia. Normally, amniotic fluid is transparent, and their volume is on average 800 ml, but with polyhydramnios or low water this indicator may be different.
- Sometimes in women, when the child's head is lowered into the base of the small pelvis, swelling and even seizures may occur, this is due to pressure on the blood vessels.
- Dull and aching lower back pain - is also a harbinger of imminent labor - this indicates an expansion of the pelvic bones in the sacroiliac region. Swimming or special exercises can help relieve these unpleasant sensations.
Thank you for your attention, dear girls, I will be glad if the article was useful to you. Share your comments, tell your friends, and of course, stay with us. Good luck to you, easy childbirth and healthy babies.
Contractions are called involuntary contractions of the uterus, which occurs with a certain frequency and duration. Their main purpose is to expel the fetus from the uterine cavity. The question of what the symptoms are during labor is of concern to the future woman in labor in pregnancy. There are no universal ways to determine the onset of contractions, since every woman is different. Much depends on the type of pregnancy, the position of the baby in the womb and the level of female hormones in the body. However, be sure that when they begin, you will not be able to confuse them with anything else and you will definitely understand that “that day and hour” has come.
The main task of a woman during the entire period of pregnancy is the need to remain calm and not be afraid of the sensations that arise, at every opportunity to ask questions to her leading doctor - gynecologist.
For contractions, like other manifestations of pregnancy, you need to be prepared psychologically and not feel fear of them, since it can provoke stronger painful sensations, which are more difficult to get rid of. The first harbingers of the approaching labor are the training contractions of the uterus.
Braxton Hicks contractionsThe first symptoms of contractions can begin to bother a woman from the twentieth week, however, these are not labor contractions yet, but false, training contractions. These contractions are named after Braxton Hicks and have the same symptoms as labor, but are rare and irregular. The uterus is a muscle, which means it needs training to prepare for labor. This is the purpose of this phenomenon. False contractions differ from real ones in less painfulness, and often in a complete absence of pain. In order to relieve the tension of the uterus during false contractions, sometimes it is enough to take a warm shower, drink clean water, get comfortable and relax.
Symptoms of prenatal labor
Contractions during pregnancy are accompanied by the following symptoms:
- aching pains begin in the lumbar region, passing to the abdomen and pelvis;
- discomfort, reminiscent of the sensations during menstruation;
- discomfort similar to diarrhea;
- feeling of petrification of the uterus.
How to survive contractions
The ideal option would be the presence of a husband or another person you trust. It will make it easier for you to survive the fight. He will be able to massage your lower back and lower abdomen, with him they will also let you go into the shower, the warm water of which makes the fight less painful.
During contractions, it is important to take the correct position in which it will be easier for you to endure the contraction of the uterus. Some pregnant women benefit from a smooth rocking motion on the ball.
Get on all fours, and you will feel that the fight is not so strong. Do not lie on your back during the fight, it is better to walk a little, you can even dance or sway from side to side.
Do not think that you will be judged. During this period, you and your partner should do everything in order to postpone the period of contractions and easily enter the tiring period.
How to breathe during contractions:
Inhale nose-exhale mouth (as if blowing out a candle);
At times inhale nose-exhale mouth;
Two inhales nose-exhale mouth.
Each expectant mother suffers contractions in her own way. Someone is helped by swaying on a ball, and someone is helped by massage. Everything here is purely individual. But in any case, you yourself have to choose the position in which it is most convenient.
Pregnancy is an important and crucial stage in a woman's life, because it is full of new sensations, fears, events and worries. This process is especially exciting for those who have their first pregnancy, because everything that happens is unfamiliar and new to them. Especially often expectant mothers are worried about how to determine that contractions are beginning, what feelings do you experience? There are some signs by which you can understand that the process of childbirth will begin soon.
How do you know when contractions are starting? What sensations await a woman?
The expectant mother has to carry a baby under her heart for nine whole months, but as soon as she finds out about her delicate situation, a lot of questions arise in her head: "How does the process of childbirth take place? How do contractions manifest? What sensations accompany them? What to do if labor has begun. activity?" It so happens that a woman is completely unprepared for childbirth. To prevent this from happening, you need to prepare in advance for this event and learn more about it. For example, symptoms such as increased urge to use the toilet, abdominal prolapse, uterine contractions, variability in appetite and mood, as well as the release of a mucous plug may indicate that labor will begin soon.
Contractions are the main harbingers of childbirth
A distinctive feature is contractions during pregnancy, these sensations cannot be confused with anything. With their onset, as a rule, there is a discharge of Contraction - this is a contraction of the muscles of the uterus, while there is a gradual opening of the pharynx of the uterus, which contributes to the movement of the child along the birth canal of the mother. A pulling pain in the lower abdomen appears, it is similar to painful sensations during menstruation. You can also feel how the fetus presses on and at the same time you can feel tingling in this area. It should be noted that the sensations during contractions for each woman are individual: someone experiences pain mainly in the lumbar region, for someone it grows in the uterus itself, and someone compares it to the pain that accompanies menstruation.
Contractions: what sensations are possible and what to do if they have begun
It is noticed that the more a pregnant woman is afraid of the onset of labor, the more painful her contractions are. Therefore, the expectant mother can be recommended to prepare for labor, study the literature on the topic in advance, learn to breathe and relax correctly. In addition, today there are many special courses that prepare women for an important process in their life - the birth of a baby, tell what feelings a woman in labor feels at the same time. So, what to do if contractions have begun, and how to facilitate this process? 
- As soon as painful sensations appear, foreshadowing labor, it is better not to lie down, but to actively move, this will help the cervix to open faster, which means that the duration of the birth itself will be reduced.
- You need to try to find such a body position in which it will be easiest for you to endure contractions, and the pose can be anything, even if you want to get on all fours or step from foot to foot. This is quite normal, and in such a situation there is nothing to be ashamed of.
- In between contractions, you should try to relax as much as possible.
- Massage of the spine in the sacral region helps a lot, it has a good effect both at the very beginning of contractions and throughout the action of the expelling forces.
- Do not forget about correct breathing, the medical staff who will be nearby will tell you how to do this.
- And finally, the most important thing: you need to think about the baby who is about to be born. Calm down, think that soon all the torment will end, and you will meet with the baby, whose appearance you have been waiting for. It’s worth having patience for that.
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