The first signs of labor. How to understand that childbirth is close. Video: Pregnancy. Prolapse of the abdomen

The most common questions that expectant mothers ask themselves and their friends who have already given birth are: “How do I know that childbirth has begun? Am I missing the onset of labor? Are there any signs that labor is about to begin? Of course, it is difficult to accurately predict the date of birth, but still there are some signs by which you can determine that a child may be born soon.

Usually, childbirth does not happen suddenly, our body cannot change overnight - it does not happen that an hour ago nothing foreshadowed the onset of labor, and suddenly they began abruptly. Childbirth is always preceded by some changes in the body. What should expectant mothers pay attention to?

There are so-called harbingers of childbirth- external tangible changes in the body, which indicate preparation for the onset of childbirth. The reason for their appearance is a sharp increase in the amount of estrogen before childbirth. The activity of these hormones affects both the well-being and behavior of a woman. For some, the harbingers appear 2 weeks before the upcoming birth, while for someone just a few hours before them. For some, the harbingers of childbirth are intensely expressed, for some they go unnoticed. There are several harbingers of childbirth, but in order to understand that childbirth will begin soon, one or two of them are enough.

false contractions

False contractions may appear after. The false contractions are more intense than the Braxton-Hicks contractions (training contractions) that a woman has been able to feel since. False contractions, like Braxton-Hicks contractions, train the uterus for the upcoming birth, they are irregular and painless, the intervals between them do not decrease. Real labor pains, on the contrary, are regular, their strength gradually increases, they become longer and more painful, and the intervals between them are reduced. That's when you can already say that the birth began for real. In the meantime, false contractions are going on, it is not necessary to go to the maternity hospital - you can easily survive them at home.

Prolapse of the abdomen

Approximately two to three weeks before delivery, the baby, in preparation for birth, presses the presenting part (usually the head) against the lower segment of the uterus and pulls it down. The uterus, which was previously in the abdominal cavity, moves to the pelvic region, the upper part of the uterus (bottom), descending, ceases to put pressure on internal organs chest and abdominal cavity. As soon as the stomach drops, the expectant mother notices that it has become easier for her to breathe, although it becomes more difficult to sit and walk, on the contrary. Heartburn and belching also disappear (after all, the uterus no longer presses on the diaphragm and stomach). But, having dropped down, the uterus begins to put pressure on bladder- Naturally, urination becomes more frequent.

For some, prolapse of the uterus causes a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and even mild pain in the inguinal ligaments. Sometimes electric discharges run through someone's legs and lower back. All these sensations also arise due to the fact that the presenting part of the fetus moves down and is "inserted" into the entrance of the woman's small pelvis, while irritating its nerve endings.

In the second and subsequent births, the stomach drops later - right before the birth. It happens that this harbinger of childbirth is not at all.

Weight loss

Approximately two weeks before childbirth, weight may decrease, usually it decreases by 0.5-2 kg. This happens because excess fluid is removed from the body and swelling decreases. If earlier during pregnancy, under the influence of the hormone progesterone, fluid in the body of a pregnant woman accumulated, now, before childbirth, the effect of progesterone decreases, but other female sex hormones, estrogens, begin to work hard. They remove excess fluid from the body of the expectant mother. Very often, the expectant mother notices that at the end of pregnancy it became easier for her to put on rings, gloves, shoes - this reduced swelling on the hands and feet.

Change of stool

In addition, hormones also relax the muscles of the intestines, which can lead to upset stools. Sometimes such an increase in stool (up to 2-3 times a day) with liquefaction of feces is taken by women for an intestinal infection. However, if there is no nausea, vomiting, changes in the color and smell of feces, or any other symptoms of intoxication, you should not worry: this is one of the harbingers of the upcoming birth.

Decreased appetite

On the eve of childbirth, all desire to eat for two disappears, and sometimes you don’t feel like eating at all. All this is also the preparation of the body for natural childbirth.

Change in emotional state

It has been noticed that many women have a mood change a few days before giving birth. Usually, the expectant mother feels tired, she wants to rest, sleep more, apathy appears. This state is quite understandable - you need to gather strength to prepare for childbirth. Often, just before giving birth, a woman seeks to retire, looking for a secluded place where you can hide and focus on yourself and your experiences.

Changing the child's behavior

Kid in last days before childbirth, too, subsides. His motor activity is reduced, while according to CTG, ultrasound and other studies, he is completely healthy. It's just that the child has already gained sufficient weight and height, and often there is simply nowhere for him to turn around in the uterus. In addition, the baby is also gaining strength before a long job.

Discomfort

A few days before giving birth, many expectant mothers experience some discomfort in the lower abdomen and in the sacrum. Most often, they are similar to those that occur on the eve of or during menstruation - the stomach or lower back periodically pulls, sometimes these are mild aching pains. They appear during the passage of the mucous plug or before. Such discomfort occurs due to stretching of the pelvic ligaments, increased blood flow to the uterus, or as a result of the omission of the uterine fundus.

Removal of the mucous plug

This is one of the main and obvious harbingers of childbirth. During pregnancy, the glands in the cervix produce a secret (it looks like a thick jelly and forms the so-called cork), which prevents various microorganisms from entering the uterine cavity. Before childbirth, under the influence of estrogens, the cervix softens, the cervical canal opens slightly and the cork can come out - the woman will see that clots of mucus of a jelly-like consistency remain on the linen. Cork can be of different colors - white, transparent, yellowish-brown or pink-red. Often it is stained with blood - this is completely normal and may indicate that childbirth will occur within the next day. The mucus plug can come out all at once (at once) or come out piecemeal throughout the day. Usually, the discharge of the cork does not affect the well-being of the expectant mother in any way, but sometimes at the time of its release, sips are felt in the lower abdomen (as before menstruation).

The mucous plug can go away two weeks before the birth, and can stay inside almost until the baby is born. If the cork is out, but there are no contractions, you should not immediately go to the hospital: just call the doctor and consult. However, if the cork has come off earlier than two weeks before the expected date of birth, or there is a lot of bright red blood in it, you should immediately contact the maternity hospital.

Usually, the expectant mother has two or three signs of an approaching birth. But it happens that there are no harbingers at all. This does not mean that the body is not preparing for childbirth: it is quite possible that a woman simply does not notice the precursors or they will appear immediately before childbirth.

What to do if there are any harbingers of childbirth? Usually you don’t need to do anything, because the harbingers are completely natural, they just say that the body is rebuilding and preparing for the birth of a child. Therefore, you should not worry and go to the hospital as soon as, for example, training contractions have begun or the mucous plug has come off.

Discussion

Please tell me when my period is after delivery.

05/12/2019 06:05:26, Emilia

If I were you, I'd call an ambulance, or I'd go to the hospital myself.

01/05/2019 13:52:13, 201z

Hello. Tell me 33 weeks on ultrasound, 36 on monthly.
The abdomen hardens in the evening and tingles a little at the bottom. In the morning, sometimes an unpleasant feeling, like before menstruation (the stomach does not hurt, but it attracts and the back aches) ... I run to the toilet, well, sooo often .... How can I react to this?)

07/16/2016 06:43:34, Nadezhdatoz

Comment on the article "How to know that the birth is coming soon? Harbingers: 9 symptoms of an upcoming birth"

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Of course, the statement that it is useless to prepare for childbirth is incorrect. This is how those who are lazy or simply afraid to find out something about childbirth in advance justify themselves. And yet, there is some truth in this statement: no matter how you prepare for childbirth, the beginning of this process will still be associated with natural excitement, in which all acquired knowledge can get confused in the head.

To meet this process fully armed, many women begin to seriously prepare for childbirth long before the end of pregnancy: they go to courses, read magazines and look for information on the vast expanses of the Internet. Indeed, in order to feel confident from the very beginning, you need to firmly understand how not to miss the onset of childbirth, when you need to go to the hospital, what documents and things will be required for hospitalization, what needs to be done before leaving for the hospital.

Suppose the expectant mother has the first “suspicious” sensations: her back hurts, her stomach tenses up, unusual discharge from the genital tract appeared. At this moment, a lot of thoughts appear in the head at the same time, based on the information received about childbirth. However, these thoughts are sometimes very contradictory, because at the courses and in the specialized literature they understood different variants start of childbirth. So, where to start: call the doctor, husband or an ambulance? What if this is? How is it better to behave now during the “feelings”: try to relax or immediately apply anesthesia techniques? What is better now: lie down, sit down or walk? It is extremely inconvenient to look for answers to these questions during fights, rummaging through a stack of magazines or a thick abstract from courses. To facilitate this task, we have compiled a guide to action on the most important moments of the onset of labor.

Childbirth begins: how to stop panicking?

At the beginning of childbirth, every expectant mother experiences excitement - a completely natural feeling in front of such a responsible and difficult process. However, at this moment it is very important not to give vent to emotions and try to calm down as soon as possible in order to prevent panic from appearing.

Panic fear of childbirth can do a very bad service to the expectant mother: after all, it is the state of panic that leads to the development of most violations of labor activity. With significant emotional arousal, which is associated with a feeling of fear, the work of the nervous system is disrupted. As a result of "nervous failures", the signals that coordinate labor activity come unevenly, may weaken or, on the contrary, sharply increase. Due to the violation of the nervous regulation of childbirth, contractions become painful, weak and unproductive.

Advice

In order not to panic, it is important to control emotions from the very first sensations. No need to fuss and try to solve several problems at once. There is no need to immediately call your relatives, grab a pack or call an ambulance: first sit or lie down, find the most comfortable and relaxed position, close your eyes and take a few long deep breaths through your nose and exhale through your mouth. This will help calm your emotions and only takes a couple of minutes. Then open your eyes and try to assess your well-being as objectively as possible: what exactly has changed in it?

How does the water break at the beginning of labor?

This is probably the most common cause for concern: most expectant parents are afraid not to notice the passage of water, confusing it with urination, mucus plug discharge, or ordinary female discharge. In fact, fetal water is fundamentally different from all other types of secretions from the genital tract, and it is extremely difficult to confuse them with anything. Normally, this should happen already during contractions, but often the water breaks before the onset of labor.

There are two "scenarios" of water discharge. In the first version, they pour out unexpectedly, at once and in large numbers. As a result, the liquid will flow down the legs, all clothes below the waist will instantly become wet - it is simply impossible to miss such a phenomenon! The rupture of the fetal bladder itself, due to which the water begins to drain, is not accompanied by any subjective sensations - it occurs without pain, spasm or the urge to urinate.

Water leaves in a completely different way if the hole formed in the fetal bladder is located high and is covered by the wall of the uterus: in this case, the liquid can periodically be released in drops or tiny streams, in a small amount, wetting the sanitary napkin and underwear. However, even with a slight leakage of water, they can be easily distinguished from ordinary vaginal discharge: the water is absorbed into the fabric of the underwear and wets them without leaving mucus on the surface. The fetal waters are also completely different from urine: they do not have a specific color and smell, like urine, and spontaneous excretion of urine without the urge to urinate in healthy woman can not be.

Advice

In doubtful cases, it is necessary to see a doctor: a special water test carried out in the emergency department of any maternity hospital will dispel all doubts!

The onset of labor: is it possible to confuse the discharge of the mucous plug with the outpouring of water?

Not at all like the leakage of water, there is also a passage of a mucous plug, or cervical mucus, a special secret that closes the cervical canal during pregnancy. Usually, the cork is released gradually, in parts, leaving brownish marks on the underwear for 1-3 days. Much less often, it appears entirely at once. In this case, it can be compared with a lump of gel up to 1.5 cm in diameter, yellowish-pinkish-brown in color. The discharge of the cork may be accompanied by slight aching sensations in the lower abdomen, similar to malaise before the start of the next menstruation.

Advice

When water appears, regardless of their quantity and the presence of other signs of the onset of labor (contractions, pain in the lower abdomen), you should immediately go to the hospital: from the moment the membranes rupture, the risk of infection of the uterus and fetus increases, and it is better for the expectant mother to be in sterile conditions of the obstetric department.

Remember that it is impossible to confuse a mucous plug with fetal waters: it is a very thick, jelly-like, viscous and elastic mucus, not at all like a liquid. Cervical mucus may begin to flow about two weeks before the upcoming birth. This is a variant of the norm and, unlike water leakage, does not require a visit to a doctor.

How do you know if real contractions have started?

The classic onset of labor is the onset of contractions. Contractions are called regular contractions of the muscles of the uterus. The first contractions are usually not associated with pain or significant discomfort. Describing their feelings at this moment, expectant mothers say that the stomach itself tenses very strongly, as if “hardens” for 5–10 seconds, and then completely relaxes until the next. This is similar to the increase in tone during pregnancy, but stronger and shorter. Contractions come periodically, at regular intervals. In the intervals between contractions, the well-being of the expectant mother is no different from the usual - absolutely no new sensations! However, the appearance of the first contractions of contractions does not necessarily mean the beginning of labor: they may turn out to be just a rehearsal, a false alarm, and end as unexpectedly as they began. Such fights are called training, or false, and can appear normally from the 36th week of pregnancy.

Advice

The first task of the expectant mother with the appearance of a periodic feeling of tension in the abdomen is to detect the intervals between contractions in order to understand whether they are real or training. Real contractions go on regularly - there are equal intervals between them, not exceeding 20 minutes, and the neighboring contractions themselves are the same in duration and strength of sensations. Another sign of real contractions is escalation: over the time of observation, they should gradually become longer, stronger and more frequent. With this option, the onset of labor should be sent to the hospital as soon as the interval between contractions is reduced to 10 minutes. Until this moment, subject to good health, you can stay at home, under the supervision of loved ones, calmly gather and observe the development of contractions.

Training bouts, on the contrary, are irregular: the intervals between several adjacent bouts are not the same, sometimes more often, sometimes less often - and the contractions themselves go at random, sometimes longer and stronger, sometimes shorter and weaker. There will also be no increase in false contractions - even if the intervals between them are more or less the same, they do not change in any way for several hours. It should be noted that the intervals between false contractions can be both very large (more than 20 minutes) and very small (3-5 minutes), so it is necessary to evaluate not the frequency of contractions, but the regularity and increase.

What is the best way to behave during contractions at the beginning of labor?

At the beginning of labor, when the first contractions are just beginning, they are almost painless. At this stage, you can behave freely: there are no restrictions on actions, movements, and there is no need to use special painkillers - postures, massage, breathing techniques - they will be needed later, when the contractions become stronger and more painful.

Advice

The only special recommendation during the first contractions is "belly breathing", practiced in psychology and yoga. At the beginning of the fight, the expectant mother takes a relaxed slow breath through her nose, and then exhales the air with her mouth for as long as possible (as if blowing on water). With this technique, in addition to the intercostal muscles, the diaphragm and abdominal muscles are involved in the respiratory act - hence the name of this breathing. As a result of belly breathing, intra-abdominal pressure changes during each inhalation and exhalation. This ensures good blood flow, helps prevent fetal hypoxia (lack of oxygen) and weakness of labor forces, and also helps to cope with excitement.

How to collect things correctly?

In the maternity ward of the maternity hospital, you need to take washable slippers, clean socks, toilet paper, disposable toilet seats, wet wipes or disposable handkerchiefs (for face and hands), a bottle of water without gases), thermal spray water (for irrigation of the face and body), hygienic lipstick or lip balm, moisturizing nasal drops or spray, earplugs (maternity ward can be noisy), phone with charger and headphones. If you are allowed to take your own clothes into the rodblok, you can take a couple of T-shirts or short nighties and a dressing gown.

In the postpartum bag, you need to put clothes for yourself and the baby, daily hygiene products, maternity pads, disposable panties, a bra and nursing pads, nipple cream, breast pump, a package of diapers and wet wipes for the newborn.

Advice

When packing things for the maternity hospital, it is more convenient to distribute them in two bags: put everything you need in the maternity unit into one, and the most necessary for the postpartum department into the other. Many maternity hospitals do not allow you to carry things in textile bags, so it is better to use plastic bags. If you're having a partner birth, don't forget clothes, a change of shoes, and food for your spouse!

How do you know if you can eat?

Food is a source of energy much needed by the expectant mother during the long and laborious process of childbirth. Today, even in the maternity ward, the staff offers sweet tea, a lollipop, a piece of chocolate to a tired woman in labor. True, it is better that it was just a snack, something light and quickly digestible - fruit salad, yogurt, cottage cheese, nuts, dried fruits, juice or sweet tea. It is better to refrain from plentiful, heavy food at this moment, as it can provoke vomiting with a subsequent increase in contractions.

Advice

Contrary to popular belief, at the beginning of labor, you can and even need to have a snack - of course, if you have an appetite. It is necessary to completely refrain from eating from the very beginning of childbirth only in the case of a planned operative delivery (that is, before the operation caesarean section) or with any symptoms of a deterioration in the well-being of a woman in labor (bleeding, an increase in blood pressure, severe pain).

Take a warm shower. In addition to the hygienic function, the shower during contractions is used as a relaxing and pain reliever. Jets of warm water directed to the abdomen and lower back reduce the feeling of tension during contractions, improve blood circulation in the pelvic area, which determines the dynamic development of labor and breathing of the baby. At the beginning of childbirth, it is better to stand under the shower entirely, with your head - water massage will help you relax and calm down, control emotions and positively tune in to the upcoming birth.

Get a manicure and pedicure. First, remove the polish from your fingernails and toenails. By the color of the nail plates, the doctor during childbirth determines the level of microcirculation (blood flow in small vessels) in you, and therefore in the baby! Second, cut your nails short. Immediately after birth, the baby will be placed on your tummy and allowed to hold it with your hands. The skin of a newborn is very delicate and vulnerable, almost like the mucous membrane of an adult. Protruding nails can easily damage the baby's skin, and the resulting scratch can become the entrance gate for infection.

Do an intimate depilation. Perineal hair removal is a standard “preparatory” procedure for admission to the maternity hospital. Many women do not understand the purpose of this manipulation: it is obvious that the presence or absence of hair does not affect the course of childbirth. Why is it necessary to shave off pubic hair and between the legs before childbirth? The hair around the vagina traps intimate secretions. During childbirth and especially in the postpartum period, these secretions become much more abundant than usual, accumulate at the entrance to the vagina on the hair of the perineum and serve as an ideal breeding ground for the multiplication of various bacteria, which can cause serious infectious complications for mother and baby. Completely remove hair from the perineum with a razor. If self-depilation turns out to be too complicated for you or there is no time left for it, it will be done in the emergency department of the maternity hospital.

When to go to the hospital?

If contractions begin, interspersed with uniform and gradually shortening intervals, the expectant mother feels good, the water has not poured out - we go to the hospital no later than a 10-minute interval between contractions.

If the contractions that have begun are irregular, the mother feels good, the water has not poured out - we rest and wait for further developments.

If any amount of water has poured out or is leaking, or there is at least a suspicion of a discharge of water, we go to the maternity hospital immediately.

In doubtful cases, a special analysis will be performed in the emergency room of the maternity hospital - a swab for water. The result will be ready in 15-30 minutes and will allow you to confirm or refute the fact of rupture of the fetal bladder, regardless of its size and location.

Documents to the hospital: what to take with you?

Going to the maternity hospital, you need to take a passport, an exchange card, a birth certificate, an insurance policy and / or a contract for childbirth. If you have a copy of your passport and policy, also take them with you - this will significantly speed up the procedure for issuing a card in the emergency room of the maternity hospital.

The scarier, the more painful!

It is important to understand that the level of pain during contractions directly depends on fear and tension. If a woman in labor is not mentally prepared for childbirth and is very afraid, even in cases where childbirth proceeds without complications, contractions are felt much more painful than usual. This is easily explained: the sensation of pain directly depends on the ratio of various hormones in the blood of the woman in labor. The most important of these are endorphins and adrenaline. Endorphins have an analgesic effect, an increase in adrenaline in the blood, on the contrary, leads to a decrease pain threshold and increased pain. Fear, as you know, stimulates the release of adrenaline in huge doses. Therefore, when panicking, the amount of adrenaline in the blood goes off scale, it displaces pain-relieving endorphins, and as a result, pain during a fight is felt much more strongly.

The harbingers of childbirth are what pregnant women are waiting for so long and anxiously. And this applies not only to expecting a child for the first time. Moms who are going to give birth to a second or third child are sure to be interested in the question of what the harbingers of childbirth can be in multiparous women.

Only 15% of women give birth on the exact day determined by ultrasound

It is in our article that you will find clear answers and all the necessary details about the harbingers of childbirth.

The female body during the last weeks of pregnancy undergo hormonal changes. Preserving pregnancy progesterone becomes less and less, and estrogen, which has the opposite task, becomes more. Such changes in the body that prepare a woman for the birth of a child. They appear at 38-39 weeks of gestation, and in some women - even the day before the baby is born. Everything is very individual.

If you are expecting a second or third child, then such signs will become noticeable closer to the actual birth of the baby.

What are the harbingers of childbirth?

To understand and eliminate anxiety, expectant mothers need to know what are the harbingers of childbirth. This may be discomfort in the lower abdomen and back, a change in posture, frequent urination, thinning of the stool, loss of appetite. Now let's look at the most common of them.

Weight loss

If body weight has decreased by 1-1.5 kg due to a decrease in tissue edema, swelling of the legs has gone, then in 1-2 weeks you can prepare for the appearance of your baby.

Prolapse of the abdomen

The prolapse of the abdomen occurs because the baby's head moves lower. The top of the uterus does not press so hard on the lungs and stomach, so it becomes easier for a pregnant woman to breathe. In this case, the skin is stretched, and the navel protrudes.

Mucus plug

Colorless discharge with streaks of blood is called mucous plug. They are a little thicker than daily ones and also indicate the imminent birth of a baby. Their volume is 2-3 ml, so in case of large discharge, consult a doctor.

Changes in the well-being and mood of a pregnant woman

A few days before the appearance of the little one, pregnant women notice a surge of vigor and strength, while recently they were still sick and not well. Expectant mothers begin to put their home in order before the birth of the baby.

a) training bouts; b) prolapse of the abdomen

Training bouts

Irregular contractions do not bring discomfort to the pregnant woman. They can be of different frequencies. Contractions begin on their own, as the muscles need a warm-up.

Ripening of the cervix

The cervix changes before the immediate approach of the birth of the baby, although this is noticeable only to the doctor during the examination. The cervix dilates strongly near the fetal head and 1-2 cm on the other side, although it resembles a tube, as before.

Due to the expansion of the cervix and in order to avoid infection, pregnant women are not recommended to take a bath, but limit themselves to taking a shower.

Signs of the onset of labor

Let's name the first harbingers of childbirth for future mothers: regular contractions of the uterus, the release of a yellowish or bloody mucous plug, as well as the discharge of water.

Contractions

Contractions of the cervix become rhythmic, pressure is felt in the abdomen, the uterus becomes heavier. Contractions are repeated every 15 minutes, and then the interval between them is reduced to 3 minutes. During this time, the woman has time to rest a little, as the stomach relaxes.

Outflow of amniotic fluid

There is leakage of amniotic fluid, and there is an outpouring at one moment when the fetal bladder bursts. Pain is not felt at the same time, but urgent medical attention is needed so as not to infect the infection.

Harbingers of childbirth in primiparas

Consider what are the first harbingers of childbirth in primiparas, but pay attention to the fact that they can show only 2-3 signs, and pass smoothly, starting a week before the baby appears. The woman herself may not notice them at all, thinking that this is just a malaise.

a) abdominal pain; b) back pain

These include pulling pains in the abdomen, weight loss, decreased appetite. But irregular uterine contractions can scare a pregnant woman, so for those who are carrying a child for the first time, we advise you not to worry, because this process of training the muscles of the uterus is natural.

Harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

You should also find out what are the harbingers of childbirth in multiparous.

The cervix in such women has a larger lumen and quickly responds to hormonal changes. That is why the first harbingers of childbirth in multiparous women are more pronounced, and appear much earlier than in pregnant women for the first time.

The mucous plug has a larger volume, the amount of water released also increases, and contractions are more noticeable, since the woman already distinguishes them well.

Often these symptoms are similar to those of pregnant women for the first time, but they begin to appear in 1-2 days, and the process of the birth of the baby goes very quickly.

Harbingers of imminent labor in multiparous are:

diarrhea;
frequent urination;
the exit of a clot of mucus;
brown discharge;
contractions resemble bloating;
a woman can be shivering;
abdominal pain;
lack of appetite;
a change in the activity of the fetus, since it also selects the moment of birth;
lower back pain;
weight loss.

If such phenomena are observed, after 8-12 hours a baby may be born.

37th week of pregnancy: harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

At the 37th week of pregnancy, the harbingers of childbirth in multiparous women are as follows: prolapse of the abdomen, a surge of energy, loss of appetite, diarrhea, regular contractions. This means that you will soon have a small family member. And it will happen within 1-2 days.

38th week of pregnancy: harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

At week 38, these harbingers are much faster than in pregnant women for the first time. The mucous plug leaves, the weight decreases, the stomach continues to fall, frequent and tangible training contractions.

39 weeks pregnant: second pregnancy harbingers of childbirth

So, now consider the next period - the 39th week of pregnancy, the second pregnancy: the harbingers of childbirth.

The fetus gives active signals. The cervix contracts and becomes more elastic. There are disorders in the digestive system: diarrhea, nausea, vomiting.

a) nausea; b) diarrhea

40th week of pregnancy: harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

At 40 weeks, they are: easier breathing, the fetus drops lower, nausea and indigestion, regular contractions.

Now you know all the nuances of the process. It is clear that if you are aware, then you are armed. Worry and worry is not worth it for sure, as your body is preparing for a responsible business.

Harbingers of preterm labor

It will not be superfluous for expectant mothers to find out what are the harbingers of premature birth:

at 27-32 weeks, painful contractions already appear,
Ultrasound shows shortening of the cervix,
possible bleeding in the vagina,
water leakage,
often the fetus is almost immobile.

With such phenomena, it is necessary to contact a gynecologist who will examine you and take the necessary steps to slow down the process.

These may be harbingers of preterm labor in multiparous:

tense uterus;
feeling of pressure on the pelvic area;
painful contractions;
bloody or brownish discharge.

These signs indicate that a child may soon be born. They appear at 28 - 32 weeks, so the fetus is not yet sufficiently prepared for the appearance. Naturally, this is dangerous for the life and health of the baby. In this case, the woman must be urgently hospitalized in order to maintain the pregnancy.

How to speed up the onset of labor

It happens that at 38-40 weeks, expectant mothers are waiting a lot and believe that their baby will be born according to the plan and according to the promises of the doctors. Naturally, time passes very slowly.

Do not worry, because your child also needs to prepare for important point And for him this is the most stressful.

a) physical exercise; b) a warm bath

If we talk about methods, then the following should be noted:

active walking;
having sex;
physical exercise;
eating vegetables, fruits;
aromatherapy with jasmine and rose oil;
you can take a warm bath.

Please note that all this was previously prohibited by doctors in order to preserve pregnancy.

If the stimulation will take place in the hospital, then various injections will be used for this, the opening of the amniotic membrane, oxytocin will be introduced. Whether you need to speed up this process or wait a little longer for the appearance of your baby, you decide with your gynecologist.

Remember, the most important thing is to take into account the recommendations of the doctor and not engage in self-treatment of far-fetched ailments, because these can be natural processes in your position.

Are you expecting your first baby or are you already mother of many children We wish you good health!

The pregnancy is going well, the expectant mother feels good, but she does not leave the feeling of anxiety for the most important process - childbirth. This is especially exciting if a woman gives birth for the first time. How to understand that the child is ready to be born when you need to go to the hospital so that the doctors can take delivery on time. The first signs of childbirth should be known to all women who are going to give birth, so as not to harm themselves or the baby.

Many try to fully trust the doctor who prescribes the term, more precisely the date childbirth, but in practice most often it turns out that the child is born earlier or later than the appointed date, it depends on many factors. Premature birth is just as dangerous as a post-term baby, so you need to monitor your body, serve yourself in order to feel the first signs of childbirth in time. It is necessary to know what will happen in the body before childbirth, what changes in the female state should be understood as the approach of childbirth.

What are the first signs of childbirth?

The main first sign of the approach of childbirth is the prolapse of the abdomen. The fact is that the child must descend in order to prepare for its birth. With a normal birth, this occurs at 36-37 weeks of pregnancy. At the same time, it even becomes easier for a woman to breathe, but many will experience discomfort due to frequent urination and swelling. Your arms and legs may swell, and you may want to go to the toilet more often. This is due to the fact that the child, having descended, puts pressure on the kidneys and bladder, so do not be afraid of edema, they will be a warning to you, as the first sign of the approach of childbirth, that happy moment when the baby is born.

Another of the main signs of approaching childbirth is weight loss. Throughout your pregnancy, you only gained weight, but now you have lost a couple of kilograms, don’t worry, it means you will soon become a mother, which is why it is so important to regularly measure your weight throughout the entire period. Weight loss is due to the absorption of amniotic fluid, so you should not be afraid of this.

The first sign of close childbirth will be a change in appetite. If you ate well, and suddenly stopped feeling the pleasure of eating, your appetite suddenly disappeared, get ready for a close birth. This will be evidenced, and vice versa, by an increased appetite, if it was not characteristic of you during pregnancy.

Just a few days before giving birth, a woman begins to feel a pulling pain in the pubic bone area. If it has become habitual for you that your back, lower back is aching, now the pain will go exactly to the pubic part. The fact is that for childbirth it is necessary that the bones become softer in order to facilitate childbirth, so there is a certain softening of them, which is accompanied by a dull pain. Do not be afraid of these symptoms, just start preparing for the hospital.

In addition to physiological changes in the body, psychological metamorphoses also occur. The character and mood of a woman becomes changeable, then she cries, then laughs. During pregnancy, this was less noticeable than a few days before delivery, so this sign should also be paid attention to. You cannot fall asleep, some previously completely unimportant problems began to worry you, apathy or, conversely, aggression attacks you. All this will pass after childbirth, but for now it's time for you and your husband to prepare for the birth of the baby.

What to do if the first signs of childbirth are found?

If you notice several of the first signs of labor listed above, and they are getting worse, then you will give birth in less than a week. However, the last trimester should be very careful, do not lift anything heavier than one and a half kilograms, lie more. However, small physical activity will be beneficial, otherwise you can move on, that is, the child will be born later than necessary, what it threatens, read the article: Is a post-term pregnancy dangerous?

It is best to walk a few hours a day on fresh air, in the park, garden, do feasible household chores - wipe the dust, wash the dishes, cook delicious food, iron, but it is forbidden to wash the floors in an inclination or wash clothes by hand. In these household chores, let your loved ones help you, or an improvised tool - a mop with a comfortable long handle, washing machine.

But the main thing before childbirth is positive emotions that must be present around the woman all the time, so that the baby feels his mother's good condition, no worries, so that nothing frightens him before being born.

How to determine the onset of labor?

All the signs that appear in a woman make her understand that childbirth is close, that you need to be constantly ready for them, you need to collect things that will be needed in the hospital. However, the closer the crucial moment, the more worries, whether she will be able to understand that childbirth is starting.

To determine the onset of labor, it is necessary to pay attention to obvious signs of a change in the condition of a woman:

There is an adrenaline rush, her palms and feet become wet, she begins to feel a strong growing excitement
Some fluid comes out of the uterus, sometimes with blood secretions - this is a special mucous plug that protected the baby throughout the entire period of pregnancy. However, there are times when she comes out a day or two before the birth itself, but most often just before the birth.
Fights begin. First contractions - just a little pain, the pain moves from the lower abdomen to the lower back. If you do not immediately notice these sensations - do not worry, the first birth can last up to 14 hours, so you will have time to see a doctor when you feel stronger contractions. Gradually, the strength of contractions and their duration will increase. Prenatal contractions happen at intervals of about 5 minutes, and more often. When the uterus begins to contract, you will feel it, moreover, this will be preceded by the discharge of amniotic fluid.
It should be understood that the discharge of water is the beginning of childbirth, but the water can drain slowly if the baby’s head blocks their path, or quickly, in which case it is very important to deliver the baby as quickly as possible so that the baby does not suffocate and is not injured, any delay can become critical for baby health. If you were not at the doctor’s during the discharge of water, carefully remember the time and appearance waters, their smell, all this needs to be known to the obstetrician-gynecologist who will take delivery.

What to do if the water breaks?

Firstly, do not panic, you must immediately call an ambulance or a husband who will take you to the hospital, even if the water has broken and there are no contractions. You need to ride in a car reclining, you can take a bottle of still water or black tea with lemon with you. Usually modern women think over everything in advance, so when collecting a bag for childbirth, do not forget to take water, because during childbirth and after you really want to drink.

The first signs of preterm labor

We will talk more about preterm birth in another article, but now I would like to explain only those cases when you should really worry that you have the first signs of preterm labor. The fact is that that pregnancy is considered normal when the child is born for about 40 weeks, if the birth begins earlier, then this is premature and you should be prepared for anything, so it is so important to know the signs of premature birth.

If you identify the symptoms and first signs of preterm labor in time, you can consult a doctor in time:

The appearance of contractions that repeat every 10 minutes or even more often
Discharge of watery fluid, which may indicate an injury to the amniotic fluid bladder
Cramps in the lower abdomen, similar to menstruation
Dull aching pain in the lower back, may be temporary
Pressure in the pelvic area, can also be intermittent
Abdominal cramps

If you find several of these signs, you should immediately consult a doctor to avoid premature birth.

How to induce contractions on your own?

But dangerous not only premature birth, but also overpregnancy, so if you have been in a position for more than 41 weeks, then you can cause contractions on your own without harm to the health of the child in order to speed up the natural process of giving birth to a child.

To induce natural contractions on your own when the baby is not in a hurry to be born, you should eat more of those foods that contain fiber, drink less water, do not overeat. This will stimulate the intestines.

You need to walk more, be upright, you can even dance at home. Gradually, under the weight of amniotic fluid, the fetus will move, the muscles of the uterus will begin to contract, which will lead to the first contractions, and later to childbirth.

You can massage the nipples of the breast, which allows the hormone oxytocin to appear in the body, which also causes contraction of the muscles of the uterus. In addition, it has a beneficial effect on the skin of the breast, preparing it for feeding.

Stroke your stomach, talk to your child, call him, say how much you love him. Such contact between mother and child is sometimes the main impetus for the birth of a baby.

This question, perhaps, worries any pregnant woman, and the closer the X hour, the greater this anxiety. Listening to their feelings, catching any symptoms, pregnant women spend the last weeks of pregnancy.

For many, curiosity about how childbirth begins, wakes up almost with the first positive pregnancy test, and does not let go until the very birth of the child.

Let's see what are the harbingers of childbirth, false contractions, and when you can say that this is the beginning of childbirth.

Harbingers of childbirth

Already from the 18-20th week of pregnancy, women begin to notice that the uterus periodically comes into tone. This is a painless feeling of tension in the uterus, while on palpation you can notice that the stomach hardens and tenses. It's not even a fight...

Signs of impending labor usually appear about a month - 2 weeks before the event itself, and can cause a lot of anxiety. In primiparas, they usually appear earlier than with repeated births, but they are less pronounced; in multiparous women, they can appear only a few days, almost immediately before childbirth.

Harbingers of childbirth are a set of symptoms, which is a kind of replaying of events and the establishment of the necessary connections in the body of the future mother, which will ensure the normal course of childbirth.

In many ways, the nervous system of a woman is responsible for the development of childbirth, and in order for everything to end successfully, it is necessary that the appropriate neural connections be established, the so-called dominant of childbirth is formed. It is clear that if a woman has already given birth, it happens faster, according to a previously worked out scenario, and the shorter the interval between births, the easier it happens. This is why second births are shorter, and the birth warning is also shorter and more pronounced.

When do the harbingers of childbirth begin? They usually occur at 37-38-39-40 weeks of pregnancy.

How long do the harbingers of childbirth last? Usually they continue until the onset of labor, and this can happen in a month, and in 2 weeks, and in a couple of days.

So, what does it mean that labor will begin soon? What are the harbingers of childbirth?

Weight loss before childbirth

Women can lose up to 2 kg of weight 1-2 weeks before giving birth. This is due to hormonal changes in the body, the amount of progesterone in the blood decreases and the amount of estrogens increases. Progesterone promotes fluid retention in the body, and when its level drops, the fluid is excreted, the woman loses weight. These are the earliest signs of childbirth.

Lowering of the abdomen

Lowering of the abdomen during pregnancy is a symptom that is not always noticed. In recent weeks, the baby takes up so much space in the uterus that his ass can literally rest against the ribs, preventing the mother from breathing, bending over, and even causing pain. But a few days before the birth, his head is pressed against the bones of the pelvis, which causes the lowering of the abdomen before childbirth. These signs of childbirth are especially noticeable in primiparas; during the second and third births, the child can descend immediately before the event itself.

Signs of a lowering of the abdomen are easier breathing, a feeling that it has become lower and interferes less, and at the same time this can cause some other kind of discomfort. The head presses on the bladder, and you constantly run to the toilet, at the same time it can be difficult to go in a big way, constipation may bother you.

If you notice these symptoms, this does not mean that labor will begin tomorrow, lowering of the abdomen can occur even a month before the event itself, these are the first signals of the approach significant date, one of the earliest to appear.

Mood change

For most women, the occurrence of apathy, feelings of fatigue, a desire to sleep before childbirth is characteristic. Some ladies, on the contrary, are too active and for the tenth time stroke the diapers and sort out the contents of the bag for the maternity hospital (nesting syndrome).

Both options are normal, it is better to obey your desires. If you want to sleep - sleep, gain strength, they will be needed very soon.

Allocations, cork discharge before childbirth

During pregnancy, the cervical canal is closed with a mucous plug, this is a thick mucus that closes the cervix in a lump and prevents the penetration of infections to the fetus.

The opening of the cervix before childbirth begins in advance. First, it shortens and smoothes, gradually its channel opens slightly, this is called the maturation of the cervix. By childbirth, it will become completely soft and smoothed, this preparatory opening of the cervix during pregnancy is provided just by training contractions, and only a mature cervix will enable childbirth to develop normally.

I must say that in re-pregnant women, the discovery occurs literally before the birth itself or even with their onset. In primigravidas, the opening of the cervix by 2 fingers may already be by the time of admission to the maternity hospital, in advance, even before the onset of active labor, for them this process is extended in time and begins in advance.

Signs of the opening of the cervix - discharge from the genital tract. Allocations are due to the discharge of the mucous plug. Even if the mucus plug has moved away, it is impossible to predict when labor will begin. The cork before childbirth is a lump of mucus, up to one and a half to two centimeters in diameter, it can be of different colors, and transparent, and yellowish, and brown, and even streaked with scarlet blood. These are all normal options.

The cork leaves in different ways, for someone it takes several days, and then there is a mucous-bloody discharge, for someone it leaves at the same time. Most often, childbirth begins within the next week after the appearance of these secretions.

Appetite disorder

More often, the appetite is disturbed 1-2 days before the birth, there is no desire to eat anything. This is normal and you don't have to force yourself.

The subsidence of the child's motor activity

The child before childbirth for two - three weeks moves less and less. Sometimes there is no movement for 6-7 hours in a row, which makes the mother worry, but is everything in order with the child. The absence of movements is due to the fact that the child simply has nowhere to turn around, it becomes very crowded in the uterus.

An excessively restless child before childbirth is a reason for consulting a gynecologist, intrauterine fetal hypoxia is possible.

Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea

Nausea is not the most pleasant harbinger of childbirth, and the happiness that it comes just before the very birth and not for everyone. But some women have not only nausea, but also vomiting.

Diarrhea is somewhat more common and may be a couple of days before delivery.

All these not the most pleasant symptoms are a kind of release of the road for the baby, the intestines must be empty before childbirth so as not to interfere with the child's passage through the birth canal, and nature has taken care of this.

Pain in the perineum, pain in the sacrum and pubis

Lowering the child's head down, the divergence of the pelvic bones cause pain in this area.

false contractions

Pre-delivery contractions, or false contractions, are uterine contractions that closely resemble real contractions. Quite often, at the first birth, they mislead the pregnant woman and force her to urgently go to the maternity hospital.

Even before labor begins, false contractions can debilitate nervous system if taken seriously. Yes, this is a signal early delivery but not yet giving birth, it will probably be another two weeks before you give birth.

What are they, training contractions before childbirth?

These are uterine contractions, somewhat painful, the pain resembles that which sometimes worries during menstruation, this is not the feeling that the stomach is pulling, which happened before, but real pain, coming in attacks, pain in the lower abdomen and in the lower back, growing in a wave and releasing.

But it is not so strong and long-lasting that you experience real discomfort, you may well continue to go about your business, despite its presence.

If this is just a warning about an imminent birth, the contractions are intermittent and not regular. They can disturb at various intervals (5-15 minutes) for several hours and stop completely, as if nothing had happened.

To understand whether these are contractions or not, it is enough just to note the time between them. If they do not increase in duration and the intervals remain erratic and long, this is not childbirth.

If this is your first pregnancy and you don’t have to drive more than an hour to the hospital, you shouldn’t go there immediately. Childbirth for the first time lasts long enough, and even if you make a mistake, a disaster will not happen. Try taking a warm bath, taking a nosh-py tablet, and going to bed. Most likely, you will fall asleep peacefully.

Sometimes false contractions turn into real labor. The gaps shorten, the contractions intensify and lengthen, and then for sure - it's time to go to the hospital.

What harbingers of childbirth speak of danger and require immediate treatment in the hospital?

- Harbingers of preterm labor are similar to those described above. The development of such symptoms before 35 weeks is a reason to urgently consult a gynecologist. Premature opening of the cervix and labor activity can develop in the middle of pregnancy when it fails due to injuries during abortions, operations and previous births.

The appearance of pure scarlet blood from the genital tract, at any time, is a threat to the life of the child.

The appearance of leakage of amniotic fluid. This is a feeling of dampness, watery discharge, aggravated by movement. If you notice this, you should consult a doctor immediately, the risk of infection of the uterine cavity and fetus. Wearing a white fabric pad helps to distinguish water leakage, it is easy to assess the nature of the discharge on it, amniotic fluid do not smell, usually transparent. They can be brown (a very bad symptom) or green from an admixture of meconium (also very bad).

Signs of the onset of labor

But how does the birth itself begin? Then you will smile, remembering how you were afraid to miss this moment, but not now, now this is probably one of the main fears, and it seems that you can miss the birth. Do not worry, childbirth is something that you definitely will not be able to oversleep.

What determines the onset of labor?

Of course, on whether you and the child are ready for them. The maturation of the cervix, the formation of the necessary nerve connections and hormonal levels leads to the appearance of symptoms of incipient labor.

The first signs of incipient labor may appear at 37 to 42 weeks, if labor does not begin on time, doctors try to speed up the onset of labor.

Usually the second birth begins earlier. If childbirth does not begin in any way, measures are taken to prepare the cervix. Very often, sex brings great benefits, there are more than enough cases when after sex childbirth began.

What time does labor start?

Oddly enough, most babies choose to be born at night. This is due to the daily fluctuations of hormones in a woman's blood, their optimal level usually occurs in the early morning hours, which is why childbirth begins at night.

Are there any differences in how labor activity develops in different births? Yes there is. And it depends on many factors, for example, on how much time has passed between births, at what time they began.

How does preterm labor begin? Usually, if the first symptoms of preterm labor are contractions, and if the woman goes to the hospital on time, this is regarded as a threat of preterm labor and in most cases it is possible to stop labor if the cervical dilatation has not gone too far.

It is much sadder if premature birth begins with the outflow of amniotic fluid. With severe prematurity, pregnancy can be prolonged for several days or even weeks, but in most cases the child is born.

How and when does the first birth begin?

The first birth often begins at 40 weeks or more, and is preceded by a fairly long warning period. Most often, the harbingers smoothly turn into labor, having managed to spoil the nerves of the future mother a lot before that and forcing them to turn to gynecologists more than once with suspicion of the onset of childbirth.

How does the second, third birth begin?

Usually for more early term than the first, 38-40 weeks, and develop more rapidly. The period of precursors is either bright short, a few days, or completely absent.

How to recognize the onset of labor is usually before future mother the question is not even worth it, she remembers how it happens. Contractions are not the only possible option for the onset of labor. The beginning of childbirth can be different ...

The transition of the harbingers of childbirth into labor activity. The frequency of contractions before childbirth increases, their strength increases, the intervals shorten and become rhythmic.

Independent occurrence of generic activity. Contractions begin regularly from the very beginning and gradually intensify.

Premature discharge of amniotic fluid. I must say that the onset of childbirth is usually easily recognized by a woman, and at the same time there is always a great emotional upsurge, composure and a willingness to fight arise, you will experience joy and relief at the same time. And of course, there will be a feeling of anxiety and fear, how else? Even the beginning of the second birth is a step into the unknown.

Let's look at all the signs of the onset of labor.

The transition of harbingers of childbirth, false contractions, into real contractions

You may have experienced false contractions for a week or two, but they never became regular, they went away completely. But this time it won't be like that. The first signs of the onset of labor are a reduction in the intervals between contractions and their intensification, they become longer. If during false contractions you could go to bed and fall asleep peacefully, you could be distracted from them by business - if this is the beginning of childbirth - the contractions will take all your attention.

If this is the beginning of labor, how does the contractions develop? If during training fights it is difficult to call them painful, how to understand that childbirth has begun is not difficult: the pain becomes severe. This pain is no longer like menstruation. It is pressure in the lumbar region extending into the lower abdomen, with a dull aching sensation that increases and then releases. There is no pain in between. At first, such contractions are short, 10-15 seconds, but with the development of childbirth, they become more frequent and longer.

When the intervals between them do not exceed 10 minutes, and they themselves last 40-50 seconds, this is already an active labor activity, you definitely need to urgently see a doctor.

Although the first birth usually lasts at least 12 hours, you must agree that it is better to arrive earlier than to be late, it's time to call an ambulance and go to the hospital.

Independent occurrence of labor activity

Most often, with repeated births, the period of precursors of childbirth is very short, and childbirth can begin literally immediately. The body is already ready, the reasons for the onset of labor are the formed generic dominant in the woman’s brain, and during repeated births, the memory of her is still alive after the first birth, when there is a script, the performance develops quickly.

And the task of how to determine the onset of labor during repeated childbirth is no longer worth it, the woman knows all the sensations, she perfectly remembers the symptoms.

The contractions do not start strong at first, but they grow very quickly, it is impossible to miss the onset of childbirth, and you need to go to the hospital as quickly as possible, often such births are very fast. If the birth starts suddenly, if the birth started at home, this is a reason to quit everything, you will have time to do everything later. Take with you documents, a bottle of water (simple, without gas), and urgently go to the hospital, without waiting for your husband to come home from work, etc.

You will not need things at first, you can bring them tomorrow.

Premature rupture of amniotic fluid

If the water begins to leak or pour out before the start of contractions, such an outpouring is called premature. Even if you have a full-term pregnancy, the beginning of labor with the outflow of amniotic fluid is not very good, especially if the birth is the first. A period without water for more than 6 hours is called a long anhydrous period, in such a situation the child is at risk of intrauterine infection. Thus, even the leakage of amniotic fluid is a reason to urgently go to the maternity hospital, even if the water has poured out, but there are no contractions.

At the end of pregnancy, the fetal head descends into the small pelvis, and presses on the bladder, which is why many women have a problem with urination. Not only do you want to run to the toilet often, there may also be urinary incontinence. In such a situation, how to understand whether the onset of labor is the leakage of water or just incontinence?

It's very simple, you must wear a daily pad. It must be either simple white fabric or a pad with a non-mesh surface, then the nature of the discharge can be easily assessed. Amniotic fluid from urine is very easy to distinguish.

How does the water leave? There may be two options.

They can move away at once, 150-200 ml of liquid will pour out onto your legs. Your task is to evaluate their character in order to tell the doctor about it. Normal amniotic fluid is clear and odorless. In the presence of green amniotic fluid, an unpleasant smell from them, their brown color, it is necessary to tell the doctor about this, you can be sure that you will be asked about it. The discharge of amniotic fluid may be accompanied by cramping pains in the lower abdomen.

How to find out about the onset of labor if the water just leaks, but there are no contractions? Is it water or just secretions? Tighten your stomach, slightly strain. If at the same time you feel an increase in discharge, do not hesitate, this is amniotic fluid, and you need to go to the hospital.

When the gestational age is already long, it has exceeded 40 weeks, and there are not even harbingers of childbirth, impatience, fatigue and irritability appear. I really want the birth to start faster, and women begin to use different methods to speed it up, for example, they start rearranging furniture at home, develop vigorous physical activity, and lead active sexual life. This all helps to bring the onset of labor closer, but at the same time it is tiring, the best thing to do before childbirth is to sleep more. There is no need to stimulate the onset of labor, the time will come, and they will begin, no one has remained pregnant yet.

If you are worried about why labor is not starting, ask your gynecologist about it. A mistake in the term is quite likely, for example, especially if the first ultrasound was only in the second trimester.

If it is necessary from a medical point of view to speed up the approach of childbirth, doctors will do this by medical methods, and your task is to know the signs of the onset of labor and determine in a timely manner that they have begun, and get to the hospital on time.