Numerous pregnant women wonder what their odds are of accomplishing a normal birth. How to ensure normal delivery is the most commonly asked question in various online groups.
It is also one of the questions asked to the doctor by the expecting mother on her very first visit. After many surveys were conducted regarding this topic, it was finally demonstrated that just 57.7% of women have perfectly normal deliveries.
In This Article
- What Are My Chances Of A Normal Delivery?
- What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Normal Delivery?
- Signs And Symptoms Of Pre-Labor
- Symptoms Of Early Labor
- Signs And Symptoms Of Advanced Labor
What Are My Chances Of A Normal Delivery?
There are several factors that determine whether you will have a normal delivery. Even if these conditions are met, it will not guarantee a 100% normal delivery. When it comes to pregnancy and delivery, unexpected twists and turns of events can occur at any instant.
You have increased chances of experiencing normal delivery, if:
- Your previous delivery was a normal vaginal delivery. If you had a C-section in a previous delivery, know about your chances of VBAC
- You do not have any underlying health issues that can aggravate during pregnancy and the progression of labor. One example is asthma.
- Your pregnancy is normal without any (even minor) complications.
- You are not overweight. An overweight mother has increased the chance of having a big baby, thereby, reducing the chances of normal delivery
- You are physically active throughout the pregnancy. The more you are physically active the higher the chances to have a normal birth. Practicing breathing exercises will also help you for a normal delivery
- You need to be physically fit. This indicates your physiological conditions like levels of blood pressure, blood sugar, hemoglobin, etc. are under control. Following a healthy diet and intake of plenty of fluids influences your fitness to an extent
Read 10 simple steps to having a normal delivery.
It is significant that you should always plan for a vaginal delivery unless a C-section is a medical need. We already discussed the tips to help you have a normal vaginal delivery. Here we are analyzing the sign and symptoms of normal delivery
What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of A Normal Delivery?
Understanding and recognizing signs and symptoms of delivery (from early stages to the final stage) will not only help you to cope with the whole delivery process, but if you have a basic concept of what to assume in a normal delivery, it’ll also help to hold your anxieties down.
The signs and symptoms of normal delivery start weeks before the expected day of delivery. The due date for delivery is somewhat erratic even after your specialist gives you an estimated date for it.
In the case of normal delivery, the signs and signals indicate and alert you at the right time. The signs and symptoms vary with each expecting woman, as not all pregnancies (even normal) are alike. Carefully watch out for the following signs and symptoms.
Signs And Symptoms Of Pre-labor
These signs appear one to four weeks before the labor.
- Your movement starts to become clumsier. This descending due to your baby into your pelvis
- Your joints all over the body start to feel loosened as a more relaxing hormone is produced (for making the ligaments and joints in the pelvic region soften and loosen)
- You may feel the need to urinate more frequently. This is because the head of the baby presses against the bladder
- You begin to experience cramps and pain in your lower back. This is because your muscles and joints start to stretch and move, working out for the upcoming process of delivery
- You start to experience Braxton hick’s contractions
- On your weekly checkups, the doctor will find out that your cervix starts to dilate
- You will experience loose motion. Together with the muscles in your uterus, which start to relax in readiness for the delivery process, other muscles in your body, including the rectal muscle, also start to relax. This usually leads to loose motion. Despite the fact that it is annoying at this stage, this is a distinctive sign of the approaching labor
Symptoms Of Early Labor
These signs appear days or hours before the labor begins. Count any of these signs as a warning signal and prepare for going into labor once these signs start to show up:
- The vaginal discharge increases and its appearance also change. It will become thicker. The mucus plug also will come out. It can come out either in a large single piece or many small pieces. Check for this after every time you urinate, before flushing. When the vaginal discharge turns out to be thick and pinkish, it is a vital sign of approaching labor
- You will start to experience stronger and more frequent contractions, which progress with time (different from Braxton hick’s contractions). The pain due to contractions starts in the lower back and moves to the abdomen and eventually progresses to the legs
- Rupture of the amniotic sac, in other words, the water breaking is one of the final signs of upcoming labor. (From here onwards, make sure you have a person to monitor you all the time)
Signs And Symptoms Of Advanced Labor
After experiencing the above signs, it is time for you to go into labor, at the end of which you will be gifted your little bundle of joy. Here are some indications that you are in labor.
- A warm sensation in the abdomen
- The pain due to contraction intensifies and becomes more focused
- They continue for a longer period of time (40- 60 seconds)
- The frequency of the contraction also increases
- The backache intensifies
- Experiencing vaginal bleeding
The signs of normal delivery can vary with each expecting mother. Some of them miss the early symptoms and advance straight away to advanced labor symptoms. On the other hand, some of the women go through the entire discomfort of the signs of normal delivery.
