Pregnancy Labour

The feeling of becoming a mother makes a woman complete. Pregnancy labor has physical, hormonal, and emotional changes. The mother is oblivious to all the changes that are happening. Pregnancy labor is one of the difficult times as there are no certain symptoms for the same. It will be a great help to get a better insight into the topic.

Symptoms Prior To Pregnancy Labor

IT is an unmatchable feeling to be a mother, but it even comes with anxiety and curiousness. Giving birth to yet another life and being responsible for it can give jitters to a mother. The mother is always figuring out the symptoms of labor. Since women differ from each other, the experiences differ too. It is a difficult task for a new mother to detect the signs or understand a false alarm for labor.

Give below are some of the common symptoms that a woman undergoes.

1. The Downward Push

The baby descending to the pelvis is the earliest sign of labor. This is a few weeks before the labor. It even results in an increased urge to go to the washroom. The baby’s head starts pushing down and getting into an exit position.

2. The Dilated Cervix

The cervix tends to dilate and become thinner with time.

3. Feeling Cramps

The mother starts to feel the cramps accompanied by lower back pain. This is due to the stretching of the joints and the muscles.

4. Your Joints Feel Loose

Joints loosening up are also a sign of labor. As the hormones keep changing, the ligaments start to loosen up. This continues until delivery happens. It is also a natural way for the pelvis to prepare a path for the baby to arrive.

5. Contractions

These are the most obvious signs misinterpreted as Braxton Hick’s contractions. The actual contractions are like a menstrual cramp. It also features lower back pain, abdominal pain, as well as stomach upset. This pain further shifts to the legs from the lower abdomen.

6. Frequent Diarrhea

Muscle relaxation in the rectum and uterus can result in diarrhea. The best way to tackle this is by keeping oneself hydrated.

7. No More Weight Gain

No weight gain or losing weight is even a symptom before labor starts. The weight loss can be accountable to diarrhea or reduced amniotic fluid levels.

8. Urge For Rest

Nearing the delivery time urges the mother to rest more. Diarrhea as it makes a person weak and exhausted. This is also due to frequent urination and restless sleep.

9. Changes In The Vaginal Discharge

The vaginal discharge becomes thick before labor. This happens as the mucus plug falls. It changes to a pink color indicating labor is near.

10. Water Break

Breaking of water is the last and the definite sign that states that the women are going into labor.

Is Baby Pushing Down A Sign Of Pregnancy Labor?

Yes, the baby pushing down towards the pelvis is an obvious sign of labor. This is one of the first symptoms and happens a few weeks before the delivery. This period can vary from two to four weeks.

What Are The 4 Stages of Pregnancy Labor?

Labor is the process of childbirth and has four stages. Given below is a brief of all the four stages of labor.

The First Stage Of Pregnancy Labor

In the first stage of labor, one can experience contractions. These contractions help the cervix to become thin and dilate. The doctors measure the opening of the cervix in centimeters. At the time of dilation and effacement, the cervix widens up to 10 centimeters.

The first stage usually lasts for 13 hours or more for the ones with a first baby. The labor duration for a second baby is only 8 hours or even less.

The Second Stage Of Pregnancy Labor

The second stage characterizes the dilation of the cervix and the delivery of the baby. The contractions result in the baby pushing down, and it comes with immense pressure. This even urges one to pass stool. The mother needs to push with every contraction. With time, the contractions keep becoming stronger.

The time span for this stage is dependent on:

Position of the baby
If it is a first baby or more than one

Contractions also result in irritation. It can even result in moaning or grunting when the contractions are at their extreme.

The Third Stage Of Pregnancy Labor

Once the baby is delivered uterus starts contracting till it pushes the placenta out. The placenta starts delivering in 15 minutes after the baby is born.

The Fourth Stage Of Pregnancy Labour

After the baby is born and the placenta comes out from the body, the mother feels relaxed. She feels tired and is full of joy. Post the delivery the babies need nursing. Some babies need it soon. Others can need a longer time. Nursing right after delivery helps to contract the uterus. It also helps to decrease the bleeding.

How Long Does Early Pregnancy Labour Last?

The duration of early labor is about 12 hours or even more. The cervix effacement and dilates to about 3cm, the contractions go on for half an hour to 45 seconds. The contractions are irregular and strong as well.

Which Week Is Good For Delivery?

If the baby comes out early, it can pose issues for the mother and the baby. Considering the health of the mother and the baby, if the pregnancy is healthy, it is ideal to wait for 39 weeks and then wait for the labor to start.

Which Week Is Safe For Delivery?

If the baby is born before 37 weeks, it is a preterm or a premature baby. The babies who are an extreme case of preterm infants are born by 33 weeks as well. The ones who are late preterm babies are born within 37 weeks

Is It Better to Induce Labor Or Wait?

It is best for labor to start by itself, but in certain cases, it is a piece of advice by experts to induce the same.

Can You Be In Pregnancy Labor And Not Know It?

Being in labor and not being aware of its symptoms is a very common process. There are chances of a false alarm of being in labor. Symptoms of labor can even be confusing and difficult to differentiate.

Some very common, strange, and unusual signs that state being in labor are:

When the stomach starts tightening up, it is a sign of having Braxton Hicks contractions. It is a signal of being in labor. The real labor stays, and if it is a false alarm, the contractions fade after a while.
Labor initiates with period-like cramps which keep becoming stronger with time.
The night prior to labor initiates will be more restless for the mother. It is uncomfortable as the legs cannot find a position that offers them comfort.
The vagina starts swelling and looks big as the baby starts descending.
Getting in labor is even characterized by a frequent bowel movement. It is best to empty the bowel before labor starts. Even though mothers still pass the bowel even while they are trying to push. If the bowel is clear baby gets more space to move.
If one notices blood mass in the undergarments, it is a sign of the mucus plug. It is a sign of the body to let one know that they are ready for labor. Though it is not common for all women in labor.
The pain in the lower back or abdomen is also a sign that one is in labor. This pain happens when the baby is getting ready for birthing and is painful as well.
It is common for women to get into a nesting mode. They ensure proper cleanliness and orderliness.
The ability to not being able to stop the bladder from holding itself is a sign as well.
In case one feels the panties are getting dam, but it is not the regular pee, it is a sign of the water break.
If one feels that the cervix is dilating it is best to seek medical help.
Another sign of being in labor is shivering or trembling. This is due to the fluctuating hormones.

All these signs state informing the midwife and getting the bag ready. It is best to keep oneself fresh and wear comfortable clothes. One should elevate the feet and rest with the partner or near and dear ones around you.

What Does A Mucus Plug Look Like? How Does It Differ From Discharge?

The vaginal discharge which a woman undergoes at the time of pregnancy is the mucus plug. The mucus plug is thick, jelly-like, and fibrous. It differs from a normal vaginal discharge and is brown or red. The mucus plug has glycoproteins that have bigger molecules, making it thick. This even stops the infections or bacteria to enter the uterus.

Due to fluctuating hormones, vaginal discharge is more than it should be. This makes it difficult to distinguish between a discharge and a mucus plug.

Given below are the common differences between vaginal discharge and mucus plug.

Vaginal discharge or leukorrhea is thin, and the mucus plug is long and thick in appearance.
Vaginal discharge is clear and milky white, whereas the mucus plug appears red or brown in color.
Vaginal discharge has little or no smell, whereas the mucus plug has a stingy and pungent smell.
Streaks of blood on panties state the ending of pregnancy and the start of the labor.

Thus, giving birth to babies differ for all women. The common signs of labor are stronger contractions. The falling of the mucus plug is also a strong sign of one getting into labor. It helps to differentiate the signs of false vs. real labor. It also prepares the mother to go into labor.