During early labor, they might be as far apart as 20 to 30 minutes. These contractions can feel like menstrual cramps or like a lower backache that comes and goes. When this happens, it is a good time to get out your notebook and record the exact time each contraction begins and how long they last. One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening:Ĭonsistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, it is the strongest indication that you are in labor. Your healthcare provider can tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated and is also something that you cannot determine on your own. “Fully dilated” means you’re at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. It can only be determined by a healthcare provider’s exam.Ħ. You will not have the ability to evaluate your degree of effacement. You might hear your health care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%…” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. Your health care provider can check for effacement in the final two months of pregnancy. This is an indication that the lower portion of the uterus is getting prepared for delivery, as a thinner cervix dilates more easily. In the last month of pregnancy the cervix will begin to stretch and thin. A day will come when you will wake up feeling full of energy! You will be motivated to make lists of things to do, things to clean, things to buy, etc., and you will feel a sense of urgency about everything you’ve put off doing.ĭespite these urges, remember that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner, so try to conserve your energy.ĥ. For most of your pregnancy, you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you should easily recognize this symptom. Let your health care provider know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, especially if it is green in color or foul-smelling which can indicate the presence of infection or meconium (more brownish/greenish).Ĥ. Until you see your physician or midwife do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse, or do anything that would introduce bacteria into your vagina. If it does not seem to be urine, you should contact your healthcare provider. If you notice fluid leaking, you should try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. The discharge can be a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish the urine from amniotic fluid. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks prior to labor, and because your uterus is resting directly on top of your bladder, it can cause you to leak urine. This event usually happens at home, often when you are in bed. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of amniotic fluid. It can be clear, pink, or blood-tinged and can appear minutes, hours, or even days before the onset of labor. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucous or discharge. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is naturally expelled. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects the cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. People may comment on your changed appearance, even though you might not recognize the changes yourself.Ģ. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, however, meaning more trips to the bathroom. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm which helps you to not be so short of breath. Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days:ġ. However, the following information will prepare you for the signs of labor. Probably every woman who shares her labor experience tells a different story.
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