How do I know if it has started the work of childbirth?
Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born – It is no sure way to predict what triggers the beginning of childbirth, and there is no way to predict the exact moment in which it accepts.
You might notice some signs of the beginning of childbirth and that your baby still takes days or weeks to be born.
Your body begins to “prepare” for delivery about a month before birth. As the date approaches, you can start to feel some new symptoms, although it may also be that no signs nothing.
Here are some symptoms that you may experience in the weeks or days before the start of the delivery:
1) Your baby “descend”
If this is your first pregnancy, a few weeks before the start of the delivery you can feel what is known as “encasing”.
This means that baby is down and fits into the pelvis, preparing for the birth. You may notice that you have more weight on the pelvis, but you breathe better because it decreases the pressure in your rib cage.
2) Increase in Braxton Hicks contractions
The increase in the frequency and intensity of the Braxton Hicks contractions can be an indication of prepartum, which is the period during which the cervix begins to mature (see below) and is prepared for the “real” birth.
At this stage, some women also experience cramps similar to menstrual headaches.
Sometimes when approaching the “true” labor, Braxton Hicks contractions may be relatively painful and occur with a frequency of 10-20 minutes, what could make you think that labor has begun?
However, if contractions do not steadily increase its duration, or intensity or are given ever closer from each other, causing the cervix to dilate progressively, what you are feeling likely is what is known as “false labor”. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
3) The cervix begins to change
In the days and weeks leading up to the birth, the changes in the connective tissue of the cervix cause this is softened. Besides you can Braxton Hicks contractions to perform the groundwork of tune and perhaps open a bit the neck of the uterus. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
If you’ve already given birth previously, it is more likely that the cervix dilates one centimeter or two before the start of the birth.
However, keep in mind that even if you’re in week 40 of your first pregnancy and have a centimeter of dilation, there is no guarantee that the birth is imminent. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
When your due date is next or has already arrived, your doctor will make you a vaginal examination during prenatal visits to see if there has been any change in the neck of the uterus. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
4) You have the mucous plug or note a “flow with blood”
If the cervix begins to dilate when approaching the moment of childbirth, you can expel the mucous plug, a small amount of mucous, thick flow that has kept sealed the cervix during the past nine months.
You can miss the entire CAP only once, or in the form of intense vaginal discharge for several days. The flow can be tinged with blood (and Brown, pink or red). Sexual intercourse or vaginal touch can also affect the mucous plug and cause a stream of bloody, even if delivery is not going to start in the coming days.
The symptoms that the birth is imminent or has already begun include:
5) Your contractions increase in intensity and frequency
Unlike contractions Braxon Hicks, the contractions of childbirth are more prolonged, more intense, and more frequent because they are causing your cervix will dilate. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
6) You break the water fountain
When the amniotic sac filled with liquid that covers the baby breaks, fluid is removed through the vagina. You should immediately call your doctor or midwife when you notice that you start liquid, either to go out much or little amount. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
The majority of women begin to have regular contractions before breaking the water, but in some cases, the water is broken until contractions begin.
If contractions do not occur by themselves in the hours after the breakdown of the water, they must induce your labor, since your baby is most at risk of infection by not having protection against germs that you provided the amniotic sac. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
What happens if water breaks, but I have contractions?
If contractions do not occur by themselves in the hours after the breakdown of the water, they must induce your labor, since your baby is most at risk of infection by not having protection against germs that you provided the amniotic sac.
If a test indicates positive in Streptococcus B your doctor might ask you to go immediately to the hospital to treat you with antibiotics.
How do I know if it has begun “real” birth?
Usually, it cannot be detected accurately begins when the “real” birth because the first contractions of childbirth can look like contractions Braxton Hicks that you’ve been feeling for weeks.
However, labor has likely begun if contractions increase more and more in duration, intensity, and frequency.
They may occur approximately every 10 to 20 minutes in the beginning, but they will not cease or be reduced to whatever you do.
And when the time comes, it will be more painful and close to each other. But if they are irregular it could be what is known as “false labor”. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
In some cases, strong, regular contractions begin suddenly. It is different for each woman and each pregnancy. If notes some of the blood are probably true labor contractions. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
When should I call my doctor or midwife?
Towards the end of pregnancy, your doctor or midwife will explain to you when you should warn you that you are having contractions, and when you go to the hospital or birthing center.
These instructions will depend on your particular situation, for example, if you have complications during pregnancy if the doctor thinks that pregnancy is a high risk for any reason, whether or not it is your first baby, or if there are practical reasons as the distance from your House to the hospital or birthing center, for which it is advisable to go relatively soon.
That also will depend on physician personal preferences, since some prefer to be warned them with more time than others. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
If your pregnancy has no complications, they will probably tell you to stay at home until the contractions last about a minute each, and begin every five minutes, more or less one hour.
The frequency of contractions is measured from the beginning of a contraction until the beginning of the next. As a general rule, if your pregnancy is a high risk, they’ll want that you communicate with them before. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
Don’t be afraid to call if you think that the time has come even if the symptoms are not clear. Doctors and midwives are used to getting calls from women who are not sure if the birth has started and who needs advice. It is part of their job. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
And the truth is that oral communication helps a lot because your doctor or midwife can infer many things through the tone of your voice.
The frequency, duration, and intensity of your contractions will ask (you will notice if you talk during a contraction) and any other symptoms you have. Symptoms that indicate a baby will be born
And finally, even if your pregnancy has not had any complications so far, make sure you call your doctor or midwife immediately (and should you not find them, go to the hospital) in the following situations:
- You break the water (or the bag of waters) or suspect that you are losing amniotic fluid before 37 weeks which is a sign of preterm labor.
- Other signs of preterm birth are abdominal pain, unusual vaginal discharges, bleeding or staining, pain in the lower back or pelvis.
- If the liquid is yellow, brown, or greenish, tell it to the doctor, because this points to the presence of meconium (first stool of the baby), and sometimes it can indicate fetal distress. It is also important that you tell him if the flow has blood.
- You have vaginal bleeding (unless only the mucous plug, i.e., a thread with a thread of blood), strong and constant abdominal pain, or fever.
- You start having contractions before 37 weeks or you have any other symptoms of preterm labor.
- You have headaches severe or persistent, changes in vision, pain, or much discomfort in the upper part of your abdomen, abnormal swelling, or any other symptoms of pre-eclampsia.
Many women think that many of the symptoms mentioned above are part of pregnancy, while others are concerned because they believe that every new symptom is a sign of something serious.
Know what pregnancy symptoms constitute emergencies will help you decide if you should call your doctor.
But remember that every pregnancy is different and no guide or article includes all the situations that may arise.
So if you’re not sure if a symptom is severe or if you feel uncomfortable or something because you concern, trust your instincts and call your doctor or midwife. If something is wrong, you will receive the necessary support. And if all is well, you will feel calmer knowing it.
