What are the signs of impending birth?

Many women who are having their first child will be very nervous when they are about to give birth because they don't know exactly when the birth will occur. I believe that all first-time mothers are very concerned about this issue, that is, when will the birth occur? What are the signs of an imminent birth? Because only by understanding these issues can you be well prepared before the child is about to be born, so as to ensure the smooth birth of the child.

Humans prepare for labor and birth over a gestation period of about 280 days (40 weeks). There is currently no theory that can fully explain and analyze why and when labor pains occur. In the early days, people believed that labor pains and childbirth were caused by the fetus in the womb thinking that the environment outside the uterus was better than inside the uterus, so it was eager to come out. Later, attempts were made to explore the mystery of inducing labor pains from various angles: such as placental factors, maternal factors, immune factors, and endocrine factors between the mother and fetus, but still no satisfactory theory could be put forward. Similarly, it is clinically impossible to predict when irregular, sporadic uterine contractions before delivery will turn into intensive, regular labor pains. So the current definition of "labor pain" refers to: a series of coordinated and efficient involuntary

Sign 1: Fetal Movement

In the later stages of pregnancy, because the fetus grows rapidly and the amniotic fluid decreases, the space available for the fetus to move is relatively reduced, so fetal movements will also be significantly reduced. How many fetal movements are considered safe? In fact, there is no definitive answer yet, because the number of fetal movements varies from person to person, and each mother's subjective feelings are also different. Studies show that it takes an average of 2.7 hours a day to feel 10 fetal movements. Therefore, some experts suggest that as long as you feel the fetal movement 10 times within 2 hours, you can relax. Or you can count for one hour at a fixed time every day. If the number of fetal movements is within the average value, you can rest assured. On the contrary, if the number of fetal movements increases significantly or decreases by more than 50%, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Sign 2: Feeling of relaxation

The pressure in the upper abdomen is relieved because the fetal head descends into the pelvic cavity, so breathing feels smoother and dietary discomfort is improved. Most primiparas (first time mothers) will feel this change between 36 and 38 weeks, but multiparas (not first time mothers) may not. At this time, you can start paying attention to the onset of bleeding, water breaking, or labor pains.

Labor sign 3: spotting or bleeding

This is a bloody discharge of mucus caused by the thinning and softening of the cervix, which is pink or dark red in color. If the amount of blood is small, there is no need to be hospitalized and just continue to observe. According to statistics, labor pains will begin within a week after the first period.

Sign 4: Water breaking

This is caused by a rupture of the membranes that surround the fetus and the amniotic fluid, a colorless, clear, fishy-smelling liquid that flows continuously and involuntarily from the vagina. Urine is a clear, light brown liquid with a foul odor, which is the difference between the two. If you find that your water has broken, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible. At this time, you will be recommended to be admitted to the hospital for delivery, and then appropriate treatment will be given depending on the contraction of the uterus.

Birth sign 5: Labor pains

In fact, it is not always easy to distinguish between false labor and real labor. The "pain" is caused by the strong contraction of the uterus, which causes temporary hypoxia and triggers the release of pain factors. Usually, the mother feels abdominal pain, waist pain or back pain. The entire abdomen becomes very hard during contractions and very soft when there is no pain. Real labor pains are regular and increasingly frequent. At first, there may be a contraction every 10 minutes, each lasting 10-30 seconds. However, as labor progresses, contractions occur every 3-4 minutes, each lasting 30-60 seconds. The intensity and duration of the contractions are not reduced by massage, ambulation, bed rest, or the effects of medication. The most important thing is that the cervix will thin and dilate effectively. False labor is just the opposite of the above; the uterus contracts irregularly (intervals vary from 10 to 30 minutes), and there is mild soreness and discomfort in the lower abdomen, which can be relieved by massage, walking or resting. It does not help the dilation of the cervix. At this time, the doctor will usually first perform an internal examination to assess the condition of the cervix. If it is still very thick and has not expanded, the mother will be advised to go home and wait, continue to pay attention to fetal movement, and then look at the situation of labor pains. If there is water breaking or increased bleeding, return for a checkup.

Sign 6: The urge to defecate

The anus involuntarily wants to exert force, and there is a feeling of defecation. This is a very important sign for multiparous women, because their cervix is ​​normally slightly dilated (because it has been stretched by the previous baby). So when the contractions are obvious, the cervix will dilate rapidly. At this time, you should take a deep breath, don't exert yourself, and go to the hospital as soon as possible. The timing of hospitalization requires careful assessment by the physician, which is a test of the clinician's professionalism and experience. The clinical assessment is based on comprehensive internal examination findings, data displayed on the fetal monitor, and the subjective consciousness of the mother. Internal examination mainly assesses the degree of cervical dilation, the length and thickness of the cervix, the fetal position, the position of the fetal head (whether it has descended), and whether there is amniotic fluid rupture. The fetal monitor mainly records changes in fetal heartbeat and the frequency and pressure of uterine contractions. The subjective awareness of a multiparous woman is her tolerance to uterine contractions and her sense of urge to defecate. There have been cases where the subjective consciousness of the mother was more accurate than the clinical judgment. Although the mother only felt back pain, she had a strong urge to defecate. Before the doctor had time to evaluate her, the mother told you that she was about to give birth.

Timing of hospitalization

Why is the timing of hospitalization important? Because if a woman is admitted to the hospital too early for delivery, it will give the mother and her family the illusion that the delivery process will be too long, and they may request a caesarean section. However, if the baby is admitted to the hospital too late, the medical staff will be in a rush and the baby will be born without proper treatment. In the rush, some important matters may sometimes be overlooked, increasing the risk to the mother and fetus. The labor process for the first child is usually longer, and it is common to suffer pain for three or two days before delivery. If the doctor assesses that the baby will not be born soon, the mother will generally be advised to go home and wait, and at this time she should pay attention to the seven signs of birth mentioned above. Almost all medical institutions should have health education leaflets on what you need to know about childbirth. It is recommended that pregnant women who are about to give birth read them in detail, and even keep a copy with them. The more prepared you are, the more secure you will feel and the less anxiety and uneasiness you will have.

The uterus contracts, resulting in continued thinning and dilation of the cervix, ultimately leading to the expulsion of the products of pregnancy.

After understanding some signs of imminent delivery, pregnant women should pay more attention in the few days before the due date and pay attention to changes in their bodies at any time. If any of the above-mentioned signs of delivery appear, they should go to the hospital immediately to prepare for the arrival of new life. If you are still worried, for safety reasons, it is recommended that pregnant women be hospitalized for observation when their due date is approaching.