Does contractions every few minutes mean that you are about to give birth?

"Ten months of pregnancy, one day of delivery". After ten months of hard pregnancy, it is time to give birth. The time for the baby to meet mom and dad is not far away. Because the sensitivity of the uterine muscle layer of pregnant women increases before giving birth, irregular uterine contractions occur, also known as false labor. So does the uterus contracting once every ten minutes mean that the baby is about to be born? What are the signs of labor?

Uterine contraction

Starting from the 28th week of pregnancy, false labor contractions will often occur in the abdomen. If a pregnant woman stands or sits in the same posture for a long time, she will feel her abdomen hardening from time to time. This is called false labor, which is characterized by irregular timing and varying degrees of intensity. During labor, due to the compression and stimulation of the lower uterus caused by the descending fetal head, false labor contractions will become more and more frequent. If uterine contractions are reduced to once every 5 to 10 minutes, you should seek medical attention immediately.

Signs of labor

1. The uterus contracts periodically. The uterine contractions are not very regular at first, but then gradually turn into periodic uterine contractions, and the contraction force becomes stronger and stronger. As labor progresses, uterine contractions can last up to 1 minute, and in the chronic phase can be reduced to 1 to 2 minutes.

2. Broken amniotic fluid. The sudden discharge of clear fluid from the vagina, sometimes containing vernix caseosa or meconium, is called "water rupture." The rupture of amniotic fluid usually occurs after regular uterine contractions begin and before the baby is delivered. Pregnant women whose water breaks should go to the hospital first to prevent umbilical cord prolapse from seriously endangering the fetus. Generally, labor will occur naturally within 24 hours after the amniotic fluid breaks.

3. Spotting during pregnancy. The discharge of a small amount of strong mucus from the vagina during labor is called "bloody spotting during pregnancy." Spotting during pregnancy is a relatively reliable sign that labor is about to begin. If there is a lot of bleeding or bloody water, you should go to the hospital for a physical examination immediately.

4. Increased frequency of urination. Ten days before delivery, the presenting part descends into the pelvis, and the fundus of the uterus also descends, compressing the bladder, which reduces the bladder's urine storage capacity and increases the frequency of urination.

5. The feeling of the fetus decreasing. As the fetal head descends to the pelvis, the fundus of the uterus also descends. Most pregnant women feel more comfortable in the upper abdomen than before, their appetite increases, and their breathing becomes more cheerful.

When approaching the late stage of pregnancy or about to give birth, pregnant mothers should pay close attention to their own health status and promptly determine whether they are about to give birth. If any signs of labor appear, you must go to the hospital immediately. As time goes by, the baby will meet the pregnant mother soon.