What are the signs of impending labor?

Most women will experience some symptoms of labor before giving birth, but everyone's physical condition is different, and the symptoms before delivery are also different. In fact, women's uterine fundus will drop before giving birth, and pregnant mothers can also clearly feel that the upper abdomen suddenly becomes relaxed. Symptoms of impending delivery include water breaking, spotting, or regular abdominal contractions.

The following are the main signs that expectant mothers are about to give birth:

1. Lower abdominal distension

As the part of the baby that is exposed first descends, it compresses the pelvic bladder, rectum and other tissues, causing expectant mothers to often feel distension in the lower abdomen, frequent urination, and back pain.

2. Relaxed feeling in the abdomen

1-2 weeks before delivery, expectant mothers will often feel that their upper abdomen is more comfortable than before, their breathing is lighter, and their appetite increases as the part of the baby that is exposed first descends into the pelvis and the bottom of the uterus lowers.

3. False contractions

Expectant mothers often have irregular uterine contractions 1-2 weeks before delivery, which are different from the uterine contractions after delivery:

The duration is short, the intervals are long and irregular, the intensity of the contractions does not increase, the contractions only cause slight distension and pain and are limited to the lower abdomen, and the cervical opening does not expand with them. A small amount of sedatives can suppress this "false contraction".

4. Amniotic fluid leakage

A few hours before delivery, amniotic fluid will flow out of the vagina. This is an important sign before delivery. Once the pregnant mother finds this phenomenon, she should go to the hospital immediately.

5. Seeing blood

24-48 hours before delivery, some mucus mixed with blood will flow out of the pregnant mother's vagina, which is called spotting. This is because the lower uterine segment and cervix expand, the nearby fetal membrane separates from the uterine wall, the capillaries rupture and bleed, and mix with the mucus in the cervix to form bloody viscous secretions, which is a relatively reliable signal before delivery. If the amount of vaginal bleeding is heavy, exceeding the amount of menstruation, you should be aware that this may not be a sign of delivery, but may be a bleeding disorder in late pregnancy, such as placenta previa, placental abruption, etc.

6. Water breaking

After delivery, the frequency of uterine contractions increases, the amniotic sac ruptures, and clear, light yellow water flows out of the vagina with a fishy smell that cannot be controlled. When the amniotic fluid flows out, the umbilical cord may fall out with it. If the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck, it will cause the baby's death. Therefore, if the amniotic membrane ruptures before delivery and the amniotic fluid flows out, you should lie down immediately and go to the hospital to wait for delivery.

The normal color of amniotic fluid is light yellow. If the amniotic fluid appears bloody or green and turbid, you should pay attention. If not much amniotic fluid flows out, don't think it's just an increase in vaginal discharge. If this happens in the late pregnancy, you should consider whether your water has broken. You should go to the hospital for examination in time and don't be careless.

It should be noted that many expectant parents are worried that the baby will be born at home or on the road. In fact, there is no need to worry about this. The probability of a pregnant mother having an emergency birth during her first delivery is very small. When a pregnant mother finds that she has symptoms of labor, she will definitely have enough time to rush to the hospital, and she doesn't even need to call an ambulance.