What to do if you see blood but don't have labor pains

Some people are having a baby for the first time and do not have much experience, so they will naturally become very worried about giving birth, especially when they choose natural childbirth. Although natural childbirth does less harm to the body and the baby, when they are preparing for delivery, they will find that there is spotting but no contractions. In this case, they will consider whether the baby will be unsafe. Here are some tips on childbirth.

How long after the prenatal bleeding does the labor pain begin?

Generally speaking, labor pains will begin within 24 hours after the onset of bleeding, and the delivery stage will begin. But the reality is that many people give birth a few days or even a week after spotting. There are great individual differences, so the key is to observe its shape, color, quantity, etc. after seeing the red and then make a judgment.

If a pregnant woman is about to give birth and has irregular uterine contractions, she should promptly notice these signs, especially if she finds that her shorts near the vaginal opening feel damp and uncomfortable. She should immediately check whether there is any bloody secretion on her shorts. If so, you should go to the obstetrics and gynecology hospital immediately to prevent any accidents.

The real process of giving birth

The actual process of childbirth mainly refers to the entire process from the regular uterine contractions of the mother to the delivery of the fetus and placenta, also known as the total delivery process. According to the different time of delivery process, it can be divided into three major stages of labor: first, second and third. Generally speaking, the first stage of labor takes the longest time and is the main uterine contraction process, which prepares for opening the cervix for a smooth delivery. The second stage of labor is the process of delivering the fetus through the vagina, and the third stage of labor is the process of delivering the placenta. The three major stages of labor differ in terms of time, uterine contractions, etc.

1. The first stage of labor: a long prelude

Time span: about 6 to 12 hours before entering the delivery room. Generally, the first stage of labor for first-time mothers is longer than that for multiparous mothers.

The first stage of labor is the beginning of delivery. The cervix must be opened during delivery. Generally, the cervix needs to be opened to about 10 centimeters during the first stage of labor. It is the longest stage of labor in the entire delivery process.

The main feature of the first stage of labor is that the intervals between uterine contractions become shorter, from more than 30 seconds every 5 to 6 minutes at the beginning of contractions to about 50 seconds every 2 to 3 minutes, and the speed of cervical opening also becomes faster and faster. As the contractions become tighter and the intervals between them become shorter, the mother will feel pain in her lower abdomen. At this time, she should try to endure it and avoid shouting, so as not to waste her energy and hinder the smooth delivery of the second and third stages of labor.

Changes in the cervix during the first stage of labor

2. Second stage of labor: the main force process

Time span: about 1 to 2 hours, generally not more than 2 hours.

The second stage of labor refers to the process of the mother's cervix opening completely, the fetus being delivered, and the fetus being separated from the mother's body and born. During the second stage of labor, the intensity of uterine contractions will increase. When the cervix is ​​fully dilated, the fetal head descends into the pelvis under the action of uterine contractions. As labor progresses, the fetus is continuously delivered from the mother's body. If this process lasts too long, close to 2 hours, you will need to inject oxytocin to strengthen uterine contractions or use other methods of delivery.

Second stage of labor

3. The third stage of labor: delivery of the placenta

Time span: about 5 to 15 minutes

If the placenta is not delivered after giving birth, it can cause postpartum hemorrhage, so the placenta must be delivered and cleaned during the third stage of labor. After the fetus is delivered, the mother's uterine contractions will pause for a while and then restart. Under the action of uterine contractions, the fetus will peel off from the uterine wall and move to the cervix. At this time, the mother only needs to push again and the placenta will be successfully delivered.

During the third stage of labor, the doctor or midwife will examine the placenta and diaphragm to make sure they are all expelled. If any remaining fragments are found, they will be cleaned out. At the same time, the mother's uterus will be checked to make sure it is still contracting to prevent bleeding from the placenta peeling off. If the woman had an episiotomy during labor, this may also require suturing during the third stage of labor.

In recent years, some people have advocated calling the first two hours after delivery the "fourth stage of labor." Because most postpartum hemorrhage occurs within 2 hours after the third stage of labor, the mother still needs to stay in the delivery room for observation during this process. If everything goes well, you will be sent to the rest room after 2 hours, and the delivery process is truly over.