Netizens asked:
There are still ten days before the due date, because my friend said that the due date is not true, some people are early, some are late, and there are always contractions in these two days. I don’t know if I will give birth before the due date? My husband is also very busy at work. I am afraid that going to the hospital will only make my family anxious and my husband worried. So, what kind of contractions are precursors to labor? When exactly will I give birth and when should I go to the hospital?
Expert answer:
The main sign of childbirth is the regularity of uterine contractions. The speed of cervix expansion is closely related to the strength of uterine contractions. If there are regular and gradually strengthening uterine contractions that last for more than 30 seconds and are separated by 5-6 minutes, the upper abdomen is more comfortable than before, the food intake is significantly increased, the breathing is lighter than before, abdominal distension and small vaginal bleeding are signs before delivery.
The entire delivery process for a first-time mother takes about 12-18 hours, and some mothers even take longer for some reasons. So please pay special attention to the fact that childbirth is a process that requires waiting. Shrinkage plays a key role in shortening the waiting process.
With the strengthening of uterine contraction, on the one hand, it can promote the expansion of the cervix and accelerate the progress of labor; on the other hand, it can also cause pain, soreness or tearing pain in the lower abdomen or lumbosacral region of the mother.
You know, every contraction is accompanied by cervix dilation and fetal descent, but these progress very slowly. Generally speaking, it takes a long time for the cervix to dilate to 3 cm. Once it reaches 3 cm, the progress of labor will be much faster.
Therefore, as long as the expectant mother has confidence and strives to realize her potential, she can successfully complete the entire delivery process under the guidance of midwives.
Childbirth pain is a natural physiological phenomenon, and current medical use of painkillers cannot solve the underlying problem. Therefore, the best way to relieve pain lies in the correct understanding of the birth process by the expectant mother. When a mother feels her abdominal pain getting worse, she can try taking deep breaths or changing her position to divert attention from the pain.
Discomfort before delivery varies from person to person, but most begin with uterine contractions. 12% of pregnant women have their water break before delivery, which means the water breaks early. No matter what kind of water rupture, you must go to the hospital anyway, because umbilical cord prolapse may occur when the water breaks, especially when the presenting part is not large or the presenting part does not descend to the pelvis. Therefore, pregnant women should go to the hospital for prenatal check-ups in time to ensure the safety of mother and baby.
Experts remind: Many pregnant women are in a state of tension for a long time before and after the expected date of delivery, worried that they will not be able to grasp the time to go to the hospital to give birth. Usually when the uterus contracts violently and the fetus is about to be delivered, the fetal membranes rupture. At this time, amniotic fluid will flow out of the vagina involuntarily. Once the fetal membranes rupture, you should go to the hospital immediately.