Signs of labor (i.e., signs of labor) are normal and predictable when they occur in the last 3 weeks of pregnancy (beyond 37 weeks), but if they occur 3 weeks before the due date, they should be carefully examined and evaluated. In any case, as soon as signs of labor appear, you should be admitted to the hospital as soon as possible or wait for labor.
Redness: When pink or dark red blood mixed with mucus secretions flows out of the vaginal opening, it means that the cervix has begun to thin and the pregnant woman is about to enter labor. Know that the cervix becomes shorter, softer, and thinner before it opens. During this change, the mucus plug in the cervix will flow out and its color will gradually change from dark brown to bright red.
When the fetus descends, the cervix dilates and separates from the fetal membranes, and the vagina discharges bright red or brown mucus secretions with blood streaks, which is called redness.
What is the difference between redness and bleeding? The difference is that bleeding is blood-red discharge, or even bright red blood, which can wet cotton pads or underwear like menstruation. It may be caused by rapid labor or the presence of the placenta. If the skin peels prematurely, seek medical attention quickly.
Water breaking: If you suddenly find a puddle of wet stuff under your buttocks while sleeping, without the smell of urine, and you feel water coming out of your vagina when you move your position, then the amniotic fluid may have broken, which is also known as water breaking. Normal amniotic fluid is transparent and clear. A full-term pregnant woman will have nearly 500-1000 ml of amniotic fluid in her uterus, which is about the amount of two cups of pearl milk tea. When your water breaks, you may intermittently feel a large or small amount of water coming out of your vagina. Most pregnant women will have labor pains within 12 hours after splashing, but 15% of pregnant women will have their waters break before labor pains.
Since water breaking increases the chance of infection or umbilical cord prolapse, whenever the water breaks, the baby should be hospitalized for delivery immediately and the health of the fetus and the progress of labor should be closely monitored.
Prenatal sign experts report that flushing, labor pains, and water breaking are all common signs of labor, and there is no fixed order, and sometimes they even exist at the same time. However, having an omen does not mean that labor is imminent, because as labor progresses, it is easy to have similar feelings.
For example, in the first few weeks before giving birth, an expectant mother may experience frequent, irregular labor pains, at least every 10 minutes, that become increasingly severe and intense. It becomes thinner and slowly swells, so it may be accompanied by redness or water breaking, which is when labor actually begins.
In addition, during this period, some expectant mothers will feel the fetal head drooping, feeling relaxed, and even accompanied by a sinking feeling and a feeling of defecation. This is mainly because the fetal head droops and presses toward the anus. If your stomach is not good enough to go to the toilet, you should immediately go to the hospital’s delivery room for a checkup with the prenatal checkup manual.