As the due date approaches, expectant mothers are filled with polarized emotions: on the one hand, they are looking forward to the arrival of new life; On the other hand, they may start to worry because they know nothing about the birthing process. In fact, if expectant mothers can understand the relevant information about childbirth in advance, including what are the signs of labor, what are the danger signs, when to go to the hospital for labor, what situations may be encountered during labor, etc., then when labor pains really start, they can Face it calmly. correct.
Signal generation and start-up of production equipment. If a labor signal appears, it means that the delivery may be in a few days. The expectant mother can start some preparations:
1. Determine the mode of delivery (natural delivery or cesarean section), delivery hospital, and delivery room contact number.
2. Prepare documents related to hospitalization (including ID card, maternal and child health handbook), and do not travel far.
3. Consult the hospital in advance about the maternal and infant supplies you need to bring with you when you are hospitalized, and make preparations.
4. Keep in close contact with teachers, family members or birth attendants at all times.
True and false signs of due date
The body is ready to signal labor
A fetus is considered full term when a woman is 37 weeks pregnant or later. There will be some signs a week or two before labor, indicating that labor may be approaching.
Feeling relaxed When the fetal head descends into the pelvic cavity, the expectant mother will feel that breathing becomes easier and eating becomes easier. Generally, first-time mothers will start to feel this two weeks before delivery, but not necessarily multiparous women. However, the fetal head may press on the bladder, causing the mother to urinate frequently.
Before or during uterine contractions, some bright red or dark red blood-like secretions mixed with mucus may flow out of the vagina. This is mainly caused by the rupture of capillaries when the cervix becomes thinner and softens. Generally, the amount of bleeding will not be too much, and there is no need to be hospitalized immediately to wait for labor; unless a large amount of vaginal bleeding occurs, it means that there are other critical events, such as placenta previa, placental abruption, etc., which require immediate medical treatment.
False Labor Pain A few days before labor, irregular uterine contractions and lower abdominal pain may occur. It might be 20 minutes apart at first, but then it becomes more and more irregular. At this time, expectant mothers can relieve pain by walking and resting. This kind of pain does not cause the cervix to dilate, so it is called false labor pain, which means that there is still some time before real labor.
Real signs of hospital birth
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1. Water breaks: A stream of water gushes out of the vagina, like urine, flowing out slowly and uncontrollably. This can be determined by litmus paper or vaginal examination; once the water breaks, expectant mothers can use a clean sanitary napkin and seek medical attention immediately.
2. True labor pain: It is a regular uterine contraction that cannot be relieved by resting or walking.The pain is mainly concentrated in the back and lower abdomen.
3. Feeling of defecation: Uterine contractions will cause the fetal head to press against the mother’s rectum, causing a strong feeling of defecation. At this time, you should go to the hospital for a check-up. Don\’t strain when going to the toilet or your baby may be sent to the toilet.
Other dangerous symptoms include unusually heavy bleeding, reduced or stopped fetal movement, severe abdominal pain, persistent headache, blurred vision, significantly reduced urine output, and swelling of the face and hands. These conditions may endanger the safety of the mother and fetus, and should be hospitalized immediately or terminate the pregnancy. They cannot be treated as general symptoms to avoid delaying treatment.
Premature labor: Dangerous signs of labor It is normal for full-term expectant mothers to have signs of labor; if it occurs to pregnant women who give birth prematurely (less than 37 weeks), it will increase the chance of premature birth and lead to premature babies. Therefore, pregnant women who have had premature labor need to seek medical attention immediately if they experience premature contractions, vaginal bleeding, or water rupture.
Labor pain is mild and easily overlooked. Typically, a premature uterus does not swell as much as a full-term uterus. You may just experience frequent contractions, abdominal pain, or period cramps. There may be no obvious labor pains. At this time, you still need to go to the hospital for a check-up to decide whether you need to be hospitalized for miscarriage. Some confused pregnant women wait until they have obvious regular labor pains before coming to the hospital for treatment. As a result, the cervix continues to expand until the third or fourth finger is about to go into labor, and premature labor will occur.