Labor Day

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Did you know that labor starts even before your water bag bursts? In fact in more than three out of four pregnancies, it’s the obstetrician who breaks the amniotic sac.

How will you know if you are in labor? Forget Hollywood-style images of a woman shouting for help after her waters break. Yes, labor can creep up on you when you least expect it but in most cases, your body will already be sending you subtle signals.

The stages of labor

1. A few early signs

  • A strong urge to keep cleaning the house.
  • A more persistent backache.
  • More obvious and frequent abdominal cramps–similar to Braxton-Hicks contractions but more intense.

Don’t be too alarmed or excited. Your brain is merely sending all sorts of signals to your body that childbirth is approaching. If you feel like your house just isn’t in order, go ahead and straighten it out but don’t overdo it.

2. The Aha! moments

  • A stringy, or plug-like whitish-pink discharge.
  • Spotting in your panties.
  • More persistent cramping.

The plug-like discharge signals that your cervical mucous plug, which keeps germs from entering your uterus, has probably been dislodged by cervical changes. As the cervix continues to stretch in preparation for birth, a small amount of blood may wet your panties. This is often called the “bloody show”. The more persistent cramps signify that your uterus is contracting and cervix continuously thinning and softening in preparation for labor.

Apart from a little nagging or dull pain, these initial phases shouldn’t cause you any agony. If you are in too much pain or there is a trickling or gushing of blood, rush to the hospital immediately.

3. The real thing

Very few babies are delivered exactly on their due date so as you approach your 34th week of pregnancy, keep a timer close by. You will know you are in labor if you feel contractions that are strong, long and close together.

Actual labor contractions are more painful than the initial cramping. They feel only a little like menstrual cramps. They can be much more intense in pressure and tightness. The pain usually begins somewhere in the back, then moves to the front like a wave before it subsides, then starts again. When this happens, a rocking position or leaning against a wall may help ease the discomfort.

To time a contraction, start the timer when a contraction begins and stop when the next contraction starts. Write down the starting time and how long it lasted.

Most women are still able to walk around the home when contractions are first felt. When contractions are much more painful and closer together (about 10 minutes apart, lasting 25 to 30 seconds each time), you should probably already be on your way to the hospital.

At the hospital, your obstetrician will check to see how much your cervix has dilated. Chances are, at this stage your cervix will only be slightly dilated. So don’t expect to give birth immediately. The cervix is completely dilated at 10 centimetres. If you’re a first time mum who is 36 to 40 weeks pregnant, complete dilation may take anything from eight to 16 hours.

4. Coping with pain

As delivery approaches, the contractions will get closer together (about 5 minutes apart, lasting 45 to 60 seconds each time) and this signals the beginning of your active labor stage.

Depending on your condition, you may have already been offered pain relief, such as an epidural, if you had requested it. If you want to brave the delivery process without pain relief, this is definitely the time to apply the breathing exercises and coping tips you’ve been taught at childbirth classes. If you simply cannot cope, you should decide now whether or not to ask for relief because it may be too late if you ask for it later.

5. When push comes to shove

Gradually, contractions will become even more intense, coming every two to three minutes, as your cervix dilates from 7 or 8 to the full 10 centimeters. There may be more bloody discharge as your baby descends lower into the pelvis and you may even feel an urge to “bear down” or start pushing.

Some women describe this urge as being similar to the rectal sensation when making a bowel movement. Others are overcome by nausea while still others do not feel anything other than pain. Many women like to participate actively in the pushing process and sometimes ask for the dosage of the epidural to be lowered at this stage. Your doctor may also encourage you to shift your position to one that is more comfortable for pushing. Listen to your doctor’s instructions carefully because there may be instances when you need to stop pushing.

Some mothers who are unable to push on their own or are too numb from the epidural to push, may need manual belly pushing help from delivery assistants and possibly, a forceps delivery.

6. Baby arrives!

This is the stage when you will be rewarded for all that hard work. You may need to make a few final concentrated pushes. Soon, baby’s head will “crown” and gradually his face, chin then neck and shoulders and body will appear. You may be too excited or even too exhausted to realize how quickly the doctor–or your partner, if the doctor allows him to–cuts the cord. If baby is deemed normal and healthy, she will be wrapped in a towel or placed directly on your belly for warmth.

As you marvel and delight at this little human being, your body will be experiencing the final stage of delivery–the expelling of the placenta. Depending on how alert you are, you may feel mild after-birth pains. Your doctor will then check you thoroughly and give you an anesthetic before suturing any vaginal tearing that may have occurred during delivery.

The moment is now yours, your partner’s and your baby’s to enjoy each other. If you want to breastfeed your baby, you will be encouraged to do so although many new mothers find that it takes a few attempts before a newborn latches on properly at the breast.

There…that’s a typical childbirth experience for you. As no two birthing experiences are ever alike, there is no telling exactly what yours will be like or how long it will take. But be assured that despite all that work, pain and anxiety, everything will be forgotten when you hold your beautiful child in your arms.

Did you know? You can learn more about labor pain relief, delivery and postpartum issues by visiting MomCenter’s Resource Centre and Essentials sections.

This information is for educational purposes only. For more specific medical advice, diagnosis and treatment, we strongly suggest that you consult your doctor. If possible, review this information with your doctor before use.

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