Learn the signs of labor so that you know when to call your doctor and go to the hospital for delivery. If you have any signs of labor before 36 weeks or 9 months of pregnancy, call your doctor right away. Show The signs of labor are contractions and rupture of membranes. ContractionsContractions occur when the muscles of the uterus tighten and relax as the uterus prepares for delivery. False Labor Contractions These often occur during the last month of pregnancy. They:
True Labor Contractions
If you think you are in labor:
Rupture of Membranes Rupture of membranes, called water break, is the trickle or gush of fluid from the vagina after the bag of fluid around the baby breaks. The fluid is often clear, but it may be white or green. The bag of water can break at any time. It may break before you feel any contractions and may leak during a contraction.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns. Induction of LaborMost pregnancies last about 40 weeks. Some end a few weeks earlier and some end a few weeks later. The birth of a baby anytime between 37 and 41 weeks is considered normal. When your baby is "done," labor usually starts on its own. Sometimes, however, if the woman or her baby is ill, or if the woman and her health care provider think it is safe, the health care provider may try to get labor started using medicines or other treatments. When this is done, it is called induction of labor. How Is Labor Induced? There are many ways to induce labor. The method used depends on the condition of your body and your preferences, as well as the preferences of your health care provider. Some of the methods help your body get ready for labor and some make contractions start. The methods most often used to induce labor include:
Epidural Pain Relief for Labor and DeliveryAn epidural is often used for pain relief during labor and delivery. A small flexible tube is put in the lower back. Medicine is injected into the tube to provide pain relief in the lower abdomen, legs and birth canal. A special doctor called an anesthesiologist will place the tube in your back. How is the procedure done?
Possible Side Effects
When Not to Have an Epidural If you have or think you may have any of these conditions, tell your doctor or nurse.
Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have any questions or concerns. Pain During Childbirth FAQPAIN DURING CHILDBIRTH How Painful Is Giving Birth? You've probably heard a lot of stories about giving birth. The experience is very different for each woman. The amount of pain is different for everyone. The kind and amount of pain you have changes throughout your labor. Why Is Labor Painful? During labor, your uterus pushes the baby down and stretches the opening of your uterus (cervix). Each time the uterus muscles flex, you may feel pain like a strong cramp. As your cervix and vagina stretch and open, you may feel a stretching, burning pain. Most contractions last 30 to 60 seconds, and you will be able to rest in between. I Would Like to Help With the Pain, But I Don't Want to Use Medicine. What Can I Do? Please see below for tips on coping with the pain of labor. The less tense and afraid you are, the less painful your labor will be. Three things can help you labor successfully without using medications: knowledge about what to expect, belief in yourself, and emotional support and coaching during your labor. Is There Medicine I Can Take for Pain if I Need It? There are many types of pain relief available in a hospital. The most common pain medications are narcotics and epidural anesthesia. What Are the Pros and Cons of Narcotics? Pros:
Cons:
What Is an Epidural? An epidural numbs your body from the waist down. It involves putting a needle and then a small flexible tube into a space near the spine in your lower back. The pain medication flows through the tube and you lose feeling in your abdomen and legs. The medication will not make you or your baby feel sleepy or "out of it." However, you will not be able to walk or get up to go to the bathroom. You may have a harder time pushing your baby out because you won't be able to feel the contractions. How Can I tell Before Labor Starts What Is Right for Me?
Remember that nobody knows ahead of time how painful or difficult your labor will be. Knowing your desires is the best place to start. Then when you are in labor, you need to be flexible and trust your support persons and caregivers to help you make decisions that are right for your experience then. The flip side of this sheet has some tips for coping with pain in labor. Coping with Pain in LaborWhat Can I Do Before Labor?
What Can I Do During Early Labor?
What Can I Do During Active Labor? Find Your Rhythm. All women who cope well during labor go back and forth between resting in between the contractions and movements that help cope with pain during the contraction. Each person has their own rhythm that works. You may
What Can My Birth Coach Do During Labor?
What Can My Health Care Provider Do During Labor?
Are sharp shooting pains a sign of labor?These signs of labor include: Fatigue. Lightning crotch pain (sharp, burning or shooting nerve pain in your pelvis caused by your baby's position).
Is cervix pain a sign of labor?During labor, your uterus pushes the baby down and stretches the opening of your uterus (cervix). Each time the uterus muscles flex, you may feel pain like a strong cramp. As your cervix and vagina stretch and open, you may feel a stretching, burning pain.
Why am I getting sharp pains in my cervix?During ovulation, the follicle that houses the growing egg increases in size, which may cause ovulation pain (also called mittelschmerz). Ovulation pain often feels like a sharp, stabbing pain on one side of the pelvis that lasts for minutes, hours, or sometimes even days.
Why does it feel like my baby is stabbing my cervix?When your baby changes positions, turns, stretches, or kicks, they can put pressure on the nerves in your uterus. This can cause a sharp, sudden pain. The pressure on the nerves intensifies, especially as baby's head engages into the pelvis during the last few weeks of pregnancy or during labor.
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