When the time of birth approaches, a pregnant woman begins to worry and worry: how and when everything will happen, how successful the delivery process will be... Also, many women are afraid of contractions. Indeed, they can be quite painful, although contractions during pregnancy and the sensations during them are quite individual.
The cervix is a muscular ring that is normally closed around the os of the uterus. Longitudinal smooth muscles extending from this ring form the walls of the uterus. As labor approaches, the fetal pituitary gland and placenta begin to produce special substances – childbirth provocateurs(for example, the hormone oxytocin), under the influence of which the uterine pharynx opens to 10-12 cm in diameter.
Contractions during pregnancy
The uterus contracts in volume, intrauterine pressure increases, and all these factors contribute to the fact that the baby begins to move along the birth canal. Under the influence of hormones, the cervix relaxes, smoothes out from weak contractions, and opens from strong contractions.
False contractions during pregnancy
By the way, have you ever heard of false contractions? They are also called training contractions during pregnancy or Braxton Hicks contractions. They are similar to real contractions: the uterus also becomes toned, and you can even feel it - but the cervix does not open and labor does not begin.
False contractions during pregnancy - this is a kind of training of the body before the onset of labor; they usually begin a few weeks before childbirth. However, their complete absence is not a pathology: women who have not experienced training contractions during pregnancy give birth no less successfully than those who are familiar with this phenomenon.
How to distinguish real contractions from false ones? As a rule, this question is asked only by first-time mothers: more experienced mothers they already know that the real ones cannot be confused with anything. Training contractions take place irregularly, randomly, with varying durations and frequencies. Doctors recommend that expectant mothers calm down, relax, take a warm shower and drink juice or warm milk.
If contractions become periodic, their intensity increases, and the intervals between them shorten - most likely.
Contractions during pregnancy: sensations
If you are giving birth for the first time, contractions may last from 5 to 12 hours. In multiparous women, this period is usually 2-4 hours shorter. They also join the fights attempts- contractions of the muscles of the diaphragm and abdominal wall. They involve different muscle groups than during contractions.
But the main difference between pushing and contractions is that pushing is at least to some extent amenable to volitional control on the part of the woman in labor (she can strengthen or, conversely, delay them), while the process of contractions cannot be controlled with all the desire.
The pain during contractions is vaguely reminiscent of the pain experienced during menstrual bleeding. For those who usually have painful periods, such pain will seem quite tolerable and familiar.
There is no need to be panicky about contractions: firstly, during childbirth, a woman’s body produces painkillers. Secondly, there are many ways to self-help during childbirth, which we will discuss below. Well, and finally, as a last resort, doctors will use medicinal methods relief of pain.
Start of contractions
How do contractions begin? Most often, real contractions begin after the release of a plug - mucus, which, throughout pregnancy, seems to clog the cervix, protecting it from infections entering the body. Therefore, if a large amount of mucous and bloody discharge appears, immediately call an ambulance.
Contractions occur at precise intervals (at first it is 30-35 minutes, but then the pause time between contractions is reduced). The first contractions last from 1 minute, and then last longer and longer.
So, contractions have begun, the sensations during them are quite individual, but most women describe the beginning of contractions as tremors somewhere in the lumbar region. Then the pain moves to the stomach, becomes encircling, and there is a feeling as if the bones of the sacrum and pelvis are moving apart.
As long as the contractions are not too painful and not frequent (up to 5 minutes), there is no point in rushing to the maternity hospital: the first birth, as mentioned above, lasts a long time, and part of this time it is better to stay at home, slowly walking around the apartment. But if your water breaks, call an ambulance as soon as possible: during this period the risk of infection is high.
Breathing during contractions during pregnancy
It's time to remember everything that was said about breathing in prenatal training courses, because proper breathing during childbirth is very important: it helps the woman in labor relax, relieves pain, and ensures a full flow of oxygen to the fetus.
IN first period during labor (when contractions become regular), at the beginning and end of each contraction, inhale air through your nose and exhale through your mouth. At the peak of the contraction, breathe through your mouth, often and shallowly, but not for too long - such breathing may make you feel dizzy.
Breathing in second period depends on what the doctor or midwife tells you: push or, conversely, be patient (if the cervix is not yet fully dilated, you need to try to hold back your pushing, otherwise cervical swelling is possible). If you need to hold back your pushing, take two short breaths and then one long exhale. When the pushing stops, exhale slowly and evenly. If, on the contrary, you are told to push, you need to, feeling the urge to push, take a deep breath, lean forward and hold your breath. When the effort passes, try to breathe more evenly and deeply, relax, calm down.
How to relieve pain during contractions
In addition to breathing exercises, there are many ways to relieve labor pain for a woman in labor. You must know how to help yourself. Obstetricians advise:
- in the intervals between contractions, it is better to walk rather than lie down; during contractions, take a comfortable body position;
- stay straight: in this position, the baby’s head rests against the cervix, contractions become stronger;
- in between contractions, relax to save your strength;
- try to distract yourself and not think about the pain - you can look at some object, etc.;
- focus on breathing to distract yourself from the pain;
- urinate more often to get full bladder did not interfere with the child's progress.
If your husband is next to you, ask him to massage your back and lower back: this will help relieve the pain. The massage is done soft in a circular motion back side palms on the lower back, then, expanding the range of strokes, on the back. You can use talc.
What can you advise a man in this situation? The husband must be an intermediary between the wife and the medical staff - as a rule, in the presence of one of the relatives, the woman in labor is treated much more attentively. Take your spouse's side in everything: for example, if she asks for a painkiller. Encourage and support your wife in every possible way, even if she is irritated or does not pay any attention to you.
Pain relief during childbirth
If contractions become too painful, your doctor may prescribe pain medication. Do not be angry that you are forced to endure pain: any anesthesia is not completely harmless, and therefore is used only in extreme cases.
Types of pain relief during childbirth:
- Epidural anesthesia – relieves pain by blocking the nerves of the lower body. Used for severe back pain. It is not offered in every hospital, because it requires great skill of the anesthesiologist: the time must be calculated so that the effect of epidural anesthesia ceases by the second stage of labor, so as not to interfere with natural labor. Sometimes it is accompanied by trembling hands and weakness, but these are just mild side effects.
- Nitrous oxide with oxygen - a gas mixture used at the end of the 1st stage of labor. Reduces pain and causes a state of euphoria. Enters through a mask. You may feel nauseous or dizzy when inhaling.
- Promedol – also used in the 1st stage of labor. It begins to act after 20 minutes and is administered intramuscularly. It affects everyone differently, you may feel nauseous or unsteady, and some women in labor may feel drowsy.
- are unsystematic in nature;
- may be strong in the sacrum, lower back and lower abdomen;
- subside after sitting in a warm bath, taking antispasmodics or a sedative.
- feeling cold or chills;
- strange dull pain in the lower abdomen and lower back;
- purgation;
- vomit;
- waste of plug or water.
- if a couple before contractions expectant mother the mucus plug has come away, then, most likely, the contractions are already labor;
- Light leakage of amniotic fluid or violent outpouring can signal the onset of contractions;
- you need to time the contractions.
Young mothers think about the future almost throughout their entire pregnancy: what gender the baby is, what it will be called, how contractions will begin, how the birth will go. One of the most frightening issues remains childbirth, especially for first-time mothers.
Women who have not yet given birth are very afraid of missing the start of labor, of being late to get to maternity hospital. After all, it is known that contractions are considered the main sign that it is time to go, but they are easily confused with harbingers, or training contractions; they begin approximately a month before everyone expects it.
This article discusses: how and at what time the first contractions begin, how to determine that they have begun and what to do if this happens.
False contractions
From the 9th month of pregnancy, the expectant mother may feel short-term tension (similar to tone), as well as small contractions called training (false contractions). It is quite easy to distinguish them from the real ones:
Most often they occur after a pregnant woman is overworked or from severe stress, but then they calm down.
Signs of the onset of contractions
No doctor can say exactly when and at what interval a pregnant woman’s contractions begin, since this is a very individual process. Each person has their own rate of growth: quickly in 2 hours or slowly in 2 days. However, they definitely increase with a certain periodicity, and do not calm down even after a bath or No-shpa. In addition, symptoms of real contractions include:
At the first occurrence of contractions of the uterine muscles, you need to start noticing the frequency of their occurrence; if the period between them is shortened, the duration of continuation increases, you should start getting ready to leave for maternity hospital.
Although you should not rush too much, since full disclosure can take quite a long time and it is better to do this at home, when there is something to distract you. Therefore, you can leave if the interval between contractions is 10 minutes or less, and the contraction itself lasts 45 seconds. If your water breaks, you need to go immediately, because the baby won’t be able to live without it for a long time. amniotic fluid.
Having established that the contractions are still real, it is better to give the body a rest, you can even sleep, since the woman in labor will continue to need a lot of strength, and she will not be able to sleep for a long time.
When do contractions start?
Contractions can occur at any time of the day or night, although they most often begin at night. This is due to the fact that the hormone oxytocin is most actively produced at night, and it is responsible for the onset of contractions. If a woman does not know how to determine that labor contractions have begun, it is necessary to monitor other symptoms of the onset of labor:
The main thing is the mood of the pregnant woman and concentration during childbirth. If she is very worried that she will not have time to get to the maternity hospital or is afraid of complications, then she should ask the doctor to put her in storage: this gives her confidence that she will not miss the beginning of the main moment in her life and the process will be monitored first.
Could contractions not start?
Some pregnant women are very worried that they will not be able to understand the appearance of real contractions, because they for a long time worried about the training ones, or they won’t come at all. There is no need to worry about this, any expectant mother, when the time comes for the birth of the baby and labor contractions begin, accompanied by the dilation of the cervix, the passage of the child through the birth canal, this will be determined immediately by their frequency, as well as the increase in their strength.
If you are concerned about the absence of labor contractions, you should discuss stimulation options with the doctor who is monitoring the pregnancy: drinking herbal teas, taking hot baths, walking, resuming sexual relations with your spouse, and more.
If you know how to understand that contractions have begun, the expectant mother will be much calmer. She will have time to prepare for everything in advance and will definitely arrive at the maternity hospital on time.
Your due date is approaching, how do you know when to go to the hospital? This question is relevant and worries many women. The answer is simple. Signs of approaching labor are uterine contractions, which are characterized by pain and regularity, as well as rupture of the membranes, or both of these phenomena together. Contractions are involuntary, independent of the woman, contractions of the uterus, with a regular nature and a certain frequency.
Contractions occur in three phases: initial, active and transitional. Each phase is characterized by its duration, duration, time interval between contractions and the degree of dilatation of the cervix.
So, how do contractions begin and how can you recognize them?
During pregnancy, contractions can be erratic. Sometimes they are very painful, but do not last long. During the birth process itself, the nature of the contractions becomes more regular and prolonged. At the very beginning of this phase of preparation for childbirth, they are repeated at intervals of fifteen to thirty minutes and seem not intense and weak. You just feel discomfort in the lower back and abdominal area. Contractions are characterized by mild nagging pain, similar to pain during menstruation. Then they gradually increase, become more painful and stronger, the time intervals between them decrease, they become short and regular. You may feel your uterus become hard and then soft again. The nature of contractions is spontaneous and automatic, they do not depend on your desire.
The preliminary phase of preparation for childbirth begins from the moment you feel that contractions are recurring regularly. During this time, it is better not to eat or drink any liquid. During childbirth, it is better to be on an empty stomach so as not to provoke vomiting during contractions and to have the opportunity to have general anesthesia. During this time, try to mind your own business, relax, read your favorite book, magazine, turn on the TV, hurry up and not concentrate your attention on what is happening.
A warm bath will help you relax.
It may seem to you that after taking a bath, the contractions have become less noticeable, this is proof that labor has not yet truly begun. It is important to take a comfortable position, choose the position in which you are most comfortable, for example, sitting on a chair or on the floor with a pillow, or just walking around. You must focus on your personal feelings. In a great way relax is breathing exercises combined with your favorite music. This will allow you to relax as much as possible during the contraction and prepare to “accept” the next one.
When to go to the maternity hospital?
The main thing is not to give in to the panic that grips you, you need to try to wait until contractions appear at intervals of every five minutes for two hours, then you can go to the maternity hospital. Of course, these terms are provisional. There are times when contractions do not occur at all, so they have to be stimulated. It is important to remember that contractions are an integral part of childbirth. You need to be attentive to your body and listen to its slightest changes. The main thing is to get in the right mood and be confident only in the best, that contractions will take place naturally and without pain, because the entire process of childbirth is provided for and laid down by nature.
Counting contractions, online contraction counter
How to understand that contractions have started video
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| Olya Popova 17.03 16:28 |
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April 27. |
The approaching birth can not only be a source of joyful anticipation of meeting your baby soon, but also cause some anxiety. This is especially true for the first pregnancy. While waiting for the baby to appear, the expectant mother increasingly wonders how to understand that contractions have begun. It also happens that at the first urge, a woman rushes to pack her things for the maternity hospital, but then the discomfort disappears and causes bewilderment.
Let's talk about how to distinguish real contractions, whether you should be afraid of them, and when you really need to rush to the hospital.
What are contractions
What happens to a woman's body before the birth of a child?
The uterus is a smooth muscle organ in which gestation occurs. When the due date approaches, the muscles begin to contract, allowing the cervix to open for the passage of the baby. It is these contractions that a woman feels when she says she is having contractions 1 .
Contractions: how to understand that they have begun
When contractions begin, a woman may feel them in different ways.
Sensations can be of three main types, which are often described by women in labor:
- Pain in the lumbar region.
- Pain as during menstruation.
- Cramping pain that spreads throughout the abdomen.
- 1. Joanna Stone, Keith Eddleman, Mary Murray. Pregnancy and childbirth for “dummies” - M.: “Dialectics”, 2007. -384 p.
- 2. Obstetrics: national guide / ed. E. K. Ailamazyan, V. I. Kulakov, V. E. Radzinsky, G. M. Savelyeva. - M.: GEOTAR-Media, 2014. - 1200 p.
- 3. Velvovsky I. Z. System of psychoprophylactic pain relief for childbirth. - M.: Education, 1986.
- 4. Baev O. R. Basic protocol for labor management / O. R. Baev [et al.]. – M.: RAMS V. I. Kulakova, 2011. – 20 p.
It is impossible to predict how much a woman will be bothered by contractions. Much depends on the physiology and position of the child in the womb. But, despite different character sensations, every woman goes through three natural phases of the process:
1. Initial. The pain is mild. The contractions are short, and there are quite long breaks between them. This condition can last up to 8 hours. At this time, the expectant mother can take a warm shower or begin to gradually get ready for the maternity hospital. It is advisable to start marking the time intervals of contractions so as not to miss their transition to the next phase.
2. Active. The duration of contractions increases, the breaks become shorter. A woman may feel discomfort for up to 1 minute, after which a new contraction begins after a short period. The condition lasts from 3 hours. By the time only 5 minutes pass between contractions, it is highly advisable for a woman to already be under the supervision of a doctor.
3. Transitional. This phase is easy to skip on your own - it takes from half an hour to 2 hours and helps the cervix open to a state of full readiness (7-19 cm). At the same time, the woman notices the release of the mucus plug, which at other times “closes” the cervix. The time for the birth of the child is approaching 2.
False contractions
Above we gave an example of how prenatal contractions begin. However, in obstetrics there is also the concept of false contractions.
False contractions are exactly the same process of contraction of the uterus. However, they do not lead to dilatation of the cervix, therefore they are considered “training”. False contractions can cause the expectant mother to rush to the maternity hospital, although in fact it is not difficult to detect them. clean water. Firstly, a woman, as a rule, does not experience pain. Secondly, the intervals between “training” contractions are not shortened, and they do not intensify.
Usually, starting from the end of the second trimester, a woman begins to feel uterine contractions, which become stronger and longer as the baby grows. If such contractions do not cause pain or increased discomfort, then this is the absolute norm. Shortly before childbirth, such uterine contractions intensify, gradually developing into real contractions.
What to do when contractions start
When the interval between contractions becomes less than 5 minutes, the woman needs to be under the supervision of a doctor as soon as possible. Until this time, if the mother is not bothered by severe pain, it is enough to simply relax and calm down, count down the time intervals and get ready for the hospital. Calmness and proper breathing play a big role in how easily discomfort will be tolerated. Fear of pain can only intensify spasms - this has long been a known fact.
But you don’t need to take painkillers yourself. The very first advice to a woman giving birth is to “breathe deeply.” Proper breathing and focusing on exhalation not only prevents stress, but also relaxes the pelvic floor muscles. A light massage of the lower back also helps. And most importantly, don’t overexert yourself. It is important to use the time between contractions to rest before the most important thing - childbirth 3.
How to Reduce Pain When Contractions Start
Today there are relatively safe ways relieve a woman in labor from severe pain during childbirth. However, many doctors are wary of these activities. It's not just about risk side effects(which, although not great, still exists), but also in the fact that drugs can lead to a weakening of labor functions.
If the doctor nevertheless decides on the need for pain relief, the choice is given to one of the groups of drugs:
1. Drug pain relief. This includes various analgesics, taken mainly orally (with water).
2. Epidural anesthesia. An anesthetic substance (lidocaine, ropelocaine, etc.) is delivered under the membrane of the spinal cord using a thin needle, which the doctor inserts between the vertebrae. The method is effective (after administration, sensitivity below the back disappears completely), but due to a number of nuances it is used only in exceptional cases. For example, as a result of such anesthesia, a woman can no longer push effectively, so instrumental intervention may be required.
It is preferable when childbirth occurs naturally, without drug intervention 3 .
What to do if contractions have not started?
It also happens that the due date has approached, but contractions have not started. This phenomenon is not necessarily a cause for concern, but requires medical supervision. The reasons for the decrease in labor functions may be previous inflammatory diseases, disorders menstrual cycle or hormonal disorders.
Typically, birth occurs at 37-40 weeks. If this does not happen, but the doctor does not detect pathologies of the placenta, the baby has enough oxygen and nutrients, and the amniotic fluid is clean, then it will do natural stimulation childbirth Women are advised to take easy walks, stay in vertical position. Sex can also have an impact positive influence to stimulate labor: substances contained in sperm have a softening effect on the cervix, and sexual arousal and orgasm are natural muscle stimuli. The main thing is to take precautions.
What you definitely shouldn’t do is indulge traditional methods stimulation. Especially when it comes to herbs. They have a strong and not always controllable effect, so it is generally better for pregnant women to protect themselves from using any infusions and decoctions.
If a decision has been made to medically induce labor, one of the following methods is selected:
1. Taking prostaglandins (if the cervix is not ready to dilate).
2. Amniotomy (opening of the amniotic sac) - used to reduce the contractile functions of the uterus.
3. Administration of oxytocin (intravenously or in tablets) - to stimulate the process of contractions 4.
Childbirth is an exciting and responsible event. And the best thing an expectant mother can do in this situation is not to be afraid of the accompanying manifestations. You need to try to perceive contractions not as a source of pain, but as a natural process that contributes to the birth of a tiny beloved baby.
The expectant mother needs to know in advance about all possible “scenarios” for the onset of the labor process and have a clear action plan for each of them.
In modern obstetrics, pregnancy is considered full-term at 38 weeks. Carrying a child for more than 42 weeks is considered post-term. Thus, urgent, that is, births occurring at term fall within the interval from 270 to 290 days of pregnancy. Only some women prefer to go to the maternity hospital a few days before the expected date of birth - the majority intend to arrive there with the onset of labor, so it is important for the expectant mother to know what can be considered the beginning of labor. This moment is determined by two events - the appearance of contractions and/or the breaking of water. Moreover, some births begin with the appearance of contractions, some with the breaking of water, and sometimes these events occur simultaneously.
Scenario one. Contractions started
Contractions - These are rhythmic contractions of the uterus. They feel like a feeling of abdominal pressure that can occur throughout the abdomen. A pregnant woman can feel such contractions several weeks before the baby is born: they are called precursor, or false, contractions.
False contractions- This is a kind of training of the uterine muscles before childbirth. With them, the expectant mother, in response to the movement of the fetus or physical activity, periodically feels tension in the abdomen, as if it is “cramping”, it becomes harder to the touch than usual, and a pulling sensation may occur in the lower abdomen or lower back. They do not cause any particular discomfort; more often these sensations are painless, irregular, and quickly pass with rest and when taking antispasmodics - NO-SHPA, PAPAVERINE, MAGNE B6.
The purpose of precursor contractions is to prepare the muscles of the uterus and birth canal for childbirth: they contribute to the ripening of the cervix.
True contractions- this is a contraction of the uterine muscle, which causes shortening and dilation of the cervix by stretching its circular muscles. With each contraction, the cervix shortens and then flattens. The canal, or opening, of the cervix stretches - opens. The amniotic sac is inserted into it, expanding the pharynx like a hydraulic wedge. True contractions increase in frequency, strength, and duration over time. They occur regardless of body position, taking antispasmodics, without connection with physical activity, at any time of the day or night.
Is the pain severe during contractions?
Due to contraction of the uterine muscles during contractions and pressure on the cervix of the fetal bladder or the presenting part of the fetus after the discharge of amniotic fluid, the cervix shortens until smoothing. This continues for 4-6 hours and is called the latent phase of labor.
At first, true contractions are weak and painless, the intervals between them are about half an hour, although longer or shorter intervals are possible. The uterine contractions themselves last 5-10 seconds. Gradually the intensity and duration increase, and the intervals between them decrease. During the period between contractions, the stomach is relaxed.
Pain during contractions is caused by dilation of the cervix, compression of nerve endings, and tension of the uterine ligaments. Sometimes the first tremors are felt in the lumbar region, then spread to the abdomen and become encircling. Pulling sensations may also occur in the uterus itself, and not in the lumbar region. Pain during contractions when a woman cannot relax or find a comfortable position resembles pain during menstruation. Its strength depends on individual characteristics the threshold of pain sensitivity, the emotional state of the woman and her attitude towards the birth of the child. It is important not to be afraid of childbirth, because this whole process takes only a few hours, and the pain of childbirth is quickly forgotten.
You can often hear from women who have given birth that their contractions were either completely painless, or the pain was quite tolerable. The fact is that during contractions the body releases its own painkillers. In addition, relaxation and proper breathing techniques learned during pregnancy can help relieve pain.
If contractions start...
A woman has a little time to take a shower, put on clean underwear, trim her nails and wash off the polish. For many expectant mothers, shaving the perineum upon admission to the maternity hospital is a very unpleasant moment. However, this procedure is necessary, as it allows you to control the degree of stretching of the perineum during childbirth, prevent its rupture, and in case of injury, it is better to compare the tissues when suturing. You can avoid the feeling of embarrassment by shaving yourself at home. To do this, you need to take a completely new razor and thoroughly treat the skin with an antiseptic solution - CHLORHEXIDINE, CITEAL, MIRAMISTIN - or antibacterial soap. If it is difficult for a woman to do this herself, you can ask your husband for help.
You should go to the maternity hospital when contractions become regular and occur every 10-15 minutes. If a clear interval between contractions has not yet been established, but they are accompanied severe pain, you also need to go to the maternity hospital. If the birth is repeated, then with the onset of regular contractions it is better to go to the maternity hospital immediately: often repeated births They are characterized by swiftness, so it is better not to hesitate.
Is it possible to move during contractions?
During contractions, you can choose a comfortable body position: you can lie on your side, walk, stand on all fours or knees, or swing on a large ball - a fitball. It is necessary to monitor the duration of contractions and the intervals between them. It is recommended to remember, write down or note on your phone the time when contractions begin.
During contractions, you need to slowly, deeply and rhythmically inhale air through your nose and exhale it through your mouth. If contractions become very strong, frequent shallow breathing will help, in which you also inhale through the nose and exhale through the mouth.
From the very beginning of the contraction, stroking the lower half of the abdomen should be performed. fists or open palm on both sides of the spine, up and down, to the base of the tailbone. After a contraction there is always a period of time when there is no pain, you can relax and rest. It is necessary to empty your bladder regularly - this stimulates contractions.
What should you not do during contractions?
During contractions, you should not sit or lie on your back. Lying on your back, the pregnant uterus compresses large vessels, in particular the aorta and inferior vena cava, which leads to a deterioration in the return of blood to the heart and a fall blood pressure. This is accompanied by a disruption of the blood supply to all organs of the pregnant woman, including the placenta and, as a result, oxygen starvation of the fetus. This is what the so-called inferior vena cava syndrome consists of. In the sitting position, the relationship of the pelvic bones changes, which makes it difficult for the fetal head to move along the birth canal, and at the end of the first stage of labor can lead to fetal injuries.
You can’t eat during childbirth: this is due to two points. Firstly, in the first stage of labor - during contractions - the gag reflex is activated in many women, and a full stomach provokes repeated vomiting. Secondly, during childbirth a situation may arise when the expectant mother needs surgery using general anesthesia. If the patient's stomach is full during anesthesia, gastric contents may be refluxed into the respiratory tract, which leads to very serious, sometimes fatal complications.
It is forbidden to take painkillers on your own: normal labor pain they will not relieve, but can mask important symptoms.
You cannot stay at home in the following cases:
- If there are bloody issues . Uterine bleeding during childbirth begin due to pathology of the placenta - its premature detachment or incorrect location. These bleedings are dangerous to the life of not only the fetus, but also the woman herself.
- If the expectant mother is worried headache, blurred vision, tinnitus, flashing “spots” before the eyes, nausea, vomiting, pain in the stomach and right hypochondrium. All of these can be severe symptoms late toxicosis - preeclampsia. This condition requires immediate medical care, and before it is provided, the woman needs complete rest in a dark, well-ventilated room with a minimum noise level. Without treatment, these disorders can be fatal dangerous complication -eclampsia, which is characterized by the sudden onset of seizures and loss of consciousness due to cerebral edema.
- If baby's movements have become very violent or, conversely, feel bad. Changes motor activity the fetus may be a sign of it oxygen starvation. In all these cases, it is necessary to get to the hospital as quickly as possible, ideally by ambulance with medical escort.
What should a husband do when labor begins?
Usually, the expectant mother endures the first contractions quite easily: they last 15-20 seconds and repeat every 15-20 minutes. At this time, the future dad can talk with his wife about something abstract, create a foundation Have a good mood, joke and dream. You can help your spouse use her imagination, for example, imagine that the contraction is a wave that she is overcoming.
It’s good if the future dad is there, especially if she loses her rhythm. To set your spouse up for proper breathing, you can first breathe in unison with her, and then gradually change the frequency of your breathing, and then the woman in labor will unconsciously copy her husband’s breathing. In order to properly help a wife during childbirth, the husband needs to master the techniques of proper breathing, pain-relieving massage and relaxation during pregnancy, which can be done in special courses to prepare for partner childbirth.
During contractions, you should remind your wife about techniques that relieve pain. You can try to relieve your spouse of unpleasant sensations by massaging her back in a circular motion from the waist down or tapping her fingertips on the pain points, stroking the stomach from bottom to top and to the sides.
A man can persuade his wife to walk around the room, inviting her to lean on his hand: walking speeds up the process of childbirth, this is especially important at its initial stage.
Before leaving for the maternity hospital, it is necessary to check that the wife has documents: passport, exchange card, insurance policy, contract for childbirth (if any). If a contract for childbirth has been concluded with a specific doctor, you need to call him after the start of contractions.
For partner birth husband needs rubber slippers and specially prepared clean clothes- jeans or trousers, T-shirt or shirt. You should also have the results with you. medical examination: what tests need to be completed, you need to find out in advance at the maternity hospital.
Before giving birth, the husband needs to develop an algorithm for transporting his wife to the maternity hospital. It is necessary to clarify the telephone numbers of emergency services - state and commercial. If the family lives outside the city, you need to ask how long it usually takes an ambulance to get to the future mother’s place of residence. It’s good if you have several transportation options and a car with a full tank of gas. If the husband often goes on business trips due to his line of work, then you should think in advance who will help the wife get to the maternity hospital if childbirth begins in the absence of her husband.
Scenario two. Water broke
Normally, amniotic fluid flows out in the first stage of labor - until the cervix is fully dilated, but not before the cervix is dilated by 4 cm. At the height of one of the contractions it becomes tense and breaks. As a result, the anterior waters, which are located between the fetal head and the membranes of the amniotic sac, are poured out; in this case, the volume of the discharged waters will be small - up to 0.5 liters. If the fetal head is high or there is a transverse or pelvic position, then a lot of water pours out - up to 1.5? l. When the amniotic sac ruptures, no pain is felt.
If the cervix is fully dilated and the bladder is still intact, then the obstetricians themselves open it, since it is intact at birth membranes block the access of oxygen to the fetus.
Quite often, women have doubts: have the amniotic fluid broken or the mucus plug? Both discharges are liquid and, at first observation, seem to be similar. But they also have significant differences.
As can be seen from this table, unlike the mucus plug, the water is clear, warm and constantly leaking. The discharge of waters before the onset of labor, i.e., before contractions, is considered prenatal or premature, and if they are discharged during regular contractions, but with insufficient dilatation of the cervix, they speak of early discharge of waters. Before contractions begin, water often breaks in multiparous women. In the case of premature rupture of water, the fetal bladder may rupture high above the cervix, then the water flows out slowly, or maybe directly above the opening of the cervix, then the water flows immediately into large quantities. Labor activity after the outpouring of water, it develops over the next few hours.
The placenta and fetal membranes are a barrier that is usually completely impenetrable to bacterial (purulent) infection. Throughout pregnancy, the fetus develops in a sterile environment. The key to this sterility, and therefore the intrauterine well-being of the fetus, is the integrity of the amniotic membranes. Immediately after the rupture of amniotic fluid, bacteria begin to flow from the vagina and cervix into the uterine cavity; the child is no longer protected from possible infections, so childbirth should occur no later than 12 hours after the rupture of the membranes. For this reason, in the event of rupture of water, it is necessary to go to the maternity hospital without delay, even if there are no contractions yet. You should remember the exact time the water broke and its color: this will help the doctor decide on the tactics of labor management. In case of premature rupture of amniotic fluid in the maternity hospital, fetal infection is prevented.
It is necessary to pay attention to the color of the waste water. Normally they are transparent or light pink, odorless. The greenish, brown or black color of the amniotic fluid indicates that meconium - original feces - has been released from the baby's intestines, which happens when the fetus is deprived of oxygen. If the waters are colored with bright blood, then there is a high probability of placental abruption. In this case, immediate hospitalization is necessary.
Before the ambulance arrives or before leaving the house on another transport, the expectant mother needs to take a horizontal position and put a diaper under her, since from the moment the water leaves the water will continue to flow out. After the waters have broken, the fetal head is inserted into the uterine cavity and in some cases can press against the umbilical cord. The standing and sitting position of the woman in labor speeds up the process of inserting the head.
The rest of the recommendations coincide with those that were described when it came to contractions. If you are not sure that the water has broken, it is necessary to perform a cough test: when you cough and strain the abdominal wall, the water will flow more strongly, but the amount of mucus plug will not change. If doubts remain, you should consult a doctor at the maternity hospital.
What can't you do?
Unlike when labor begins with contractions, you cannot stay home when your water breaks. This is associated with both the risk of infection and the risk of hypoxia - oxygen starvation of the fetus. Cannot be carried out hygiene procedures, it is also associated with the risk of fetal infection.
What should my husband do?
The main thing is to help the wife quickly get ready for the maternity hospital. The future father must take upon himself the preparation of documents and bags and help his wife get dressed. It is better to deliver a woman with broken waters to the maternity hospital in a horizontal position.
Have with you
Considering that labor often begins suddenly, it is better to last weeks pregnancy, carry medical documents with you at all times - passport, exchange card, insurance policy, after 30 weeks - or a birth contract - after 36 weeks. It is necessary to know or have with you the telephone numbers of emergency services, a doctor, the address of the obstetric departments or other medical institutions closest to your home and work.
The expectant mother should not rely only on herself - if emergency situation it is necessary to seek help from others, warning about your condition. It should be remembered that police officers, metro officers, flight attendants and train conductors undergo medical assistance courses and can urgently contact doctors.
Maternity hospital bag
The expectant mother needs to put separately the things that she would like during childbirth, and separately those that will be useful to her immediately after childbirth.
In the first bag you need to put a T-shirt or cotton nightgown, socks, washable slippers, bathrobe, small terry towel, drinking water, personal hygiene items - toothbrush and toothpaste, soap, comb, toilet paper. You are usually not allowed to take anything else into the maternity ward. In some maternity hospitals you can take it with you mobile phone and a player, camera and even a video camera, but it’s better to find out in advance.
The second bag should contain 2-3 packs of breathable sanitary pads with high hygroscopicity, disposable mesh panties or regular cotton panties, a bra for nursing mothers, clothing - at the woman’s discretion. For the baby you will need clothes, baby diapers, baby cream, baby soap, compact packaging of wet wipes.
Before giving birth, women are often concerned with the question: how to recognize contractions, the sensations during which can be described in detail. How does this process begin, do you immediately feel pain? Not identifying important events and missing out on precious time is what women fear, especially during their first pregnancy. There is no need to worry. Natural intuition rarely fails the fair sex. If you remain calm, the birth will proceed normally, and the pain from contractions will not seem prohibitive. Special methods of breathing and movements during childbirth will also help to cope with such a difficult moment.
What are contractions like? They go differently for everyone. Some women experience a feeling of tightness in the abdominal area from the 20th week. The uterus tenses and the illusion of contractions is created. A doctor will help you figure this out. This phenomenon is often associated with psychological factors, and it can be dealt with. Doctors recommend walking more and taking water treatments. True signs of labor appear gradually, rather than suddenly announcing themselves. It happens that sensations similar to contractions pass quickly and do not recur for several days. This is a signal that the woman in labor needs to see a doctor immediately.
What does a woman experience during the initial contractions and later?
Contractions are the work of the uterus in a certain direction to help the baby be born. In this case, the uterus contracts and relaxes alternately. This way the baby gets the opportunity to move along the birth canal.
The sensations during contractions depend on the physiology of the woman in labor and the location of the fetus. For many, it all starts with mild pain in the lumbar region; then they gradually move to the stomach. Others experience some discomfort that is comparable to the sensations before menstruation. At the same time, the unpleasant pain syndrome increases. If you put your hand on your stomach, your uterus may feel very tense.
General signs characteristic of women in labor during the first contractions are as follows:
- Regularity.
- Increasing pain.
- Gradual increase in the frequency of uterine contractions.
Initially, contractions come after a very long period of time. These are the first harbingers of labor, the pain from which is subtle and has a nagging pain lower abdomen. Later, the interval between the onset of girdle pain gradually decreases.
Obstetricians divide the process of contractions into several stages:
- Hidden (comes at the very beginning).
- Active.
- Transitional.
The first phase can last up to 8 hours. The feeling of the contraction itself lasts up to 40 seconds. About 5-7 minutes pass before the next one. In this case, the cervix opens by 2-3 cm.
The active phase is characterized by a period of up to 5 hours. Now contractions last a minute, and their frequency is 3 minutes. The cervix opens already by 6-7 centimeters.
The third stage is short-lived. Lasts up to one and a half hours. Contractions become long, and the interval decreases more intensely than in previous periods. During the second birth, contractions are divided into the same phases, but in time they are delimited into much smaller segments.
Actions of a woman during labor
As soon as a woman realizes that she is having her first contractions, she needs to stop any kind of panic. Sit in a chair or on the sofa and take the watch. Using the second hand, note the intervals between pain sensations and their duration. Record the results of contractions before childbirth in a notebook. Weak and short contractions indicate that childbirth is still far away. Calmly collect the things you need for the maternity hospital and put them in a bag. If you wish, take a shower. Ask the people who will be nearby at this moment to help you.
A stopwatch will again help you understand that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital. When the interval between contractions has reached 5 minutes, call an ambulance. Of course, you still have a few more hours to suffer before the second stage of labor, but try not to delay your trip to the medical facility. Then everything should go under the supervision of doctors, especially since water may begin to leak. If this happens, there is no need to hesitate, but urgently go to the maternity hospital.
Some women are concerned that labor is not starting. If the doctors set the timing correctly, the baby should be born between 37 and 40 weeks. But it happens that even after this period labor does not begin. Contact your gynecologist immediately. There are cases when, if the timing is correct, aging of the placenta leads to the death of the baby. To induce contractions, you need to consult a doctor. Only he will tell you what to do in this case. If everything is fine with the placenta and there are no pathologies, there is no point in taking any action. But if there are deviations, the obstetrician will decide to induce labor. Future mom must be aware of the seriousness of what is happening and not give up on the need.
How to relieve pain and help yourself during childbirth
Prenatal contractions, if they have already intensified, can be anesthetized. Doctors inject special drugs so that the woman does not feel pain. But such drugs may not work. Science does not yet know a remedy that will completely relieve pain during childbirth.
Since the time of our distant ancestors, a simple method has been invented, using which you can significantly ease your sensitivity during childbirth: you need to learn proper breathing. Then everything goes easier and more painlessly. As soon as a contraction occurs, you need to focus your attention on exhaling and as if “releasing” the unpleasant feeling of pain from your body.
Of course, when stressful situation Once labor begins, not all women can concentrate on breathing, so it is advisable to practice in advance.
A simple massage will help you relax. It should be light. It is necessary to slowly massage the lower back. At the same time, you can sit and lie down. This procedure is considered very useful. It is with the sacral region that there is a direct connection of the uterus. Massage helps relieve muscle tension and morally reassure the expectant mother.
Prepare yourself psychologically in advance. Just think about good times and imagine what your child looks like, how you will hold him in your arms or feed him.
Between contractions, try not to think about the impending pain and just relax. This decision is important for maintaining strength before the most important process - childbirth, especially since all unpleasant feelings will be forgotten as soon as the baby is born.
Features of the physiological process to which the uterus is exposed during labor and after childbirth
The contraction starts at the top and spreads down. It feels like a kind of tension in the uterus that is gradually subsiding. Since the baby, as a rule, moves forward with the back of his head, you can find out from the contractions what position he is in now.
If there is pain in the sacrum, then the fetus is facing the woman in labor’s lower back. When the birth itself is close, the sensations of contractions turn into one large stream of pain, giving the woman virtually no respite. This means that the uterus opens wider and its muscles work more intensely.
The uterine muscles are strong. That is why they are able to naturally help the child come out. If normal birth processes the mother is disturbed and she, feeling contractions, cannot give birth fully, i.e. the child does not move as it should, doctors resort to surgery. This is also forced by pathologies of fetal development. Sometimes, if the uterus is unable to actively contract, the operation begins several hours after the onset of contractions. But only doctors determine the need for such manipulations.
After a contraction, the uterus thickens at the top, but becomes smaller, and the internal cavities contract intensively and move the baby forward. After the baby is born, uterine contractions do not go away. Therefore, slight bleeding continues. It will last until the genital organ returns to its original position.
Some women experience contraction-like sensations for several days or even weeks after giving birth.
This process does not bring pain. Breastfeeding can contribute to this, since there is a connection between the uterus and the mammary glands. If you stop breastfeeding, the uterus will be less likely to return to its normal position.