Labor is the process of giving birth to a child. Unless you are a mother who has given birth to a child, you would not be able to describe the experience of childbirth. Also, it is known to be one of the most painful processes that anyone can ever experience.
Pregnancy can be a challenging experience for both mother and the family as there are a lot of preparations and advice that need to be taken in order to get a better understanding of the pregnancy.
Pregnancy is a special situation for the body. The physiological processes and chemistry of the body change during pregnancy. So, the body may not be able to function to its maximum potential and it is very important to keep an eye on pregnant mothers.
It is important to know when your labor begins as there are several risks that can be present during the labor. To prevent harm, it is vital that you will identify the early signs of labor and seek medical care as soon as possible.
When you are getting closer to the end of your pregnancy, you would be constantly wondering when will you deliver the baby. If you start to experience the following symptoms there is a high chance of you being at the beginning of labor and therefore it will be best to go see your healthcare provider.
1. Worsening lower abdominal pain
In a pregnant mother, lower abdominal pain can be because of many reasons. But if it is at the end of pregnancy the most likely cause is induction of labor pains. Initially the pains are minimal and less frequent. These are known as “Braxton-hicks” contractions. With time, pains starting to increase in intensity and frequency. The pains is felt because the uterus starts to contract in order to push the baby out. You should be admitted to the hospital immediately if you starts feeling painful contractions as such.
2. Release of “show”
When the baby is ready to come out you will start to notice a red color jelly like secretion coming out from the genital area. This is known as the “show”. It contains blood and solidified mucous. Initially it is placed at the cervix and with powerful contractions it will dislodge and will come out. This is also another important sign of impending labor.
3. Your water is starting to break
As you all know, inside the womb the baby lies surrounding a liquid covered by a sac. This is the amniotic sac. The fluid is known as amniotic fluid and it provides protection of the baby from external damage. It is also a waste product of the baby. When you start having powerful contractions, the amniotic sac will break and the amniotic fluid will be released. This will be noticed as a gush of water appearing from the genital area. If you notice this, the next option is to go to your nearest hospital.
4. Back pain
Back pain is a common complaint in pregnant females. It can be due to various problems. Because of the long-term wait bearing it can be seen commonly. Also, if there is a urinary tract infection back pain is a common complaint. But when you’re closer to the delivery, worsening of back pain might indicate that you might go into labor soon.
5. Feeling of passing urine
Frequent urges of passing urine is commonly observed in pregnancy and it is because of the external compression of the bladder by the enlarged womb. This is seen throughout the pregnancy. But when the contractions start to appear, this will become more and more. Hence, it is another important sign of impending labor.
Summary
Labor is the process of giving birth to a child. It is important to identify when you are getting close to the labor because then you will be able to have a safe delivery under protection of the healthcare services. There are several important signs that indicate that you might go into labor soon. Delaying to seek healthcare services may result in harm to both mother and the child. So, if you notice the above signs, you should go see your healthcare provider.
Resources
- Website, N. (n.d.). Signs that labour has begun. nhs.uk. https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/signs-that-labour-has-begun/
- Cnm, E. S., Gordon, S., & Riley, L., MD. (2022, December 19). 9 Signs Labor Is Near: How to Tell Your Baby Will Come Soon. Parents. https://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/signs-of-labor/signs-of-approaching-labor/
- Early signs of labour. (n.d.). Ready Steady Baby! https://www.nhsinform.scot/ready-steady-baby/labour-and-birth/labour/early-signs-of-labour
- Healthdirect Australia. (n.d.). Giving birth – early signs of labour. Pregnancy Birth and Baby. https://www.pregnancybirthbaby.org.au/giving-birth-early-signs-of-labour
