 Signs of labor very unreliable
Added: 02/21/2006 |
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There are a lot of signs of labor. The most common are labor contractions that get stronger, longer and close together. It is necessary to pay attention to the so-called bloody show or mucus plug which can come either at once or in the course of some days. When the water breaks, the labor is going to start soon. If it does not begin, some measures to protect the baby from an infection should be taken.
Unfortunately there is no single way to predict that the woman is going into labor. Experts cannot fully understand what stimulates the beginning of the labor. So, it is almost impossible to predict the exact time when it is going to start.
It is necessary to mention the fact that the body of the woman begins to get ready for the labor a month before it. But the woman may be completely unaware of what is going on. She may, however, notice some new symptoms when the due date approaches. There are some common signs of labor that can be noticed some weeks or days before the labor.
One of the most vivid signs of labor is the feeling of some lightening. Usually this sign occurs if the woman has her first pregnancy. The woman may also feel some heaviness in her pelvis as well as less pressure below the ribcage.
One of the most common signs of labor is more intense and frequent labor contractions that may signal pre-labor. During this the cervix of the woman ripens and the true labor stage starts. Sometimes women may experience menstrual-like cramps during the time.
If it is the true labor that is approaching the consistent contractions begin. They repeat every ten or twenty minutes. You can be sure that you have false labor if the contractions get longer, stronger and closer together. They also cause the cervix to dilate.
Some days or weeks before the delivery the contractions can do the preliminary work of thinning, softening and opening the cervix a little. When your due date is approaching, the practitioner is supposed to do the vaginal examination at the prenatal visit. The examination shows whether the cervix has begun to dilate.
One of the most vivid signs of labor is the bloody show or mucus plug. It may pass if the cervix of the woman starts dilating while the labor is approaching. The plug may come in different ways: either all at once or during some days. It may be tinged with blood which can be red, pink or brown. That is why it is often referred to as bloody show.
Having a vaginal exam or sex is able to disturb the mucus plug. So the woman may see some bloody discharge even if the labor is not going to start in the nearest future. But if you see more than some blood spots, it is necessary to call your caregiver immediately because it may be the sign of some problem.
The break of the water is also one of the most obvious signs of labor. The baby is surrounded by the amniotic sac which is filled with the fluid. So, when the sac ruptures, the fluid is leaking out of the vagina. No matter whether it comes out in a small trickle or large gush, it is necessary to call the midwife or the doctor immediately.
In the majority of cases the regular contractions begin before the water breaks. But it also happens that water breaks before the contractions. When it happens, labor is going to start soon. If the water has broken but the labor does not start during a certain period of time, it has to be induced because the baby is under the risk of getting infection without the amniotic sac which offers protection against various germs.
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