How would you know when your pregnancy labor is about to commence? Don’t worry; Mother Nature is benevolent! She has given certain signs that indicate an approaching labor.
Signs Of Pregnancy Labor Lightening – This is the process of your baby’s head being shifted deeper down into your pelvis area. This lightens up the pressure on your lungs and you can breathe easier. It occurs around 15 days before labor.
Dilation and effacement – Your cervix thins out and opens. The thinning or wearing out is referred to as effacement and opening is referred to as dilation. It’s a way of your cervix to prepare for delivery. It occurs a few days before delivery.
Ejection of mucous plug – This is the same plug that blocks your cervical opening throughout the pregnancy in order to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. As soon as dilation and effacement take place, the mucous plug is discharged. At this time, you get a thick vaginal or stringy mucous discharge, which is usually brown in color with a tinge of blood. Removal of mucous plug implies an approaching labor, maybe within a week or so.
Water breaking – When the amniotic sac ruptures, its fluid gushes out or trickles through your vagina. The amniotic sac is a fluid-filled membrane in which your baby remains suspended during pregnancy. When this breaks, labor is near. You should at once check with your doctor to examine your baby and you and to know what to do next.
Nesting – This is a natural instinct that creeps into every mom-to-be a few days before delivery. You will be full of energy suddenly and want to do all sorts of cleaning activities like rearranging your wardrobe, dusting furniture, and others. It’s a way of your mind and body to start making preparations to welcome the baby at home. Do not fight this urge. Do as your body says.
Regular contractions – These are the surest signs of commencement of pregnancy labor. True labor follows a pattern, such as the labor contractions occur every eight minutes or so; the time interval diminishes progressively; they last longer and get intense eventually. You can feel the contractions beginning from your lower back and moving around to your front. It can also be the opposite.
Besides the above mentioned signs of pregnancy labor, some women also experience backache, indigestion, menstrual-like cramps, diarrhea, and a warm feeling in their abdomen.
Once pregnancy labor starts, do not panic. Try to remain as calm as possible. There are also certain breathing exercises that you can learn in advance, to be able to endure the pain better.
When you prepare for delivery you want to know everything possible about pregnancy labor. In the last stage of pregnancy when you are approaching labor, remain calm, recognize the signs and do the right things. For more information on pregnancy labor, you may visit pregnancy week by week.
