REALLY just before labor
You are 77 weeks pregnant (or at least you feel like you are), and you start to think your baby is never coming out…you eat spicy food, you walk for miles around your neighborhood, you have sex (SO unpleasant in every way at this point)…well, guess what? It won’t matter what you do: it is actually your baby that initiates labor. “UT Southwestern researchers found evidence that a substance secreted by the lungs of a developing baby contains the key signal that initiates labor. The substance, called surfactant, is essential for normal breathing outside the womb.”
So, try as you may, if you are having a normal, full term delivery, all you can do is wait. When you start feeling some of these signs, you have reached the “no-messing-around-we-mean-business” stage:
~Cramps/Backache: You’ve probably had a backache for a few months at this point, so what’s different? Well, think back 10 months or so, to your last period (remember that?)…This backache will feel more like the backache you used to get with your period. And it won’t go away if you rest or get a massage, or put a hot water bottle on it. It’s that low, dull ache, and it can even wrap around in front to your lower pelvic area. The ache will remind you of menstrual cramps. You may also feel an uncomfortable pressure on your pelvic floor, like a bowling ball is pushing on the area from your butt to your pubic hair.
~Contractions: These come in a few forms. Braxton Hicks are “practice” contractions. They are not painful, but they can be annoying. They are irregular, don’t increase in frequency or intensity, can sometimes be stopped by changing positions, resting or moving. They only strike in the front, (not the backachey feeling I described above). Not the real deal.
Prodromal labor is not as common. It feels like real labor has started, but it hasn’t. I was in prodromal labor with my first son. Contractions begin, and can be quite intense. However, the contractions are irregular, and they do not progress to shorter and shorter intervals (mine were about 9 to 7 minutes apart, for days. We literally have video of me saying “I think we’re going to have a baby today”…Reicher wasn’t born until three and a half days later). The worst part about this type of labor is that it is exhausting. You can’t sleep, and it feels like someone’s punching you in the stomach, every 7 minutes. However, prodromal does eventually lead to active labor, and the contractions begin to pick up speed and intensity.
The real deal can be identified easily. Contractions during active labor will increase in intensity as they progress. They will get to the point where it is not possible to speak during a contraction. They will come closer and closer together, and cannot be calmed by resting or changing position.
~Bowel Movements: Yep, not going to sugar coat it, ladies, this will be one time in your life you are happy you have diarrhea. Just before labor, your body produces prostaglandins, which cause very loose bowel movements. It is your body’s way of cleaning everything out for pushing. (You may still poop while you are pushing in the delivery room…don’t think twice about it. It’s completely normal, and your doctor has seen it a hundred times).
~Water breaking: This never happened to me, in fact, it only happens to approximately 10% of women. It can be something as small as “Did I just pee a little, in my pants?” to “A gush of water just landed all over my shoes”. The difference between your water breaking and the other signs is that once your water breaks, you are on a timetable. If you are close to full term, your doctor will want your baby delivered with in the next 24 hours or so. Once the amniotic sac is ruptured, your baby’s watery, germ safe environment is compromised, and you are both susceptible to serious, even fatal, infection if bacterium enter. So, if you notice any leakage of fluid, call your doctor right away.
For a much more in depth description of the various stages of labor, please cut and paste this website: www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/birth/whatlabor/index.php
Categories: News
Support Groups: Pregnancy, Pregnancy - Teens, Pregnancy After Loss/Infertility
6
hello, my son and labor was the most miserable thing in the world.....of course id do it all over again for him. but it was horrible. i had severe morning sickness for the first 5 months early labor signs at 51/2 months and toxemia and best rest the rest. i never had one single contraction...but did dilate to a whopping 1 cm. they induced me three times unresponsive to the pitocin and the whatever they were called to make my cervix thin. 2 different things. then when i was 8 mo 1 week along baby had cord around his neck and was loosing o2 fast and heart rate drops severly low. so i went c section.....during the epaderial they missed 3 times and had to redo it . thenin the c section room i felt the pain and they had togive me 2 more doses of the ebideral stuff and then the baby .was stuck in my ribs.....hows that for a very eventful pregnancy???
By mizbea October 15, 2008 11:04pm
5
I am a Labor and Delivery nurse and the mother of 3 boys. I just wanted to compliment you on your article. It is accurate and I hope many pregnant ladies out there will read this article. The only comment I have is that even if your water breaks, delivery is no longer REQUIRED by 24 hours, but should be monitored closely for signs and symptoms of infection. Some doctors order prophylactic antibiotics to prevent infections during a prolonged labor. The only advice I have for expecting mothers, is educate yourself about your physician, and don't be afraid to be an advocate for yourself. And of course - be nice to your L&D nurse! ;-)
By Sherry69 October 15, 2008 11:50am
4
for my first and only child I started having contractions about 8 am on a saturday morning while eating pancakes. The contractions started about an hour apart, picking up frequency as the day progressed, to about 30 minutes apart about 8 pm. At midnight they were about 15 minutes apart - I was in the shower, walking, trying to get comfprtable, and working on my lamaze breathing every contraction. My husband got homw about 1 am - was working at a local live theatre venue for chuck Berry concert, stayed and partied with them til a friend drove him home drunk about 1 am. he promptly asked how far apart they were, and opted for sleep since "it would be a while". Around 5 am i woke him as they were 5 minutes apart and very strong. After a ride to the hospital where i swear he hit every bump he could, I checked in. There was another woman there whose water had broken, no contractions, and i was snapping at everyone while she was calm. Hooked up to monitor and checked - no dilation at all and strong contractions every 4 minutes. needless to say, I opted for a c-section and the epidural as soon as i could get it - very emphatic about the pain meds- and they waited til the next shift came in and the pediatrician could get there. blessed relief.
daughter came 8 am. BTW this was 2 weeks before due date.
Don't know if anyone else had that type of labor,
By bobcat54 October 13, 2008 2:00pm
3
My first pregnancy went along very well. I was 42nd and eat healthily throughout my pregnancy and didn't smoke. When I was in labor, the hospital sent me home twice. Later that day as I took a shower I felt pressure like not before and went back to the hospital, where I refused to budge. I was in labor throughout the night with my daughter being born at 9am on a Friday. I never worried or was anxious as I know millions of babies come into the world and only with a slight chance of something going wrong. My sister told me that the women in our family have strong, healthy babies and that thought kept me centered and prepared for my part in the coming birthing process. Breathing long, restful breaths and relaxing my muscles helped to keep things progressing and to let my daughter appear on her own schedule. She was perfectly healthy and bright eyed when she arrived. The baby does most of the work, you are simply the receptacle from which baby emerges at that point. It's what you are after baby arrives that's the most important to that baby. Loving arms, soft voice, protection at all costs. All babies deserve that.
By Cybercatxq October 13, 2008 10:14am
2
With my first one I was dilated 3 cm and having no contractions. I went for my weekly check up, and the dr. said get to the hospital "NOW". They wouldn't even let me go home to get my suitcase.
By lisaj63 October 13, 2008 9:14am
1
These are great but some women have such a high threshold of pain that they never think they are in labor. My secretary made it to the hospital 10 before delivering her baby. She delivered in the chair before they could put the bracelet on her wrist. She was back at work one hour later. (You should have heard her when the hospital tried to bill her for delivery room usage.)
By catlovesdi October 12, 2008 6:23pm