LABOR:
Labor is the last stage of pregnancy when you feel contractions (i.e tightening and loosening of the uterus muscles) which help to push your baby out of your uterus, also called as childbirth. When labor starts, your cervix dilates. Sometimes during pregnancy you may feel contractions which are not real. So it gets a bit confusing for many to differentiate between them. As many women have this doubt that “how to know if it’s real labor or the false labor?” You can’t predict when your labor starts, but some of the physical and hormonal changes may help to signal the start of your labor. For this, first of all let’s elaborate some of the signs of true labor which are as follows:
SIGNS OF LABOR:
Baby Dropping: When your baby moves lower into your pelvis which means getting ready for birth is called as lightening or baby dropping. After dropping, you may feel more pressure on the bladder and hence urinate more frequently. Baby dropping signals you that your labor is about to start within a few weeks or sometimes within a few hours.
Vaginal discharge: You may feel more mucus discharge that’s clear, pink, or a bit bloody when you are close to your labor i.e. your labor can start at any time within a week or two. It’s also termed as show or bloody show.
Contractions: When you feel tightening and loosening of your uterus muscles, is called as contractions. Contractions don’t always mean that you are in labor, sometimes it means that your uterus is preparing for delivery. There are many types like labor, early, preterm, back, etc. If these contractions become stronger, intense and persist for longer, then you are close to your labor.
Thin and Open cervix: When you are near your labor, your cervix start to open-up which is called as dilation. It’s around 3-4 cm before labor and opens up till 10cm when it’s fully open for delivery. This could be checked by your doctor and your doctor will let you know that your cervix dilation.
Looser ligaments: Your ligaments and joints around your pelvis start loosening up when you are near your labor, as your body prepares itself for delivery. This is also one of the signs that indicates you are near your labor.
Water breaks: The breaking of the amino membrane i.e. constantly leakage of fluid is called as water breaking. The fluid is a bit pale-coloured and odorless. Not all women experience this leakage, but many women do when they are in labor else doctor needs to rupture this in the hospital.
Baby’s movement: When you are near your labor, you may feel less movement of your baby. But in some cases, it may be a sign of some complication, so discuss with your doctor.
TYPES OF CONTRACTIONS:
Not all contractions signal that you are in labor, so to understand the difference between the two, first of all let’s understand some of the different types of contractions which are as follows:
Braxton Hicks Contractions (False Labor): When your uterus prepares itself for delivery, then some women may feel mild contractions called as braxton hicks contractions, also called as false contractions. These are irregular contractions, which usually start in the second trimester. Try to move and drink water to ease these contractions.
Early Contractions: These are mild contraction which you feel on irregular intervals but don’t dilate your cervix and last from 30-50 seconds. It may be due to dehydration, slow digestion, or stretched uterus ligaments. Apart from contractions, if you feel other symptoms as well, like feel these more frequently with more intensity, experience vaginal discharge, or water breaks, then this could be a sign of early labor, whether you are close to your due date or not. Then immediately consult your doctor.
Preterm Contractions: When you feel regular contractions before the 37th week, called as preterm contractions which signifies premature labor. As premature babies are at more risk of disabilities, so doctors try to stop labor through various treatments. But if you still feel other contractions and other signs of labor, then it ends up as preterm labor.
Labor Contractions: If you feel intense contractions which don’t fade away after changing position and you feel the opening of your cervix, that is called as labor contractions. These get more regular and stronger with time.
DIFFERENTIATE FALSE AND TRUE LABOR:
Most of the times, women misunderstood braxton hicks contractions with labor contractions. Now look at the intensity and frequency of your contractions to understand the difference between the two.
In TRUE LABOR, your contractions are regular and become more frequent that last for 30-70 seconds. These also get stronger and intense with time and continue even after changing position. These mostly start in the lower back and move towards the front.
In FALSE LABOR, your contractions are irregular and are not that frequent. These are normally weak, but if these stronger then these get weaker with time. These subside when you change your position. These are mostly felt at the front of your pelvis.
TIPS TO MANAGE LABOR CONTRACTIONS :
As the pain during labor contraction is quite severe, there are different ways to mange your labor pain which are as follows:
- Walk or keep moving
- Listen to music which helps you relax
- Meditation also helps
- Some light yoga poses may also help
- Watch movies or Netflix
- Take rest
- Simply do things that help you to distract your mind
These all are the drug-free methods. You may also use some medication like analgesics and anesthetics to ease out your pain, but these have their own side effects. Now, the choice is all yours, which kind of method you want to use.
CALL YOUR DOCTOR
Call your doctor when you feel:
- That you are in true labor
- Your water broke
- More vaginal discharge or bleeding
- Less movement of your baby
- Contractions before 37th week
- Any uncomfortable symptoms or concern about pregnancy.
Your doctor will let you know about what to do next and when to come to the hospital.