The time is near, and every little twinge makes you wonder, "Is it time?"
You have probably experienced a few weeks, if not months, of
Braxton Hicks contractions.
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Your first early signs of imminent labor may include:
Engagement - Your baby will begin to move
into position, with his head (if not breach) settling into your
pelvis. You may find it easier to breathe and feel a sensation of
"lightening." You will probably need to urinate more often because the
baby's head is now pushing on your bladder. Engagement is the time you
may hear people say, "You have dropped!" Your belly can look lower as
your baby reaches engagement. If this is your first baby, engagement
may occur weeks before labor. In future pregnancies, your baby may
wait until labor begins before moving down. As your baby's head pushes
on your bony pelvis, you will become increasingly uncomfortable.
Nesting - As your baby grows inside you,
your energy has probably decreased. Things seem harder and you become
more and more tired. Interestingly, just before labor begins you may
feel bursts of energy. Some women have been known to run around
cleaning just days before they give birth. You may get a strong urge
to paint a room, move furniture or sort through boxes. Do everything
you can to resist these urges. This is the time you need to reserve
all your energy for your imminent birth.
Mucus Plug - Up until now, your cervix has
been sealed off with a plug of mucus, protecting your baby from possible
infection. As your cervix begins to dilate, your plug will become
dislodged. This can happen up to 12 days before labor, or may occur in
the hospital during active labor. If you lose your mucus plug at home,
you will probably see it in the toilet after urinating. It can be
brown or pink and may be tinged with blood. If you see "the show," it
is a wonderful sign that your cervix is beginning to dilate.
Labor Begins
Your first absolute sign of beginning labor is the start of contractions.
When they begin - you know it. Contractions will be at fairly regular
intervals and will increase in intensity. They may begin as strong
menstrual cramps, but will soon become painful. You will probably begin to
naturally breathe through these contractions. The key to pain management
at home is relaxation, breathing and visualization.
Have your birthing partner time your contractions. Your OB/GYN will want to
know how long the contractions last and how far apart they are from each other.
Keep a piece of paper and pen handy for each contraction. In early labor,
your contractions will probably be about 30 to 60 seconds long. They can
be spaced from every 20 minutes to every 5 minutes. The pain you are
feeling is the tightening of your uterine muscles. As they tighten, the
blood vessels become compressed and run short of oxygen. Breathing will
help to supply more oxygen to your body and will help to lessen the pain.
You may experience back pain as the baby enters the birth canal.
Your contraction will begin slowly and will feel manageable. As the
contraction continues, you will feel increased pain. The contraction will
reach it's peak just about when you feel you can't stand it anymore, and
then begin to diminish and stop. Some women may experience "piggy back
contractions" - a peak, lowering about halfway, then back up to the peak - but
this is not a common form of contractions.
Do not be surprised if your contractions are "not like clockwork." It
is not unusual in early labor to have a contraction, a 15 minute break, a
contraction, a 5 minute break, and then another in twenty minutes for the next.
If you have any questions about your contractions, call your OB/GYN with your
contraction times in hand. As your contractions become regular, call your
OB/GYN for further instructions. He or she will let you know when it is
time to go to the hospital. Generally, you will be asked to go to the
hospital after you have experienced four to six contractions an hour for two
hours - but only your health care provider knows you and your pregnancy -
instructions can be different for every woman and pregnancy.
