How to Handle Labor During Pregnancy?

Posted on June 30, 2007 in Parenting Basics

Scared about labor? Don’t be! This article provides you with complete information on the nature and type of contractions. Enhance your knowledge about how your body works during labor and remain safe.

A number of women undergo fairly clear signs of labor, while others do not experience it. Nothing can be said with certainty as to what causes labor or when it will commence, but quite a few hormonal and physical modifications may signify the commencement of labor.

Modifications in the body

These modifications consist of lightening, passing of the mucus plug, contractions, breaking up of the bag of water, effacement and dilation of the cervix.

Lightening

The procedure of the baby settling or dropping into the pelvis is referred to as lightening. Lightening can take place some weeks or a few hours prior to labor. Since the uterus lies on the bladder to a somewhat greater extent subsequent to lightening, one may undergo the necessity to urinate more often.

Mucus Plug

The mucus plug builds up at the cervix all through pregnancy. While the cervix starts to open wider, the mucus is released into the vagina and may well be clear, pink or somewhat bloody. Labor may commence almost immediately after the mucus plug is released or after one to two weeks.

Contractions

All through contractions, the abdomen happens to be stiff. Between contractions, the uterus slackens and the abdomen tends to be supple. The feeling of contraction may vary from one woman to another as well as from one pregnancy to the subsequent one. But, labor contractions generally give rise to a sense of uneasiness or a dull pain in one’s back and lower abdomen, together with pressure in the pelvis.

Contractions progress in a wave-like action from the top of the uterus to the bottom. A number of women equate contractions with intense menstrual spasms. Different from false labor contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions, labor contractions do not end when an individual alters her position or rests.

Types of Contractions

Prior to the commencement of “true” labor, one may undergo “false” labor pains, also referred to as Braxton Hicks contractions. These erratic uterine contractions are completely common and may begin to take place in the second trimester, although it is more common in the third trimester of pregnancy. They are the body’s method of preparing for the crucial moment.

Braxton Hicks contractions can be explained as contraction in the abdomen that occurs and leaves. These contractions do not augment with walking, do not intensify in how long they continue, do not get closer together and do not feel stronger over spells which is the case when an individual is in true labor.