Is It Time or Something Else?
This is one of the most concerning points of the pregnancy when she is due to give birth or passed. The excitement with lots of emotions upon meeting your little one is unmatchable. But the question is, when to know that it is time to rush to the hospital, because delivery does not happen with a span of labor pain like in the movies.
From contraction to immense labor pain for hours to days, hospital care, and lots of patience are needed to meet your baby.
Keys:
- Labor doesn’t usually start all at once; it indicates signs like cramping, nesting urge, or feeling like the baby is dropping.
- But if the pain leads to water breaking, then this is definitely a sign of early or active labor.
- One more thing that every mother-to-be needs to know about is the difference between contraction and labor.
Let’s Start With What It Is.
Contractions are a part of labor in which the tightening of the uterus happens, or when the muscles of the uterus tighten up and then relax, or you can say it is a symptom happen during labor. While labor is entirely a process of childbirth. It involves progressive and intensified contraction, which allows the cervix to open.
As a woman gets closer to her due date, it becomes crucial for her to understand the signs of labor and when to rush to the hospital for delivery. Many women are unable to understand the onset of active labor due to less knowledge.
Some signs indicate that your contraction might stop, including when your baby moves to the lower pelvis, which is also calleda lightening, and having increased vaginal discharges usually happen before delivery, and in pink and clearly bloody discharge.
Why Are Women Unable To Recognise The Signs?
Many first-time mothers (and even some experienced ones) struggle to identify labor correctly due to several reasons:
- They got confused between false and true labor. Braxton-Hicks contractions are irregular and inconsistent, while actual labor comes with increased intensity, and they are frequent as well.
- Many women believed in scenarios like those that are shown in movies, which is not actually the case.
- Antenatal counseling is crucial, as it allows women to know about labor more precisely, and many women avoid this step.
- If you have a high pain tolerance, then there might be a chance that you might be unable to feel the early signs.
When Not To Rush To the Hospital?
- Feeling like labor pain, but these are irregular and mild
- Pain reduced after taking a rest for some time
- Now, fluid leakage or bleeding
- You can still feel the baby’s movement and kicks
Signs of Labor
A few minutes before the actual labor begins, for some moms, the baby descends into the pelvis. There is nothing to worry about. Although the baby’s head is pushing on your bladder, you may experience more frequent urination. Here are some of the medically recognised signs which every woman should know-
- You might start to have painful contraction in every 5 minutes and can continue for hours, and do not reduce even after changing position and rest.
- Rupture of the membrane, which leads to a sudden gush of fluid from the vagina, which might be pinkish and blood-tinged. This indicates that it is time to go to the hospital.
- If contractions are involved with the passage of mucus mixed with blood.
- Many women have lower back pain and pelvic pressure, and this causes a feeling of pressure or heaviness in the pelvis.
- If your baby’s movement reduced, even without contractions, then make sure to visit your doctor immediately.
- Due to hormones, labor sometimes triggers bowel movements and leads to diarrhea, and this is completely normal. Although these are annoying, drinking water will help.
- Some of the symptoms, like severe abdominal pain, heavy vaginal bleeding, fever, and severe headache with blurred vision, are warning signs which incidate the issues that should not be ignored.
Go Early In Special Situations.
- If you have experienced complications throughout your pregnancy.
- Previously held a C-section, as the current pregnancy demands continuous monitoring and extra care.
- If a women have pre-existing diabetes and high-blood pressure.
- Multiple or high-risk pregnancy.
- If you are experiencing preterm labor symptoms like vaginal discharge, backache, cramps, water breaking, and abdominal pressure.
FAQ’s
What are the signs that indicate that the labor is near?
Backache, cramping, and dilating cervix are some of the common signs.
What is the difference between false and true labor?
False labor comes with irregularity in the intensity of contraction and sometimes goes away with rest and hydration. While true labor is painful, and they are stronger than you have ever experienced.
Is it normal to feel an urge to urinate frequently in labor?
Yes, it is completely normal, as the position of the baby changes, which puts extra pressure on the bladder.
Can labor start without contractions?
Yes. Sometimes, labor started with a water break or bloody show and then led to intensified contractions.
Advice For All The Expecting Mothers in Jaipur
Every pregnancy is unique, as everyone faces different challenges. But if you are unsure about the symptoms and unable to identify any, then it is safe to be analyzed by an expert. If you feel like you are having continuous contraction, it time to check in wth your doctor.
Don’t feel embarrassed, because this is normal, and you should only think about yourself and the baby. But if you want to know about it in detail, then start taking antenatal classes and ask questions to your doctor during checkups. Cradle Children Hospital provides the best maternity emergency care in Jaipur, offering every type of delivery option.
So, it is better to start understanding early and book your appointment for better health!
