| Signs of Labor/Preterm Labor |
| Signs of Preterm Labor |
 |
|
|
|
| - Painless uterine contractions - Pain in pelvis, abdomen, or lower back - Menstrual-like cramps - Vaginal bleeding or discharge that might be red-tinged - Pelvic pressure - More frequent urination - Diarrhea Call your doctor immediatly if you have any of these symptoms |
| -Lightening- Lightening is when your baby "drops". This is not an immediate sign of labor because it can take several weeks before you actually go into labor after you "drop". -Effacement- Effacement is the thinning of your cervix. It starts being around an inch thick and goes to the width of a piece of paper. There is no way to know if your cervix is effaced unless checked by your doctor. If they say you are 50% effaced, that means your cervix is half the width it use to be. -Dilation- Dilation is when the cervix begins to open to let the baby out. Dilation is measured by centimeters going from 0 to 10. This is yet another thing your doctor will have to determine. -Loss of mucus plug- During pregnancy the body blocks the cervix with a thick "plug"of mucus. When the cervix thins and relaxes, it some times comes out. Labor could be within a week (sometimes more) of this happening. The plug looks like stringy mucus or thick discharge that can be clear, pink, or blood-tinged. It can appear minutes, hours, or days before labor. -Rupture of membranes- Which is often refered to as your "water breaking". When this happens, it is due to your amniotic sac breaking. This can be a gush of water or a little trickle. Most often, your water breaks during labor, usually in your second stage. If labor doesn't start within 24 hours of your water breaking your doctor will intervine and start labor. There is an increased risk of infection if it is longer than 24 hours. If you think your water has broke but are not sure, consult your doctor. In the meantime, do not take a bath (showers are fine), use tampons, or have sex. If the water is not clear and oderless. let your doctor know. This could be a uterine infection, espically if it is greenish -Digestive disturbances- This includes diarrhea and nausea. Many women experience this at the on set of labor. -Contractions- How can you tell the real thing from Braxton Hicks? -How frequent are they? Watch the clock and measure them from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. If it is true labor, they should be regular and continue to grow closer together. False labor will remain irregular - How long does each one last? Measure each contraction from the beginning to the end. True contractions last about 30 seconds in the beginning and eventually become stronger and longer -Are the contractions influenced by yor activity? True contractions will not go away reguardless of your activity and may actually grow stronger with activities such as walking. -Where do you feel contractions? With contractions, pain tends to be high in your abdomen and continue throughout your abdomen and lower back. With false labor they tend to be in your lower abdomen and groin. |