Whether contractions without relief. Can contractions begin without breaking water or having a traffic jam? Classification of weak labor

What sensations indicate that labor is approaching?

From the grip before childbirth - periodic spasms of the muscles of the uterus, characterized by increasing dynamics and intensity. Understanding the mechanism of this process and its purpose will help you overcome fear and act consciously during childbirth.

In modern obstetric practice, labor begins precisely with the appearance of rhythmic uterine contractions of increasing intensity. It is important to know the difference between true contractions in order to be in the maternity hospital on time.

As obstetricians note, the behavior and mood of the woman in labor has a noticeable influence on the course of labor. The right attitude gives a woman an understanding of the processes occurring in her body. Contractions are truly one of the most difficult periods in childbirth, but they are the force that contributes to the birth of a child. Therefore, they should be perceived as a natural state.

Training, warning or prenatal contractions

From the fifth month of pregnancy, expectant mothers may feel occasional tension in the abdomen. The uterus contracts for 1-2 minutes and relaxes. If you put your hand on your stomach at this moment, you can feel that it has become hard. Often pregnant women describe this condition as “petrification” of the uterus (stony belly). These are training contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions: they can occur continuously until the end of pregnancy. Their characteristic features are irregular, short-lived, painless.

The nature of their appearance is associated with the process of gradual preparation of the body for childbirth, but the exact reasons for their occurrence have not yet been clarified. In addition, there is an opinion that “training” is provoked by increased physical and emotional activity, stress, fatigue, and they can also be a response of the uterine muscles to fetal movements or sexual intercourse. The frequency is individual - from once every few days to several times an hour. Some women don't feel them at all.

Inconveniences caused by false contractions can be easily eliminated. You need to lie down or change your position. Braxton Hicks contractions do not dilate the cervix and do not cause any harm to the fetus, so they should be perceived only as one of the natural moments of pregnancy.

Approximately from the 38th week of pregnancy, the period of precursors begins. Along with prolapse of the uterine fundus, weight loss, an increase in the amount of discharge and other processes noticeable to the pregnant woman, it is distinguished by the appearance of precursor or false contractions.

Just like training ones, they do not open the cervix of the uterus and do not threaten pregnancy, although the intensity of the sensations is more vivid and may well instill anxiety in first-time women. Premonitory contractions have intervals that do not decrease over time, and the strength of the spasms that compress the uterus does not increase. A warm bath, sleep, or snack can help ease these contractions.

It is impossible to stop real or labor contractions by resting or changing positions. Contractions occur involuntarily, under the influence of complex hormonal processes in the body, and are not subject to any control on the part of the woman in labor. Their frequency and intensity are increasing. In the initial phase of labor, contractions are short, lasting about 20 seconds and repeating every 15-20 minutes. By the time the cervix is completely opened, the interval is reduced to 2-3 minutes, and the duration of contractions increases to 60 seconds.

Characteristic	Braxton Hicks contractions	Premonitory contractions	True contractions
When do you start to feel	From 20 weeks	From 37-39 weeks	With the beginning labor activity
Frequency	Single reductions. Occur sporadically.	Approximately once every 20-30 minutes. The interval is not shortened. Over time they subside.	Approximately once every 15-20 minutes in the first phase and once every 1-2 minutes in the final stage of labor.
Duration of contractions	Up to 1 minute	Doesn't change	From 20 to 60 seconds depending on the stage of labor.
Soreness	Painless	Moderate, depends on the individual sensitivity threshold.	Increases with the course of labor. The severity of pain depends on the individual sensitivity threshold.
Localization of pain (sensations)	Anterior wall of the uterus	Lower abdomen, ligament area.	Small of the back. Girdle pain in the abdominal area.

In order to make sure that real contractions begin, it is worth correctly calculating the interval between them. As a rule, false contractions are chaotic, the interval between the first and second can be 40 minutes, between the second and third – 30 minutes, etc. While during real contractions the interval becomes stable, and the length of contractions increases.

Description and functions of contractions

A contraction is a wave-like movement of the muscles of the uterus in the direction from the fundus to the pharynx. With each spasm, the cervix softens, stretches, becomes less convex, and, thinning, gradually opens. Having reached a dilation of 10-12 cm, it is completely smoothed out, forming a single birth canal with the walls of the vagina.

Visualizing the process of labor pains can help cope with pain and uncontrollable emotions.

In each stage of labor, spastic movements of the organ are aimed at achieving a certain physiological result.

In the first period, contractions provide opening.
In the second, along with pushing, the function of contractive contractions is to expel the fetus from the uterine cavity and move it along birth canal.
In the early postpartum period pulsation of the uterine muscles promotes separation of the placenta and prevents bleeding.
In the late postpartum period, spasms of the uterine muscles return the organ to its previous size.

Afterwards, pushing occurs - active contraction of the abdominal muscles and diaphragm (duration 10-15 sec.). Occurring reflexively, pushing helps move the baby along the birth canal.

Phases and duration of contractions before childbirth

There are several types: latent, active and deceleration phase. Each of them differs in the duration of the period, intervals and the contractions themselves.

Characteristic	Latent phase	Active phase	Deceleration phase
Phase duration	7-8 hours	3-5 hours	0.5-1.5 hours
Frequency	15-20 minutes	Up to 2-4 minutes	2-3 minutes
Duration of contraction	20 seconds	Up to 40 seconds	60 seconds
Degree of opening	Up to 3 cm	Up to 7 cm	10-12 cm

The given parameters can be considered averaged and applicable to the normal course of labor. Real time contractions greatly depend on whether the woman is giving birth for the first time or is it a repeat birth, her physical and psychological readiness, anatomical features body and other factors.

Contractions before the first and subsequent births

However, a common factor that influences the duration of contractions is the experience of previous births. This refers to a kind of “memory” of the body that determines differences during certain processes. During the second and subsequent births, the birth canal opens on average 4 hours faster than during the first. This occurs because in women giving birth to their second or third child, the internal and external os open at the same time. During the first birth, dilation occurs sequentially - from the inside to the outside, which increases the time of contractions.

The nature of contractions before repeated birth may also differ: women in labor note their intensity and more active dynamics.

The factor that smoothes out the differences between the first and subsequent births is the time period separating them. The likelihood of prolonged dilatation is higher if more than 8-10 years have passed since the birth of the first child.

In articles devoted to the topics of motherhood and pregnancy, there is information that contractions before the second birth often occur not before, but after the waters have broken, and this happens not at 40, but at 38 weeks. Such options are not excluded, but there is no scientifically confirmed data indicating a direct connection between the serial number of births and the nature of their onset.

It is necessary to understand that the described scenarios are only options, and in no case an axiom. Each birth is very individual, and its course is a multifactorial process.

Feelings during contractions

In order to determine the onset of contractions, it is worth paying attention to the nature of the pain: before childbirth they are similar to menstrual pain. Pulls the lower abdomen and lower back. You may feel pressure, a feeling of fullness, heaviness. Here it is more appropriate to talk about discomfort rather than pain. Pain occurs later, as contractions intensify. It is caused by tension in the uterine ligaments and dilatation of the cervix.

The localization of sensations is quite subjective: in some women in labor the spasm has a girdling nature, its spread can be clearly associated with a wave that rolls from the bottom of the uterus or from one of the sides and covers the entire abdomen, in others the pain originates in the lumbar region, in others - directly in the uterus .

However, in the vast majority of cases, women experience the peak of spasm as a contraction, a strong contraction, or “grasping,” as follows from the very name of the contraction.

Is it possible to miss contractions?

Not all women in labor experience tension in the uterine muscles that causes unbearable pain. How a woman tolerates it depends on the threshold of sensitivity, emotional maturity and special preparation for childbirth. Some people endure the contractions, but for others they are too painful to hold back a scream. But it’s impossible not to feel contractions. If they are not there, then there is no labor activity, which is an essential condition for physiological childbirth.

Some uncertainty in the expectations of expectant mothers can be introduced by the stories of women who have already given birth, in whom labor began not with contractions, but with the breaking of water. You need to understand that this scenario in obstetrics is considered a deviation. Normally, at the peak of one of the contractions, intrauterine pressure stretches and ruptures the membrane of the amniotic sac, and amniotic fluid is poured out.

Spontaneous release of water is called premature. This situation requires immediate medical intervention; waiting for contractions at home is unacceptable.

Mechanism of action at the onset of contractions

It is important to understand what to do at home if contractions begin and labor is approaching. A few recommendations:

The first thing is not to panic. Lack of composure and unconstructive emotions interfere with concentration and lead to unreasonable actions.
Having felt the onset of contractions, you need to determine their type: are they really contractions before childbirth or harbingers. To do this, you need to use a stopwatch or special applications in mobile phone note the time and calculate the duration of intervals and contractions. If the frequency and duration do not increase, then there is nothing to worry about. The warning signs usually subside completely within two hours.
If the spasms have become regular, the pause time between them is clearly defined, you can start getting ready for the maternity hospital. You should plan your departure so that you can be examined by a doctor by the time the frequency of contractions reaches once every 10 minutes. At normal course labor will occur approximately no earlier than 7 hours later. Therefore, if contractions begin at night, you should try to get at least a little rest.
You can take a shower and do hygiene procedures.
For repeated births, you should go to the hospital immediately after contractions become regular, without waiting for their interval to shorten.

The last trimester of pregnancy is the most exciting period for a woman. The closer the birth gets, the more questions arise. The most relevant ones concern how contractions begin before childbirth, what sensations arise during this process, and whether pain is felt.

It is this process that is most feared by the fair sex, whose pregnancy is their first. There's really no need to be nervous about this. With negative emotions, pain can seem very strong. The less you think about it and fear contractions, the easier the birth will be.

Yes they do exist special techniques, allowing you to reduce pain during this natural process.

A woman carrying a baby under her heart can be misled by false (training) contractions. They can begin from the 20th week of pregnancy. False contractions before childbirth cause slight discomfort, but are irregular, short-lived and in most cases practically painless. Uterine tension and discomfort A warm bath or walking helps relieve it. It is important to remember that the bath temperature should be between 36 and 38 degrees.

True contractions are the main harbinger of childbirth. How are contractions before childbirth and what are they like? Every woman experiences contractions differently. It depends on the physiological characteristics pregnant and the position of the baby in the tummy. For example, some may feel weak aching pain in the lumbar region, which after a certain period of time spreads to the abdomen and pelvis, encircling the woman.

Others note that the sensations during contractions are comparable to the discomfort that occurs during menstruation. The pain subsequently intensifies. During contractions, the uterus may seem to turn to stone. This can be clearly seen if you put your hand on your stomach.

All of the above signs may also be characteristic of false uterine contractions. Then how to recognize real contractions before childbirth? There are general signs of this natural process by which every pregnant woman can determine that she will soon begin labor:

regularity of occurrence;
gradual increase in frequency;
increasing pain over time.

At first, a pregnant woman may feel contractions through big gap time. The pain is not severe. In the future, the intervals between contractions gradually decrease, and the pain of this natural process increases.

Based common features contractions before childbirth, 3 phases of the process can be distinguished:

initial (latent, hidden);
active;
transitional.

The initial stage lasts on average about 7-8 hours. The duration of the contraction can be 30-45 seconds, the interval between them is about 5 minutes. During this period, the cervix dilates by 0-3 cm.

During the active phase, which lasts from 3 to 5 hours, contractions can last up to 60 seconds. The frequency of contractions during childbirth is 2-4 minutes. The cervix dilates 3-7 cm.

The transition phase (deceleration phase) is the shortest. A woman can stay in it for 0.5-1.5 hours. Contractions become longer. Now they last for 70-90 seconds. The interval between contractions also becomes shorter compared to other phases. After about 0.5-1 minutes, a woman in position will feel uterine contractions. The neck of this organ dilates by 7-10 cm.

Contractions during the second birth are also divided into three phases, but the total duration of each of them is shorter than during the first birth.

What to do if contractions start?

When contractions occur, a pregnant woman should calm down, because fuss is not the best helper. It is advisable to take a comfortable position in a chair, chair or bed and begin to record the intervals between contractions and their duration. It is advisable to record all this data. There is no need to think about what is more painful: contractions or childbirth. Fear will make the pain seem unbearable.

If contractions do not last long and the duration between them is long (20-30 minutes), then it is too early for the baby to be born. A woman has time to collect the necessary things, call ambulance. At this time, with the help of loved ones, you can accept warm shower. When contractions occur, the intervals between which are 5-7 minutes, you already need to go to the maternity hospital.

There is no point in postponing a trip to a medical facility, despite the fact that the initial phase of contractions can last several hours. The amniotic fluid may recede earlier, and at this time it is advisable to be under the supervision of an obstetrician-gynecologist. When your water breaks, you should never take a warm or hot bath, as this may increase the likelihood of developing infectious complications, the occurrence of bleeding, embolism, .

How to induce contractions and labor?

For many women, labor begins at 37-40 weeks. However, there are cases when pregnancy continues at 41, 42 and even 43 weeks. Representatives of the fair sex in such situations begin to worry and get nervous, because they so want to see their baby quickly, but he still doesn’t want to be born. Yes, and there are cases when the child died at this stage in the mother’s tummy, and contractions never began.

The death of a child can occur due to the fact that the placenta begins to age. Oxygen and nutrients the baby may no longer have enough. How to induce contractions and childbirth is a question that worries expectant mothers who are carrying a child longer than the expected date of birth, which was calculated by the doctor.

To prevent negative consequences from occurring, contractions and childbirth can be induced. However, this decision should only be made by a doctor. If there are no pathologies and the amniotic fluid is clean, then there is no need to stimulate the birth process. Everything has its time. If any abnormalities are detected, the doctor will certainly offer stimulation of contractions and childbirth. There is no point in giving this up.

Contractions can also be induced independently. For example, they recommend being more upright, walking, moving, but there is no need to provoke fatigue or stress, as this will not be beneficial.

Feelings of contractions before childbirth can occur due to sex. Sperm contains prostaglandins, which prepare the cervix for childbirth by softening it. Sexual arousal and orgasm tone the body and cause uterine contractions.

You can induce contractions by massaging your nipples. You can start doing it from the 37th week of pregnancy. During a massage, the hormone oxytocin is released in the body, due to which the muscles of the uterus can begin to contract. Massage allows you not only to stimulate labor, but also to prepare the skin of your nipples for breastfeeding your baby.

There are also folk remedies stimulation of labor and contractions, but you should not experience them yourself. For example, certain teas and decoctions can negatively affect the health of the mother and her baby, because some herbs are contraindicated for pregnant women, as they can cause miscarriage.

How to ease contractions during childbirth?

Doctors can help a pregnant woman reduce pain during labor and childbirth thanks to special drugs. However, you should not rely on anesthesia. There is a possibility that medicine will have a negative impact on the mother and her baby.

The main way to reduce pain is correct breathing during childbirth and labor. With its help, a woman in labor can relax. When a contraction occurs, it is recommended to focus on exhaling. At this moment, it is worth imagining that pain is “leaving” the body along with the air. A woman in labor may also make “noise” during contractions and childbirth. Sighs, groans and screams will ease the condition. Proper breathing should be learned in advance and practiced more often, because childbirth is stressful, due to which all poorly memorized information can be easily forgotten.

A woman in labor can relax thanks to a massage and simple gentle touches from a loved one. Contractions are the beginning of labor. It is when they occur that it is recommended to slowly massage the lower back. At this time, a woman can stand or sit on a chair, leaning on its back with her hands.

Massage lumbar region back during childbirth is considered very effective. This is due to the fact that the sacral nerve passes to spinal cord from the uterus through the lower back. If you massage this area, the pain during contractions will be felt less. It is very good if the spouse wants to be present at the birth and help his beloved at this difficult moment.

No less important psychological attitude. Positive emotions, thoughts that you will soon be able to see the baby, will help reduce painful sensations. In order to react correctly to what is happening and not worry, a woman needs to understand how childbirth proceeds and what she can feel at this time.

Towards the end of pregnancy, a woman begins to be tormented by fears. She alternates between being afraid of childbirth, fearing that the process is taking too long to begin, and worrying that something will suddenly go wrong. At 36-37 weeks, at 38 weeks, discomfort in the abdominal area increasingly appears: it seems to harden, and some pain occurs.

The expectant mother is trying to determine whether real contractions have begun or whether this is simply the preparation of the uterus for difficult work - childbirth. During the second birth or third pregnancy, it is a little easier for a woman: she already imagines what true contractions are and will not confuse them with real ones. But it’s difficult for first-time mothers. What are the types of contractions, what are they like, and how do their symptoms differ during pregnancy? Let's try to understand how training ones differ from real ones. What are the differences?

What is the difference between false contractions and real ones?
Symptoms
How real contractions begin
True or false contractions: how the sensations differ
When do false contractions begin?
True contractions after training: is it possible?
Self-help measures

How to understand that contractions have begun for real

The first sign of real contractions is regularity. Contractions of the uterus, starting with not very pronounced discomfort, gradually become more frequent, and the intervals between them become shorter. If you feel a growing wave of pain 8 times in 2 hours or more often, this is a sign that it is time to prepare for a trip to the maternity hospital. If pain bothers you once an hour, are contractions felt or not? Most likely, this is just training for now.

Real contractions usually appear around 40 weeks (if everything is going well) - sometimes earlier, sometimes a little later. How to determine that the baby is about to be born? This can be understood by the following signs:

the intervals between waves of pain become shorter and shorter, the stomach tenses more than 5 times per hour, and then more and more often;
contractions are rhythmic - you can calculate the frequency by seconds;
the process is very painful, it can begin in the evening and last all night;
the plug comes off;
appear bloody issues from the genital tract;
water pours out (they can leak little by little).

Does the baby move during true contractions? Nature wisely arranged everything: she provided the baby with unconditioned reflex, which helps the mother to quickly “push” him out of the womb. During each real contraction, the baby rests his legs against the fundus of the uterus and pushes away from it. This reflex persists for some time after birth: if you put your hand on the heel of a newborn, he will try to push off from this support.

Due to the pain, the mother does not feel these movements. Just before the start of labor, on the contrary, it seems to her that the baby is somehow too quiet: he begins to move much less often than before.

How to distinguish training contractions from real ones

The main difference between Braxton-Hicks contractions and true contractions is that they occur at different frequencies. The difference between false contractions and real ones is also manifested in the fact that they are much less painful. Normally, there should be no pain at all - the pregnant woman only feels that her stomach is very tense (as if it is turning to stone).

Such contractions do not last all day or night. Usually they stop within an hour and then can start again - after a break.

A woman can influence such a contraction - for example, by taking no-shpa or papaverine. The medicine has a relaxing effect on the muscles of the uterus, and the contraction stops. There is no discharge from the genital tract.

During the examination, the doctor will note that the cervix is still closed. There are no harbingers of labor. This is a sign that the woman’s body does not yet “plan” to begin labor.

False contractions during pregnancy: symptoms

If you know the symptoms of false contractions, then you don’t have to worry: you can distinguish them from labor pains even without the help of an obstetrician.

So, false contractions have symptoms:

A gradually increasing feeling of compression of the uterus in the fundus, on the right or left, in the lower abdomen or groin area.
The most memorable symptom is irregularity. Therefore, when contractions occur, you need to arm yourself with a watch with a minute hand or a phone with a timer. Within an hour, false contractions occur no more than 6 times.
Their appearance is characterized by suddenness and unpredictability.
They are painless, the characteristic characteristic for them is discomfort in a certain area of the uterus.
They decrease gradually and then completely disappear.

How to recognize real contractions

At 38-39 weeks, a woman notices that the feeling that her stomach is getting hard begins to appear more and more often. She may be overcome with anxiety: what if it’s time to pack her bag for the maternity hospital? They can be distinguished by the severity of sensations: while training ones are almost always tolerated quite easily, then true ones literally exhaust a woman. Each time she has less and less opportunity to rest before the next attack. Contractions are frequent.

Contractions: how to understand that they are real? The pain quickly increases, and many women compare the nature of their sensations to a wave; it grows, becomes unbearable and then recedes.

You can also identify these signs: no matter what the expectant mother does to alleviate her condition, the pain does not decrease. She can try to do what she did previously during Bragston-Higgs contractions and which helped her stop the process completely:

change position - stand up if lying down, walk around if sitting;
move around, do household chores;
take a warm shower;
take a No-shpa tablet or put a suppository with papaverine.

In case of true contractions, this will not have any effect. A little relief can only come from a massage of the lumbosacral area and proper breathing, which a pregnant woman should have learned at school for expectant mothers. But the relief will be insignificant.

A real contraction usually begins in the back and gradually moves to the stomach. Sometimes women feel as if their whole body hurts, that they are literally being torn apart from the inside. Someone who usually has very painful periods draws a parallel between contractions and this pain.

Does the stomach turn to stone during real contractions?

When a pregnant woman, closer to her due date, becomes increasingly stiff in her stomach and pulls in her lower back, she can ask the doctor: “If the stomach becomes stiff, are these painful false contractions or are they already real?”

Usually, with true pain, the pain is so intense that all other sensations - including the feeling that the stomach has become hard - lose significance and become secondary.

What happens during a fight? The uterus tenses under the influence of special hormones, “pushing” the fetus to exit. The cervix opens more and more over and over again, reaching such a width that it becomes able to let the baby’s head through. While the cervix is closed, this - that is, the onset of labor - cannot be allowed. The most painful and difficult thing is the process of disclosure. During false contractions, dilatation does not occur.

How long do false contractions last? Their average duration does not exceed a couple of hours. The most important thing is that their intensity does not increase, but, on the contrary, weakens.

False contractions: how many days before birth?

How long before birth do false contractions begin? The first signs of Bragston-Higgs contractions may appear as early as 20 weeks. But in the second trimester they usually do not bother the expectant mother too much.

A few days before giving birth, they may intensify. However, some women, on the contrary, experience a “lull” before childbirth.

Appearing at 20 weeks or 21 weeks - long before birth, Bregson-Higgs contractions become more pronounced by 38 weeks. The process is somewhat different for multiparous and primiparous women: in the second case, they begin later. Although each case is individual, it is impossible to determine in advance when training contractions will appear and how long they may last. How long it will take for labor to begin, if false contractions are in full swing, is also unknown: after all, this is just a preparatory process. The uterus is tense, training for difficult work - the time is not far when labor begins.

Can false contractions turn into real ones?

We have already found out that the answer to the question whether real contractions can be irregular is in this case negative. But it is known that false contractions can precede true ones. It is impossible to say exactly when real contractions begin after training contractions: you need to watch for the appearance of other signs. Increased pain, the direction of the “wave” from the back, and most importantly - the established frequency - will tell to the expectant mother that “hour X” is already close.

It happens that labor begins prematurely: at 31, 32 weeks contractions began and became true. It is necessary to get to the maternity hospital as quickly as possible. The child can be saved!

At the beginning of the labor process, the doctor asks the woman about the frequency of contractions, clarifies what kind of pain she has, and asks whether the plug has come out, whether there has been an outpouring of water. He looks at the dilation of the cervix - this is how he determines the mother’s readiness for childbirth. To understand whether the child is ready, the woman undergoes a CTG. How to use CTG to determine whether everything is okay with the baby, whether it is necessary emergency help? Doctors focus on the fetal heartbeat - if it is from 110 to 150 beats per minute, everything is fine. If the number rises sharply to 160 and begins to fall, the child does not have enough oxygen. The doctor chooses the method of delivery. A caesarean section may be suggested.

What to do in case of false contractions

So, your term is 36-39 weeks, the doctor examined you, made sure that there was no dilation, reassured you, saying that these were Bragston-Higgs contractions, and sent you home to “finish your walk.” How to help yourself if contractions have become noticeable and even painful, feel like a lot of tension and interfere with night's rest? First, you need to tune in to the fact that everything is going normally: both false and true contractions shorten the cervix and soften it, gradually preparing it for childbirth. Secondly, a number of measures can be taken:

take a shower – not hot, but warm;
walk around the apartment;
drink an antispasmodic.

For some, simply turning over to the other side helps. A light massage of the lower back can also smooth out unpleasant sensations. Can training contractions last 3 hours? How many hours do they last? Normally, tension bothers a woman for several minutes, after which there is a break. Uterine contractions are spontaneous, and they can also be repeated during the day and night, but they never have a clear periodicity and do not look very painful.

Now that you know what false contractions are like and what the symptoms of real ones are, you will feel more confident. You shouldn’t panic during training contractions, but you need to tell your gynecologist about them. The doctor will assess the situation and develop a further pregnancy management strategy.

Have an easy pregnancy and a painless birth!

Current video

False contractions during pregnancy

Can contractions begin without the plug and water draining? This is a question that pregnant women ask, especially those who are expecting their first child. Usually, the precursors of labor begin to make themselves felt about two weeks or a month before the start of the labor process. This occurs due to pronounced hormonal changes in female body.

The main precursors of childbirth include the fact that the pregnant woman’s belly begins to gradually drop within a month at most in primiparous women and within a day in multiparous women, while some discomfort is felt in the lower back. However, there are situations when it does not go down, which is quite rare.

Before giving birth, a pregnant woman’s weight may decrease slightly, by about two kilograms. On the eve of childbirth, nausea may appear, join loose stool, this is explained by hormonal changes. The first contractions are felt as pain in the abdomen, and intestinal motility may increase.

In addition, changes in the movement of the fetus are observed; it may begin to actively move or, on the contrary, it will begin to subside a little. But to a greater extent, the activity of the fetus slows down, since it is simply difficult for him to move, because his weight is already more than three kilograms.

Can contractions begin without the mucus plug coming out? This formation is cervical mucus that is secreted from the vagina. The plug may be streaked with blood, or colorless or yellowish. Thanks to her, the channel remains closed. Its loss is a definite sign of the onset of labor.

The mucus plug, due to intrauterine pressure, can come out with a pop, and can also flow out in small portions, gradually. If it appears, this indicates the beginning of cervical dilatation. There are situations when the plug may not come out or comes out completely unnoticed by the woman, which is not a pathology.

The main harbinger of labor is contractions. They represent a contraction of the uterine muscles, they are accompanied by the opening of the cervix, respectively, and the mucous plug and water will drain.

Can contractions begin if the water and the plug have not yet broken? Yes, but these are false contractions; they often occur before the onset of real contractions, which lead to the onset of labor. If a pregnant woman has experienced several false contractions the day before, then it is quite difficult for her to determine the sensations and distinguish between real labor contractions.

Contractions, again false, can begin without the discharge of amniotic fluid, but labor will always occur with their discharge. It is worth noting that amniotic sac may burst suddenly, with water literally gushing out like a torrent, the woman must be prepared for this. After which rhythmic contractions usually begin.

If your water breaks quickly and in large quantities, you should immediately call an ambulance and go to the maternity hospital. But if they leak slowly, then the expectant mother has several hours left. Normally, waters have no odor and are transparent. If they are greenish in color, this indicates an unfavorable condition on the part of the fetus.

When the pregnancy has come to an end, this is the time for the amniotic fluid to break; it can come out in a stream or stream. Both of these options are considered normal. It is important to pay attention to their color; if they are pink, this will indicate blood penetration and indicate that the baby has not received enough oxygen. Usually, after this, contractions will begin quite quickly and it is important to deliver the woman in labor to the maternity hospital in a timely manner. It may happen that in such a situation a caesarean section will be required.

An important point for women: if amniotic fluid begins to leak at home, then you should remember their quantity in detail, pay attention to the color, as well as possible impurities. Many women wonder how long it takes for their waters to break and whether they can miss it.

The amniotic sac sometimes bursts with a bang and quite intense effusion, or it can leak little by little for weeks, and you should urgently consult a doctor. The more time the fetus is left without amniotic fluid, the higher the chance of infection, which is fraught with complications.

Many women, on the eve of childbirth, begin to worry greatly about the breaking of their waters, and they begin to be afraid to take a bath or shower, because they think that they will provoke their breaking. But it is worth saying that quite often the bubble does not burst at all, so it has to be pierced directly during contractions already in a medical facility.

To be ready for the birth of a baby at any moment, you need to put aside prejudices and it is important to pack the bag in advance that you will have to go to the maternity hospital with. It is necessary to tell the whole family and husband, including all the necessary information, and warn that the water may break at home, but there is no need to panic.

In this case, the woman should be taken to the maternity hospital as quickly as possible; it is important for the husband and all family members to maintain prudence and moral calm, which will help the pregnant woman feel calmer.

Conclusion

So, if a woman’s water and mucus plug have not broken, but she feels pain in the abdomen, this may indicate false contractions, however, in this situation, you should definitely call a doctor, especially if the pain is severe.

This question is of more interest to those representatives of the fairer sex who are expecting their first child.

They are very worried about not missing out, so at the first signal they begin to rush to the maternity hospital. So can labor begin without contractions? What should a woman know about the potential start of labor?

Usually, all of which begin to intensify in waves. Then contractions begin to occur more often, the interval between them becomes shorter. But in some cases, the onset of labor may be non-standard.

Very often, the expectant mother initially experiences an outpouring of amniotic fluid. This is the liquid within which the fetus develops in the mother's womb. These waters are found in the membranes of the fetus, which, together with the placenta, act as a kind of barrier that protects the unborn baby.

During the entire gestation period, amniotic fluid allows the baby to develop in a sterile environment.

This fluid is normally poured out during the first stage of labor, that is, until the cervix dilates by 4 cm. This happens at the height of one of the contractions. If the waters pour out before the start of labor, then this outflow is called premature or prenatal.

Most often, premature rupture occurs in women who give birth to a baby again, that is, this is not the first child. It doesn’t hurt at all, there is no discomfort, there are no other unpleasant sensations.

If early rupture occurs, the amniotic sac may rupture above the cervix. In this case, water does not flow out quickly. But sometimes the bladder ruptures above the opening of the uterine cervix. In this case, water flows out very quickly and in large quantities.

When the amniotic sac ruptures high enough, it is not easy to identify what it is. It is not easy to differentiate such secretions, because they are quite similar to each other. For a woman giving birth for the first time, it is especially difficult to distinguish between these discharges.

So, it should be noted that the plug comes out approximately 2-5 days before the onset of labor. The color of the cork is single or beige. Sometimes it may contain blood impurities. The cork may come out not in one day, but in several.

When a woman coughs, sneezes, or squats, the discharge increases.

Symptoms of rupture of amniotic fluid

Amniotic fluid has a more watery structure, it is transparent, and sometimes may have a slight yellowish tint. They leak constantly, and when a woman sneezes or coughs, the discharge intensifies.

After this fluid has completely drained out, labor begins in about 2-3 hours.

It must be said that childbirth that begins with the release of water is more unsafe. After all, the baby in the womb remains without protection. Various bacteria from the vagina and cervix can penetrate it.

Delivery should occur within 12 hours of rupture. Under no circumstances later. Such a temporary restriction will help avoid various complications.

If labor begins with the breaking of the waters, then the postpartum woman should look at the time so that, when questioned by the doctor, she can answer exactly when this happened. The first thing you should do is call an ambulance and also notify your husband. Don't wait for contractions.

When the water comes out, look if there is a greenish tint in it. If it is, then this directly indicates that it is present. In this situation, you urgently need to call an ambulance without delaying a second. If the waters are clear, then you can reach the maternity hospital on your own.

In order not to slow down labor in the car, a woman should not lie on her back. The optimal position is on your side. Lying on your side minimizes the risk of umbilical cord loops falling out.

This can happen if the water breaks early, it should also be said that it is in this position that the maximum amount of oxygen will flow to the baby.

What not to do when water breaks

If the water breaks, then in any case you need to go to the maternity hospital. Under no circumstances should you stay at home, as it increases the risk of fetal hypoxia, as well as the risk of infection getting to it. In this case, the baby’s head moves into the uterine cavity and begins to compress the umbilical cord.
Taking a bath is also prohibited. This increases the risk of infection.
Enemas are prohibited.
Shaving is also prohibited.
You should refuse food, because in cases where the water breaks, the need for surgery under anesthesia greatly increases.

Why are they still prohibited? hygiene procedures and eating? Because they will require precious time, and when the amniotic fluid breaks, you cannot hesitate.

You need to pull yourself together, don’t panic, try not to get nervous. You should prepare yourself for simple work and try to be in an optimistic mood!