What are the signs that a pregnant woman is about to give birth?

The mother has been pregnant for several months, and the baby will be born soon. So what are the signs of childbirth? What preparations should pregnant women make before giving birth? The following editor will introduce you in detail.

What are the signs of childbirth in pregnant women?

Uterine fundus descent

About two weeks before delivery, the fundus of the uterus will drop for a first-time mother. At this time, she will feel relaxed in the upper abdomen, and her breathing will become smoother than before. The uncomfortable feeling of stomach pressure will be relieved a lot, and her appetite will also increase accordingly.

Seeing red

In the last few weeks of pregnancy, cervical secretions increase and the woman will notice an increase in vaginal discharge. Normal cervical secretions are a viscous liquid, which usually forms a mucus plug in the cervix to prevent bacteria from invading the uterine cavity. This secretion is more abundant and more viscous during pregnancy. As the uterus contracts regularly, this mucus plug is discharged with the contractions that begin with delivery; and due to the separation of the fetal membranes at the endometrium and the uterine wall, there is a small amount of bleeding. This bleeding is mixed with the uterine mucus plug and discharged from the vagina, which is called spotting. Spotting is a relatively reliable sign that delivery is about to begin. If the amount of bleeding is greater than usual, you should consider whether there is an abnormality. It may be placental abruption, and you need to go to the hospital for examination immediately.

A feeling of pressure in the lower abdomen

Due to the descent, the part that will be exposed first during childbirth has already descended to the entrance of the pelvis, so the lower abdomen is swollen and the bladder is compressed. At this time, you will feel back pain and leg pain, inconvenience in walking, and frequent urination.

Regular abdominal pain

Generally, the pain lasts for 30 seconds, with an interval of 10 minutes. Later, the pain duration gradually increases and the interval shortens, which is called regular labor pain.

Water breaking

The leakage of amniotic fluid from the vagina is commonly known as "broken water". Because of the strong contraction of the uterus, the pressure in the uterine cavity gradually increases, the cervix opens wider, the head drops, causing the fetal membrane to rupture and the amniotic fluid to flow out of the vagina. At this time, birth is not far away.

Pregnant women's preparations before delivery

When should you call your doctor?

how to reach doctors and nurses after they are off duty;

Should I call my doctor first or go directly to the hospital?

How far is your home from the hospital?

What means of transportation should I take to get to the hospital?

Is there someone guarding the pregnant woman at all times?

How long does it take to get to the hospital from home during rush hour traffic?

It is best to rehearse the journey and time to the hospital in advance;

Find an alternate route so that you can get to the hospital as quickly as possible if the first route is blocked;

Have you arranged your household affairs and hired help to take care of children, pets and housework?

Make sure your work arrangements are in place and let your supervisor and colleagues know your due date.

Due date is not the exact date of delivery

Generally speaking, the entire pregnancy period is 40 weeks, and some mothers worry that the baby will be born early and unhealthy. In fact, from a medical point of view, as long as the pregnancy period is 37 weeks, it can be considered full-term, and babies born between 37 and 42 weeks are normal and healthy babies. Many people judge whether a pregnant woman is going to give birth, and most of them will use the due date to estimate. In fact, the due date is only the estimated date of delivery of the pregnant woman, not the exact time of delivery. Therefore, the delivery time of many pregnant women will appear two weeks before and two weeks after the due date.

How to relieve the mood before childbirth

1. Enhance self-confidence. Expectant mothers should believe in their own abilities and also believe in their babies. Although the delivery process is painful, every mother has experienced it, so it is not as terrible as imagined.

2. Learn more. Read more books or magazines about childbirth before giving birth to understand the entire childbirth process. The more familiar you are with the childbirth process, the less afraid you will be of childbirth.

3. Communicate more with family and friends. You can communicate more with family and friends, especially with some new mothers, to understand the delivery situation and relieve tension.