Labor contractions and bag rupture: how to recognize these two signs that indicate that labor is approaching

When we are in the final stretch of pregnancy, there are certain signs that tell us that the big day is approaching and that on several occasions we have mentioned, such as when the belly descends because the baby has fitted into the pelvis, or the detachment of the mucous plug.

Knowing how to identify these signs is a concern for some women, because they fear not recognizing them. Therefore, we will talk in depth about two of the main signs that labor is approaching: labor contractions and bag breakage.

Labor contractions

As we know, there are different types of contractions that we can feel during pregnancy, but the best known are those of Braxton Hicks Y labor contractions. Braxton Hicks are also called "false contractions" because they are painless, irregular and last approximately 30 seconds. They can occur from the 29th week of pregnancy and we can identify them because they feel under the abdomen and in English.

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Unlike "false" contractions, labor contractions yes they are painful and occur for regular periods of time. The pain starts in the back, from where it radiates to the sides and forward, until it reaches the lower abdomen.

These contractions occur with a frequency of 3 to 5 contractions approximately every 10 minutes, and are progressive, that is, its duration and intensity is increasing. For labor to be triggered, there must be at least 2 or 3 contractions every 10 minutes and the cervix must have reached a dilation of 2 to 3 centimeters. Once labor has begun, contractions can arrive in groups of 2 or 3, lasting 40 to 60 seconds every 10 minutes.

Although this is the usual frequency, it can vary for each woman. There are those who spend a whole night with contractions every half hour, then every 20 or 15 minutes and then every 10 minutes, while there are other women who have their baby within 2 or 3 hours of starting the contractions. All this depends on each one and also on whether they have had previous births or not.

In the case of a first-time pregnant woman, she must go to the hospital when she has had contractions every 15 minutes for two hours, while those who have previously had babies must do so before.

Techniques to relieve pain

Because these are usually painful, it is recommended that to cope better with women start walking around the house or hospital, to help the baby continue to fit in and descend through the birth canal. Having freedom of movement helps to adopt positions that help to cope better with contractions.

Something that is essential to help us during this stage of labor is breathing. To have a controlled and conscious breath, will help oxygenate the baby and reassure the mother.

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Another recommended measure is get in the tub with warm water if you have the possibility to do it. The water will help relax the muscles and soften the perineum, making labor pains less intense and then facilitating the expulsion of the baby.

The most important is try to stay relaxed, because this helps to reduce the production of adrenaline, the hormone responsible for the hardening of the cervix, which will naturally help facilitate labor.

Bag breakage

Unlike contractions, which could increase slowly and progressively, Bag breakage is an unequivocal sign that childbirth will occur in the next few hours. This is easy to identify because you will feel a jet of hot water wetting your legs, as if you had urinated on it.

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However, it is important to clarify that not all pregnant women break waters at the same stage of labor, because bag rupture can occur before labor contractions begin or occur until the time of delivery.

It is also important to mention that the bag breakage is not always as dramatic as shown in the films, since some pregnant women can expel small jets of water through a fissure. If you think water has broken, it is best to go to the hospital, as time passes between rupture and delivery, the risk of infection in the baby increases.

If we break waters, we must check the color of the liquidWell, it is normal to have a transparent or whitish color, which will give us time to change and go to the hospital if we have not already done so. However, if the liquid is stained yellowish, black or greenish, we should go immediately and inform our doctor.

Sometimes, when women do not break water spontaneously, a maneuver called amniotomy is performed, in which the midwife breaks the bag. However, it is not advisable if you want to have a natural birth, since it is a process that must be carried out without interventions or with the minimum, and Breaking the bag does not guarantee that the delivery is faster.

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With this information about labor contractions and bag breakageYou can more easily identify these two signs that labor is approaching and you will feel more confident and prepared to know how to act when the time comes. Stay tuned for the signals that your body sends you and if in doubt, always consult your doctor.

Video: Labor and Delivery. Childbirth. Nucleus Health (March 2024).