The pregnancy and start of labour are as distinctive to each woman. Your body’s natural delivery process is known as labour. How to identify labour pain is a common issue that disturbs in the minds of many women. In this blog, let’s examine in more detail the signs of labour pain.
Signs of labour pain
Knowing about the signs of labour (delivery pain) before your due date can reduce your anxiety and you will be mentally prepared to welcome your baby. In short know the tips for normal delivery.
Contractions
As you enter into the third trimester (>28 weeks of pregnancy), you may notice some infrequent uterine contractions (tightening of the uterus). This is called “Braxton hicks contractions”. These contractions will prepare your uterus to get ready for labour (delivery).
But if you have strong and regular contractions associated with pain in your belly and lower back then you are in the labour stage. Contractions help in advancing the baby through the delivery canal and finally assist the mother in delivering the child.
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During pregnancy, the mucus plug builds up at the cervix. Before labour begins, a pregnant woman may notice an increase in a particular type of discharge. This discharge is a plug of mucous mixed with blood which comes from your cervix (entrance to your womb).
Water breaks
Your water breaking is one clear sign that labour has started. The fluid-filled amniotic sac, which shields your unborn child as it grows and develops, will rupture before delivery. Some women experience a watery flow but some women just feel a slight moisture or a trickle of water in their pants.
Urge
You may have an urge to go to the toilet (a feeling of passing motion) which is caused by the baby’s head coming down into the pelvis.
If you have any of the above symptoms and signs call your obstetrician and plan your admission. Additionally, keep a close watch on your baby’s movement and if you feel any abnormality from the usual pattern, then inform your obstetrician.
What happens during labour
Usually, labour pain starts as a discomfort or a dull ache in your back or abdomen (abdominal pain in pregnancy), cramps and pressure in the pelvis. The stomach will become hard and will be soft again. You will not have the pain continuously. It will be in a series at regular intervals gradually increasing in intensity (strongness of pain) and decreasing in frequency (the intervals between the pain)
How long the pain will be?
Labour varies from person to person and also from one pregnancy to another. Generally, it takes about 10 to 14 hours in primigravida (1st-time moms) and about 6 to 8 hours in multigravida (moms who have delivered previously).
To Conclude
Well, now you have got an idea about “How to identify labour pain”. If you are experiencing any labour symptoms but you are not yet completed 37 weeks of pregnancy. Then, you’ll require immediate medical attention. In this case, you could go into the labour process before your baby is ready.
As you wait for your baby to arrive, you feel a mixture of excitement and anticipation. However, if you pay close attention to your body, it will give you hints that you are just one or two days away from your most recent adventure.
