Symptoms of labor. The first signs of approaching labor in multiparous women. Change in emotional state

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Carrying a child is a long and emotionally intense process. Towards the end of the term, a pregnant woman may experience a variety of sensations. The main moment is ahead - the day of birth. It is usually preceded by physiological and psychological changes. The body gains strength before childbirth and itself tells you that everything will happen soon.

Psychological state of a woman

Usually, before giving birth, emotional sensations are inhibited, the woman becomes distracted, drowsy and forgetful. Frequent mood swings: sometimes I want to cry, sometimes I want to laugh with happiness. Accumulated fatigue and long waits lead to a desire to hasten the onset of labor.

Before giving birth, many expectant mothers are overcome by a strong desire to arrange their home, clean everything until it shines and wash it, and rearrange the furniture. This is explained by the subconscious desire to bring a newborn baby into a clean and comfortable home. And also keep yourself busy with some work and drive away fears and bad thoughts. After all, the course of the birth process itself largely depends on the emotional state of a woman. Fear is known to increase muscle spasms and make it harder for the cervix to dilate.

Physiological state

1-2 weeks before birth, the abdomen begins to droop. A woman can see this herself by looking at herself in the mirror. The fetus descends lower to the pubic part, the pressure on the stomach and diaphragm becomes less. Before giving birth, it becomes easier to breathe. But now there may be discomfort in the pubic area and numbness in the bend of the hip and leg. A woman's gait may change a week before giving birth - it will become more clumsy.

It becomes too cramped for a grown child. His activity decreases. Since his head is close to the cervix, he can only move his arms and legs. Sometimes the day of birth begins immediately after the moment of drooping of the abdomen.

Fetal pressure on the bladder increases before childbirth, and the woman experiences a frequent urge to urinate. Another sign of approaching labor is increased frequency and thinning of stools.

An increased amount of vaginal discharge indicates that the day of birth is approaching soon. The surest sign is the passage of a plug - a colorless lump of dense mucus, sometimes with a small amount of blood. The condition of the cervix changes, it prepares for opening.

Before giving birth, a woman may lose a couple of kilograms in weight. The body gets rid of excess water. There may be no weight loss, but weight gain stops before childbirth.

Painful sensations foreshadowing the day of birth

A few weeks before the day of birth, a pulling sensation in the abdomen and lower back, characteristic during menstruation, may appear. This occurs due to sprained ligaments and muscles.

Weak training contractions are also typical before childbirth - but they are usually painless and irregular. The sensations with them are similar to the petrification of the uterus.

How might you feel the day before giving birth?

Most often there is a lull before childbirth. All their harbingers subside. When asked how a woman felt on the day before giving birth, the answer is often: nothing!

On the day of birth, there may be mild pain - this indicates the beginning of contractions. They can be long lasting. If they are of an increasing nature, you cannot hesitate - you must immediately go to the maternity hospital.

No one can know exactly the day of birth. A pregnant woman should listen to her body. His physiological changes and emotional sensations will tell him when the important moment is approaching.

Useful video about the last week before giving birth

Maria Sokolova

Reading time: 5 minutes

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Any woman who has been expecting a baby knows that the last weeks before the upcoming birth drag on for quite a long time. A special feeling of anxiety is inherent in expectant mothers who are about to give birth for the first time.

The article will talk about birth harbingers — this information will be useful both for women expecting the birth of their first child, and for women who have already given birth.

10 surest signs of imminent labor

1. Stomach dropped
   Approximately fourteen days before the onset of labor, primiparous women may notice abdominal prolapse. This happens because the baby, preparing for birth, presses against the outlet, descending into the pelvic area. In women expecting the birth of their first child, the belly may drop a couple of days before giving birth.
   After abdominal prolapse, a woman may experience ease of breathing, as well as discomfort associated with swelling and increased urination. However, you should not be afraid of this. Swelling and frequent urination will serve as a key sign that labor is approaching - that is, very soon your little one will be born.
2. Incomprehensible weight loss
   During the entire period of waiting for the baby, the woman gains weight, but before the onset of labor she can suddenly lose several kilograms. This indicates that you will soon meet your baby. Weight loss occurs due to the absorption of fetal fluid and should not cause concern to the expectant mother. Weight loss is approximately one to two kilograms. At the same time, the swelling goes away.
3. Mood variability
   Psychological metamorphoses occur in the female body, along with physiological changes. One to two weeks before the birth of the baby, the woman feels the approach of this meeting and prepares for it. The strength to do household chores appears. I want to do everything at once.
   The mood and character of the expectant mother becomes so changeable that she either laughs or cries. This is not very noticeable throughout pregnancy, but is clearly visible before childbirth. This sign should not be neglected.
4. Goodbye heartburn!
   In the last days before childbirth, pressure from the diaphragm and stomach is eliminated, and you feel that breathing becomes much easier. The shortness of breath and heartburn that plagued the woman throughout her pregnancy disappears. At the same time, some difficulties arise - it becomes more difficult to sit and walk, it is difficult to find a comfortable position, and difficulties with sleep appear.
5. Unstable appetite
   For those who have had a good appetite throughout pregnancy and suddenly notice a decrease in it, this sign will be a signal to prepare for childbirth. An increased appetite for those who previously ate poorly will also indicate that labor is approaching.
6. Loose stools and frequent urination
   Throughout the nine months, the woman managed to run to the toilet. However, things are different now. The urge to urinate becomes more frequent. The intestines begin to cleanse themselves first - and here you have diarrhea. Hormones that relax the cervix begin to affect the intestines, resulting in loose stools. Such symptoms usually appear two to seven days before birth. Some women may even confuse the onset of labor with some kind of poisoning.
7. Nesting instinct
   Some time before giving birth, a woman has a desire to withdraw into herself, secluded from everyone. If you want to curl up in a ball or hide in a secluded place, you can’t see your relatives - congratulations, childbirth is just around the corner, and the clock may have started counting down. The female body will feel this and requires a break for the expectant mother in labor so that she can prepare herself psychologically for the birth of the child.
8. Quiet baby
   The baby's movements in the mother's womb change significantly before labor begins. The baby is growing up, and there is little room for him in the uterus. That is why he can not kick or push for a long time. The CTG machine will show the mother that the baby’s activity and heartbeat are normal, there is no reason to worry. In the last four weeks before giving birth, CTG is recommended to be done at least twice a week, and preferably every day.
9. Nagging pain in the pubic area
   Immediately before the baby is born, a woman begins to feel a nagging pain in the pubic bone. This is explained by the fact that childbirth requires softening of the bones to facilitate the birth of the baby. The process is accompanied by a dull aching pain. These symptoms are not scary at all, you can prepare your things for the hospital.
10. Exit of the mucus plug
    Every woman has undoubtedly heard that throughout pregnancy it protects the baby from various infections. As the cervix dilates, the plug comes out. Remember, during the first birth the uterus opens quite slowly, and much faster during subsequent births.

All these are indirect signs of the onset of labor. And only an obstetrician-gynecologist during an examination can tell about the actual beginning of labor - he judges by the dilatation of the cervix.

Two signs that labor has begun

1. Rush of amniotic fluid
   The breaking of waters can occur differently for each woman in labor. For some women, the water may break at home, for some it leaks, and there are also cases when the water breaks after the amniotic sac is punctured in the maternity chair.
2. The appearance of regular contractions
   Contractions are a clear sign of imminent labor. It is impossible not to notice them. The contractions are like waves of pain, starting from the lower back and going down to the lower abdomen. Pain appears over a certain period, sensitivity increases over time.

Symptoms of the onset of premature labor

• Premature birth is comparable to the threat of miscarriage. Start of the process - discharge of amniotic fluid during pregnancy, still far from the planned date of birth.
• Harbingers of premature birth may be uterine contractions, nagging pain in the lower back, some abdominal tension . The discharge intensifies and streaks of blood appear.

If a woman notices such signs, she should immediately seek medical help in order to prevent premature birth. If the cervix begins to dilate, nothing can be done, you will have to give birth.

The site warns: an incorrect assessment of your condition during pregnancy can harm your health and become dangerous for your baby! If you notice signs of imminent labor or experience any discomfort during pregnancy, be sure to consult a doctor!

The closer the baby is due to be born, the more the woman listens to her body and monitors her feelings.

In this article we will talk about the first signs that labor is on the way.

It is a well-known fact that the first and main signal of labor for a woman is contractions. But first, we will look at the first signs that birth is near.

How to understand that your due date is near

1. When the baby's head moves lower towards the pelvic cavity, the woman's uterine fundus drops. This occurs approximately two weeks before birth.
2. Sometimes a woman before giving birth suffers from nausea and stool upset. But it is very important not to mistake food poisoning as the beginning of the birth process.
3. Throughout pregnancy, the cervix was protected from various infections by a mucus plug. A few weeks before giving birth, she leaves. This manifests itself in the form of transparent discharge on the underwear, sometimes it can be brownish in color.
4. Usually, shortly before the onset of labor, a woman loses several kilograms, since the female body no longer retains a lot of fluid, and is thus cleansed.
5. A decrease in the baby's activity also indicates that it will soon be time to go to the hospital.
6. Training contractions are not yet real contractions, but still harbingers of real labor. A week before giving birth, a woman feels irregular and not severe pain in the lower abdomen - these are false contractions, this is how the uterus trains its muscles before childbirth and prepares for it.
7. Softening and expansion of the walls of the uterus occur approximately two weeks before the birth process.

The closer the birth is, the stronger and more painful the contractions will be.

Contractions are necessary for the cervix to open. When it is dilated by 4 cm, doctors will install a labor regulator. For every hour, the cervix opens by one centimeter in first-time mothers. For women who have given birth before, this process occurs twice as fast.

When the cervix opens completely, the second stage of labor begins - pushing. It lasts approximately 1 hour. During this period, the baby is removed.

Before the period of pushing, as a rule, the amniotic sac should burst. Sometimes he bursts before contractions. During this process, a woman secretes approximately 100-150 ml from her genitals. clear liquid. The color of the amniotic fluid is very important, because if it is, for example, greenish or reddish, this is a bad sign that may mean that the fetus has hypoxia.

So, we found out that the main sign of labor is contractions. It is very important to be able to distinguish between real contractions and false ones. To understand this, doctors recommend lying down, relaxing and counting how often you feel pain. If contractions are regular, then this is the main sign that it is time to go to the hospital.

When you feel that the birth process has begun. It is very important to remain calm. Remember, how the birth will go depends on your behavior and moral state. When you feel contractions, do not panic, tell your family that the baby will be born soon, and that you

Towards the end of pregnancy, women, especially those preparing to become mothers for the first time, are afraid of not noticing that labor is beginning. There are a number of signs indicating this. But especially suspicious pregnant women are ready to interpret any ailment or change in the body as the beginning of labor. This is why it is so important to monitor your well-being and your baby’s behavior. This will help you prepare for an important event and arrive at the maternity hospital on time.

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Physiological signs of close labor

As a rule, changes in the body before childbirth are associated with changes in the woman’s hormonal background, the readiness of the uterus for childbirth, the maturation of the placenta and the maturity of the fetus. Precursors of labor in a normal pregnancy appear at 38-39 weeks, but in some women they may occur earlier. Primiparas begin to notice signs of labor several days, even weeks before, while women expecting their second and subsequent babies can experience familiar symptoms in just a few hours.

"Prolapse of the abdomen"

In the old days, grandmothers predicted an early birth based on this sign. The sign is based on changes in the body that occur at the end of pregnancy. With cephalic presentation, shortly before birth, the fetal head drops lower and rises into the small pelvis, as doctors say. Accordingly, the upper part of the uterus also descends and no longer puts as much pressure on the stomach, lungs and other organs. It is not always possible to independently notice that the stomach has dropped, but the woman feels how it has become easier to breathe, shortness of breath when walking and climbing stairs ceases, and heartburn, if it has been bothering her in recent months, goes away.

When the abdomen droops before childbirth, the navel protrudes even more, and the skin on the abdomen stretches more. It is at this stage that stretch marks may appear rapidly.

Frequent urination, change in bowel habits

This is also a physiologically explainable sign. The child's drooping head puts more force on the bladder, as a result of which it cannot be filled to its full capacity, and the urge to urinate occurs much more often. The woman notices that, although she began to go to the toilet more often, the volume of urine excreted has decreased significantly.

The strong pressure of the pregnant uterus on the intestines provokes constipation. Shortly before childbirth, there is a sharp increase in the hormone oxytocin, which, on the contrary, causes loose stool. If frequent constipation suddenly gives way to diarrhea, this sign indicates an approaching birth.

Nagging pain in the lower back and lower abdomen

Before childbirth, to make the baby move more comfortably through the birth canal, the ligaments are stretched, the cartilage softens, the pelvic bones gradually move apart, which causes discomfort, and in some women quite noticeable pain. At this time, gait and posture changes. Many women also experience pain in the pubic area caused by the pressure of the fetus on the pelvic bones.

Increased discharge

White semi-liquid discharge before childbirth signals the imminent release of the mucus plug. Some pregnant women are worried that amniotic fluid is leaking. In fact, water leakage is not as common as it seems. It is observed when the rupture of the membranes occurs not at the uterine pharynx, but at one of the walls of the uterus. If you have doubts about the nature of the discharge, you should visit a doctor. Using a special test, he will determine the presence of amniotic fluid in the discharge.

Changes in the cervix

The gynecologist will tell you about changes in the cervix at your next weekly examination. The cervix shortens to 1-2 centimeters, the uterine os begins to open. It is then that doctors talk about dilation of the cervix by 1 or 2 fingers.

At this time, the membranes are located close, they are accessible to all kinds of infections, so intimate hygiene should be more careful. Toileting the genitals and changing linen twice a day is mandatory. To wash, it is not necessary to use soap every time: it dries out the mucous membrane. You can use chamomile decoction. You cannot take baths at this time; they should be replaced with a warm shower.

Removal of the mucus plug

During pregnancy, the uterine os is closed by the so-called mucous plug, which holds the baby and does not allow infection to penetrate inside. Abundant discharge in the form of a clot of mucus indicates that the plug has moved away, and the cervix will soon open. For some women, dilation occurs gradually, while for others, labor begins immediately after the plug comes out.

The plug may come out 2 weeks before birth. Sometimes the cork does not come out entirely, but in parts, so it is not always recognized. You can guess that this is it by the nature of the discharge: transparent, dense, possibly streaked with blood.

Changes in the nature of fetal movements

Many pregnant women at 38-39 weeks note a decrease in the number of fetal movements. Its movement is difficult and not so intense, since the uterus becomes crowded before childbirth.

Video: Harbingers of an approaching birth

There are also psychological precursors of childbirth associated with changes in a woman’s hormonal levels. Of course, such signs are very subjective and it can be quite difficult to draw conclusions based only on them.

Mood swings

Frequent mood swings, causeless tearfulness, and irritability are associated with an increase in the hormone oxytocin before childbirth. A couple of days after the baby is born, this mood will continue. With the restoration of the balance of hormones, the psychological state also stabilizes.

"Nesting" instinct

A few days before giving birth, a woman has an irresistible desire to prepare her apartment for the arrival of her baby. This is expressed in the fact that she takes out and puts the children's things in their places, makes the crib, irons the linen, and finds a place for the bath. In general, he arranges everything so that the child and the mother herself feel comfortable. Some women may have an irresistible desire to start renovations in their apartment and get rid of everything unnecessary.

Video: How the nesting instinct in pregnant women is explained

Reliable signs of imminent labor

If before this the signs did not manifest themselves clearly, the woman was based on the words of the doctor and her own feelings and sensations, then reliable signs indicate that labor will begin in the next 24 hours:

1. Uterine tone. The uterus shrinks and “turns to stone,” which can be felt well if you put your hand on your stomach. As a rule, it occurs already in the initial stages of contractions and helps the baby move towards the uterine os during childbirth.
2. Contractions. The first phase, latent, is characterized by stretching of the lower abdomen. Many women confuse contractions in this phase with false ones. However, they gradually intensify, and the interval between them becomes shorter. This is already an active phase. At this time you should go to the hospital.
3. Discharge of amniotic fluid. If the waters break, this does not mean that the baby will be born immediately. Often the water breaks at the very beginning of labor, when the cervix is ​​not yet dilated. Then doctors talk about the anhydrous period, and the woman in labor will definitely indicate how long it lasted. It happens, on the contrary, when the cervix is ​​fully dilated, the fetal bladder remains intact. In this case, it is pierced so that the child can safely pass through the birth canal.

Important to remember: If your water breaks outside the maternity ward, you should go there immediately. A long period without water can lead to fetal infection and birth injuries. You need to try to remember the color and smell, as well as the presence of foreign impurities (for example, blood, meconium) in the amniotic fluid and tell the doctor about everything upon arrival at the maternity hospital. Based on the nature of the amniotic fluid, he will draw a conclusion about the condition of the child.

Signs of premature birth

Premature births are considered to occur between 28 and 36 weeks of pregnancy. They can occur for various reasons, occurring both rapidly and gradually. Premature labor usually begins suddenly, but some signs may indicate it:

• feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen;
• frequent finding of the uterus in good shape;
• sudden drooping of the abdomen;
• feeling of pressure on the pelvic bones;
• Increasing pain of a cramping nature.

If one or more signs of labor are detected, you should immediately consult a doctor. In most cases, premature birth can be stopped.

Women expecting a child experience a variety of feelings. This is excitement and joy, self-doubt, anticipation of changes in the usual way of life. Towards the end of pregnancy, fear also appears, caused by the fear of missing the important moment of the onset of labor.

To prevent the state before childbirth from turning into panic, the expectant mother needs to carefully monitor her well-being. There are certain signs that indicate the imminent arrival of the long-awaited baby.

What are the harbingers of labor?

Immediately after conception, a woman’s hormonal background begins to change. The body produces large amounts of progesterone, a hormone that is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. And in the last stages, the placenta ages, which significantly reduces the production of progesterone. Against the background of such changes, the body begins to produce another hormone - estrogen, the main function of which is to prepare the body of the expectant mother for childbirth.

When the level of such hormones reaches a maximum, the brain receives a certain signal that promotes the onset of labor. Changing hormones causes certain changes in the condition of the pregnant woman.

Before birth, certain symptoms appear that indicate the imminent arrival of the baby. These are the harbingers of the long-awaited birth. The above changes begin to occur in a woman’s body at the 32nd week of pregnancy. A woman can feel the harbingers of labor starting from the 36th week.

Cervical change

The condition of the cervix before childbirth changes, its maturation occurs. As a result of morphological changes, the connective tissue softens, which makes the neck soft, pliable and easily extensible. There are three degrees of maturity of this organ:

• immature - the neck is long, dense, the external pharynx is either closed or allows only the tip of the finger to pass through;
• not mature enough - the cervix is ​​slightly softened, shortened, the cervical canal allows one finger to pass through (in primigravidas until the internal os is closed);
• mature - the neck is smoothed and shortened as much as possible, softened, centered, the cervical canal easily allows one finger to pass through.

The entire process of childbirth and its successful completion depend on the condition of the cervix.

Fetal motor activity

Of course, a pregnant woman is concerned about the question: what is the condition of the baby inside before giving birth? By the end of pregnancy, the fetus reaches its maturity: it gains the required weight (about three kilograms), the organs are formed and ready for extrauterine existence.

By this time, the uterus has already stopped growing, so the baby becomes cramped in it. This causes the baby inside to move less. At 34-36 weeks, the expectant mother notices that the baby has begun to roll over less, and from the 36th week she may feel that small movements are becoming less frequent, but they are very noticeable, and pain also appears in places where they are poked with arms or legs .

The main precursors of delivery

A woman’s condition before giving birth undergoes some psychological and physiological changes, indicating to the mother that she will soon see the long-awaited baby. In order not to miss anything important and not to harm herself and the baby, a woman should know the main signs of the imminent onset of labor.

Their main harbingers are as follows:

• Weight loss. Almost all pregnant women indicate that their weight stabilizes or decreases by 0.5-2 kilograms before labor begins. This is due to a decrease in edema and the kidneys removing excess fluid from the body. This is how the body begins to adapt so that the tissues stretch better, become plastic and flexible. Thanks to the work of hormones designed to remove everything unnecessary, the intestines are cleansed. Therefore, a woman may experience abdominal pain and frequent urge to defecate.
• Loss of appetite. Simultaneously with the loss of excess weight, the pregnant woman's appetite decreases or completely disappears. This is a normal state before childbirth; you don’t need to force yourself to eat.
• Abdominal prolapse. This is one of the main harbingers of childbirth. Two or three weeks before an important event, the child makes his way closer to the exit. As a result, abdominal tone decreases, and it becomes easier for a woman to breathe.
• Appearance This harbinger of childbirth is directly related to the previous one. The baby sinks down the abdomen, so the pressure on this part of the body increases. It becomes difficult for the expectant mother to sit down and stand up; she is tormented by pain and stretching in the lower back.
• Frequent urination. It is caused by increased kidney function and pressure in the bladder area.
• Restless sleep. The woman's condition before childbirth becomes anxious, her sleep becomes restless. This is caused not only by emotional experiences, but also by changes occurring in the body. Due to the fact that the baby begins to move actively at night, pressure on the bladder increases, which provokes the urge to urinate. This causes sleep disturbance in the pregnant woman.
• Diarrhea. Due to the prolapse of the abdomen, pressure also occurs on the intestines. The expectant mother notices the urge to defecate. Constipation gives way to diarrhea. It is she who is the harbinger of the approaching birth. Often pregnant women confuse this harbinger with poisoning or an intestinal disorder.
• Change in pain sensations. Throughout pregnancy, a woman may feel slight back pain. Before childbirth, pain is observed in the pubic region. This is due to the softening of the bones, which is an important factor for normal labor.

Plug coming out

By the end of pregnancy, the cervix matures: it shortens, softens, and the cervical canal opens slightly. Inside the cervical canal there is thick mucus, the main function of which is to prevent harmful microorganisms from entering the uterus, which can cause infection of the fetus. This mucus is called a mucus plug.

As mentioned above, towards the end of pregnancy the body begins to produce estrogens, which affect the change in the general well-being of the expectant mother and her condition before childbirth. A few days before the onset of labor (three to ten), under the influence of hormones, mucus is liquefied and expelled from the cervical canal.

The mucus plug looks like a small lump of transparent or yellowish color, and there may be streaks of blood in it. The mucus plug may come off in parts over several days. Pregnant women usually cannot independently determine the passage of the mucus plug.

Sometimes the expectant mother has doubts - the plug is coming out or amniotic fluid is leaking. The leakage of water will be constant, such discharge is transparent in color (may have a yellowish or greenish tint) and watery. The plug comes off in portions, the discharge is thicker and goes away after a few days.

If a pregnant woman doubts whether the plug is coming out or water is leaking, then she should not hesitate and contact a gynecologist.

False contractions

These are training contractions that can bother a woman several weeks before the expected date of birth. They are caused by the body's intense production of the hormone oxytocin. The role of false contractions is to prepare the myometrium for childbirth. Such contractions do not lead to the development of labor, they do not affect the general condition before childbirth. The signs of training contractions are:

• they are neither regular nor intense;
• They differ from the real ones in their relative painlessness and the interval of rest between contractions at an interval of thirty minutes;
• appear 4-6 times a day (mostly in the morning or evening), lasting no more than two hours.

A pregnant woman feels false contractions as a hardening of the abdomen in response to fetal movement or any physical activity. To relieve tension, you should relax, take a warm bath and get a massage.

The difference between false contractions and real ones

The main difference between false contractions and real labor is the gradual increase of the latter with a subsequent reduction in the interval between them. Labor contractions are stronger, brighter, more painful. If training contractions lack regularity, then during real contractions it is mandatory.

The main purpose of labor contractions is to open the cervix, so no matter what a pregnant woman does, they will only intensify. False contractions can be weakened or discomfort can be completely eliminated.

Water breaking

The most striking and alarming sign indicating that a pregnant woman needs to urgently go to the maternity hospital is the rupture of amniotic fluid. Such an event can occur simultaneously with contractions. Normally, the water should be clear and odorless. The presence of red discharge may indicate placental abruption. All the water may go away at once, but leakage is possible. In the latter case, you should put on a gasket and consult a doctor.

Some women confuse leaking water with involuntary urination, which can occur periodically in late pregnancy. The difference in these processes is the absence of urine odor in the waters and their transparent color. If the water is greenish, yellow or brown, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

The mood of the expectant mother

The emotional state before childbirth in pregnant women also changes. The mood can be joyful and cheerful, but suddenly sadness or sadness suddenly rolls in or everything starts to irritate. This is primarily due to the fatigue of a pregnant woman, long waits and natural anxiety. The expectant mother can't wait to give birth.

This condition of a woman before childbirth is influenced by endocrine processes occurring in the body. An interesting fact is that a few weeks before giving birth, the expectant mother has a desire to tidy up the apartment and create comfort in the house. Psychologists call this condition “nesting syndrome.” A woman with enviable zeal begins to equip her “nest”, create comfortable conditions for living with the baby: clean, wash, put away, hem, etc.

What is the condition before the first birth?

Primipara women experience more worry and anxiety about the upcoming event. They may not be aware of the warning signs and may not pay attention to the main symptoms of impending labor. For women preparing to become mothers for the first time, warning signs may appear three weeks in advance, or within a day. A woman’s condition before childbirth depends on the body’s reaction to the changes occurring. There are no specific dates or intervals here.

Primipara women should remember that there may be several signs that labor is approaching; it is not necessary that all of them will appear. Due to her inexperience, a pregnant woman may simply not notice them.

It is important to carefully monitor your condition before childbirth, pay attention to the slightest changes in time and report them to your gynecologist.

Precursors of labor in multiparous women

The mental state before childbirth in women who survived childbirth is much more stable. Their body clearly reacts to the changes taking place, and the warning signs appear more clearly. This is because the uterus has changed and enlarged after a previous birth. The exception is women whose first birth was by caesarean section. This is due to the fact that the cervix does not stretch as the baby does not pass through it.

Women who are already mothers during a new pregnancy pay attention to the severity of prenatal symptoms. They clearly monitor the physiological state before childbirth. Signs (in multiparous women) of approaching labor and their severity differ in the course of some processes:

• The cork is larger.
• False contractions begin earlier.
• The abdomen drops at a later date.
• There may be copious vaginal discharge.

When to go to the maternity hospital

So, what condition before childbirth requires immediate hospitalization? First of all, it should be said that all pregnant women in the last weeks of pregnancy should be prepared for an emergency trip to the maternity hospital. Therefore, you need to collect your “alarm suitcase”, documents and carry out the necessary hygiene procedures in advance (shave your hair and remove nail polish).

Emergency situations that require an immediate ambulance call are:

• rupture of water (especially in the absence of other signs of the onset of labor);
• the appearance of bloody discharge;
• pressure surge;
• the appearance of sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
• severe headache, flashing spots, blurred vision;
• absence of fetal movements for six hours;
• the beginning of regular labor (two or three contractions in ten minutes).

What week is the birth expected?

There is a concept that a baby should be born in the fortieth week of pregnancy. But only three percent of children are born on the exact date indicated. Usually a woman gives birth earlier or slightly later than her due date.

It is considered normal if pregnancy lasts 280-282 days. Premature is considered every additional week increases the baby's chance of being born healthy.

Full-term babies successfully adapt to new living conditions. Therefore, if there is a threat of termination of pregnancy, it is necessary to urgently contact the clinic and go to hospital.

There are cases when a woman “overcomes” her pregnancy, that is, she gives birth after the due date. In this case, the pregnancy is called post-term or prolonged. In the first case, after birth the baby shows signs of postmaturity. During a prolonged pregnancy, the newborn does not have such signs, and the baby is born healthy.

It is not at all necessary that every pregnant woman will experience all of the above symptoms before the onset of labor. Moreover, you should not wait for them to appear simultaneously. The intensity of the precursors and the state before childbirth depend on the body’s response to the hormonal changes occurring and on the number of previous births.