During pregnancy, a woman is given a preliminary due date. But usually the baby has his own plans, he can be born before or after the appointed time. That is why expectant mothers are at a loss as to how to recognize the beginning of the childbirth process.
Water discharge
When the process of a woman's pregnancy ends, her body is freed from the amniotic fluid, which helped the baby in development. The discharge of these waters is the main and pronounced sign of the onset of labor. In a woman's body, a baby can live a day without water, sometimes a little more. Therefore, at the first suspicion of amniotic fluid discharge, you need to consult a doctor or call an ambulance.
How to determine that the amniotic fluid has departed?
The amount of amniotic fluid in the body of a pregnant woman is very high. A slight wetting of the underwear, most likely, indicates some kind of discharge, rather than the discharge of amniotic fluid. But if a lot of fluid is released from the vagina, there is no doubt that labor has begun. In this case, it is important to have time to call an ambulance before the start of the contractions.
Contractions
Contractions are the second sign of the onset of labor. Contractions are divided into two types - preparatory and main. The preparatory labor begins at about the thirtieth week of pregnancy. They occur at irregular intervals. For example, it might work like this: 1 minute of contractions, 35 minutes of rest, 2 minutes of contractions, 10 minutes of rest, 1 minute of contractions, 15 minutes of rest. Such fights are preparatory. But if they occur with intensification, for example, 1 contractions - 10 minutes of rest, 2 minutes of contractions - 8 minutes of rest, and then, you should immediately call an ambulance. If a woman is not sure what kind of contractions she is experiencing, it is more advisable to call an ambulance just in case. After all, the life of the baby may depend on this. During contractions, a woman experiences pain in the lumbar region, lower abdomen and groin. False contractions quickly pass under the influence of warm water on the body.
Sagging belly
Of course, a sagging belly is not always a sign of the onset of labor, but, nevertheless, it indicates their approach. There is no specifics here. After the belly has dropped, a woman can give birth both the next day and a month later.
Discharge of the uterine plug
A mucous plug appears in the uterus of a pregnant woman. It prevents infections and dirt from reaching the fetus. This plug, as a rule, leaves at the time of the discharge of amniotic fluid, which is why many women most often do not notice it. True, sometimes there are cases that the mucous plug leaves a little earlier than the amniotic fluid. In this situation, the discharge of the uterine plug indicates that very soon the woman will lose water and begin labor.
