The culmination of the last month in pregnancy is going into labor. Few women can recognize the early signs of labor and the chances of rushing to hospital at the last minute or going through an unplanned home delivery is not very common. It’s far more common for couples to arrive at the delivery ward just in time knowing that the baby will arrive in few hours time. Becoming familiar in advance with the signs of pre-labor, false labor and real labor will be of help when the contractions begin.
Many women experience false labor. This occurs when the uterus knots up to make you think you are going into labor. False labor pains are called Braxton Hicks contractions. It helps to soften, thin and slightly open the cervix. False labor tend to occur more often as the due date draws near. However, sometimes Braxton Hicks contractions are barely felt. It may appear as tough your belly has tightened and you will not experience any pain.
Once you know you are in labor, you need to decide when to go to the hospital. It can be disappointing to arrive at the hospital thinking that you are about to give birth but get to know that your cervix has hardly dilated. Usually the first labor lasts up to 12 hours or more and this is the reason why you need to decide on when to move to the hospital if you get into labor. Few tips to help you decide when to make the move are :
- Your contractions are occurring every 5 minutes with a regular interval
- If your pain is severe and you need help to get through contractions
- If your water breaks or you have bleeding
It’s advisable to call your doctor or midwife if you are in doubt. Most women worry about the pain that they have to go through during pregnancy. The intensity of pain varies from woman to woman and to an extent can be controlled. Being relaxed helps in reducing the labor pain. Another way of easing labor pain is to learn the proper breathing technique.
