When the baby's head crowns , or becomes visible, you may experience a burning, stinging sensation around the vaginal opening as it stretches. What's happening : This stage tends to be relatively easy, as mild, crampy contractions ease the placenta out. At this point you're focused on your newborn anyway. Some women feel guilty if they opt for labor pain medication, as though they've somehow failed or put their babies' or their own well-being at risk.
In fact, epidurals and other pain-relief drugs are quite safe, says William Camann, M. What's more, the benefits of epidural may last long after your baby is born. According to Gilbert Grant, M. Even if you opt for an epidural or other medication, using relaxation techniques can boost your ability to handle the pain, says Leslie Ludka, C.
Rhythmic breathing, visualization, meditation, self-hypnosis, and other relaxation strategies taught in classes such as Lamaze , Bradley Method, or HypnoBirthing may help keep your mind calm and your muscles loose. Other effective techniques include massage, walking, taking a bath or shower, and applying ice or heat. Whether you plan to use labor pain medication or go natural , try to be flexible. While medication can take much of the pain out of giving birth, delivering naturally can give you a great sense of accomplishment.
Here's her advice: "Differentiate between pain and suffering. Pain can be managed, but if it becomes overwhelming, medication may prevent suffering. Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team.
If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission. Save Pin FB More. You may feel a slow trickle, or a sudden gush of water that you cannot control. To prepare for this, you could keep a sanitary towel but not a tampon handy if you are going out, and put a plastic sheet on your bed.
Amniotic fluid is clear and a pale straw colour. Sometimes it's difficult to tell amniotic fluid from urine. When your waters break, the water should be clear or slightly pink.
If it appears greenish or bloody, see a doctor or your hospital immediately, as this could mean you and your baby need urgent attention. If your waters break before labour starts, phone your midwife or the hospital for advice. Without amniotic fluid your baby is no longer protected and there is a risk of infection. The cervix needs to open about 10cm for a baby to pass through.
This is called 'fully dilated'. Contractions at the start of labour help to soften the cervix so that it gradually opens. Sometimes the process of softening can take many hours before you're in what midwives call 'established labour'.
Established labour is when your cervix has dilated to more than 3cm. If you go into hospital or your birth centre before labour is established, you may be asked if you'd prefer to go home again for a while rather than spending many extra hours in hospital or the birth centre.
If you go home, you should make sure you eat and drink, as you'll need the energy. At night, try to get comfortable and relaxed. If you can, try to sleep. A warm bath or shower may help you to relax. During the day, keep upright and gently active.
This helps the baby to move down into the pelvis and helps the cervix to dilate. Once labour is established, the midwife will check you from time to time to see how you are progressing. In a first labour, the time from the start of established labour to full dilation is usually between 6 and 12 hours about 8 hours on average. It is often quicker for subsequent pregnancies. Your midwife will tell you to try not to push until your cervix is fully open and the baby's head can be seen.
To help you get over the urge to push, try blowing out slowly and gently or, if the urge is too strong, in little puffs. Some people find this easier lying on their side, or on their knees and elbows, to reduce the pressure of the baby's head on the cervix.
Your baby's heart rate will be monitored throughout labour. Your midwife will watch for any marked change in the rate, which could be a sign that the baby is distressed and that something needs to be done. Read more on how your baby's heart will be monitored during labour. Your labour may be slower than expected if your contractions are not frequent or strong enough or because your baby is in an awkward position. If this is the case, your doctor or midwife will explain why they think labour should be sped up and may recommend the following techniques to get things moving:.
Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content. Information to help you make an informed choice for you and your baby about using water during the first stage of your labour or having a waterbirth.
Read more on WA Health website. Induced labour is a medical treatment to start labour. It may be recommended if your baby needs to be born before labour is due to start naturally.
Your doctor may need to intervene to help you have your baby. It is a medical emergency that requires immediate intervention. Are the contractions strong? You may notice the loss of your mucus plug — the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world. It can come out in one large piece it looks similar to the mucus in your nose or lots of little ones, though you may not get a glimpse of it at all and some women don't lose it before delivery.
This thickened, pinkish discharge is called bloody show and is a good indication that labor is imminent. You could also have pain in your lower back that radiates down into the legs. For most women, membranes rupture and amniotic fluid leaks after other labor symptoms have already begun.
Your water breaking is actually one of the final signs of labor most women experience — and it happens naturally in only around 15 percent of births or fewer. Look out for these very early signs of labor also known as pre-labor symptoms , which can happen anywhere from a full month or more to a mere hour or so before active labor starts.
Your baby is getting into position to make his exit, ideally with the head down and low and not in the breech position. The good news is that you have a bit more breathing room, since your little one is moving away from your lungs. Your cervix, too, is preparing for birth: It starts to dilate open and efface thin out in the days or weeks before you deliver. At your weekly check-ups in the home stretch of your pregnancy, your provider may measure and track dilation and effacement via an internal exam.
You may feel some cramping and pain in your lower back and groin as labor nears, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. Your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for birth. Before you go into labor, you may notice that the joints all over your body feel a bit less tight and more relaxed. Just as the muscles in your uterus are relaxing in preparation for birth, so too are other muscles in your body — including those in the rectum. Though annoying, it's completely normal.
Pregnancy weight gain often levels off at the very end. Some moms-to-be even lose a couple of pounds. Wait a minute, is this the third trimester or the first?
So pile up those pillows and take naps when you can, if at all possible. Try not to stress about it. If you think you're going into labor, your doctor has likely advised you on what to do when your due date is near and you think you're experiencing regular contractions e. If you think you might be in labor but aren't sure, get on the phone.
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