Labor when is it the real thing

Contractions and signs of labor. E-mail to a friend Please fill in all fields. Please enter a valid e-mail address.

Thank you! Your e-mail was sent. Save to my dashboard Sign in or Sign up to save this page. Saving Just a moment, please. You've saved this page It's been added to your dashboard. In This Topic. What is labor? What are the signs of labor? A contraction is when the muscles of your uterus tighten up like a fist and then relax. Contractions help push your baby out. They get stronger and closer together over time. You feel pain in your belly and lower back.

This pain doesn't go away when you move or change positions. You have a bloody brownish or reddish mucus discharge. This is called bloody show. Your water breaks. Your baby has been growing in amniotic fluid the bag of waters in your uterus. When the bag of waters breaks, you may feel a big rush of water.

Or you may feel just a trickle. What are signs that you may be close to starting labor? You may be close to starting labor if: Your baby drops or moves lower into your pelvis.

This is called lightening. It means that your baby is getting ready to move into position for birth. It can happen a few weeks or even just a few hours before your labor begins. This is called show or bloody show. It can happen a few days before labor starts or at the beginning of labor. At a prenatal checkup, your health care provider tells you that your cervix has begun to efface thin and dilate open. What is Braxton Hicks?

False vs. True Labor The timing of the contractions is a big component for recognizing the differences between true and false labor. Get help with a billing issue. Need help with financial assistance. Website feedback. Stages of Childbirth There are three stages you will go through during labor and delivery. Stage 1 Stage 1 begins when you start regular contractions that dilate the cervix or mouth of your uterus.

Blood tinged mucous also called the bloody show is passed from the vagina. The contractions become longer and stronger near the end of this stage, which is usually the longest one of childbirth. Stage 2 Stage 2 starts once your cervix is fully dilated and ends with the birth of your baby.

If this is your first baby, it may take up to 2 hours or longer. Stage 3 Stage 3 starts after the baby is born through delivery of your placenta also called afterbirth. Your uterus continues to contract but causes less pain during this time. This stage is the shortest one lasting up to 15 or 20 minutes. Natural Childbirth Natural childbirth classes can teach ways to relax through special breathing patterns and imagining you are elsewhere. Medication Most women use medications to help control their pain during labor and delivery.

Analgesics can ease your pain and allow you to rest between contractions. Anesthetics are drugs that remove pain. Local anesthesia numbs a small area and is used at the time of delivery. Regional anesthesia, usually an epidural, can take away the painful area in your uterus and pelvic area.

With an epidural you are without pain, awake and able to participate in the birth of your baby. An epidural is the most common and safest type of anesthesia used during labor and delivery. Types of Delivery Vaginal Delivery Most likely your baby will be born through your vagina or birth canal.

It is the natural and preferred method. Sometimes certain procedures are needed to help deliver your baby safely. Sometimes your delivery needs to be helped along.