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Carrying a baby is a long and emotionally stressful process. By the end of the term, a pregnant woman can 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 is gaining strength before childbirth and itself prompts that everything will happen soon.

The psychological state of a woman

Usually, before childbirth, emotional sensations are inhibited, a woman becomes distracted, drowsy and forgetful. Mood swings are frequent: you want to cry, then laugh with happiness. The accumulated fatigue and long wait leads to the desire to bring the onset of labor closer.

Before giving birth, many expectant mothers are seized by a strong desire to equip the home, to clean everything to a shine and wash, rearrange the furniture. This is due to the subconscious desire to bring a newborn baby to a clean and comfortable home. And also keep yourself busy with some work and drive away fears and bad thoughts. Indeed, the course of the process of childbirth itself largely depends on the emotional state of a woman. Fear is known to increase muscle spasm and make it harder for the cervix to dilate.

Physiological condition

Abdominal ptosis occurs 1-2 weeks before delivery. A woman can see this for 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. It becomes easier to breathe before giving birth. But now there may be discomfort in the pubic area and numbness in the bend of the thigh and leg. A woman's gait may change a week before giving birth - it will become more awkward.

The grown-up child becomes too cramped. Its 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 the abdomen drops.

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

An increased amount of vaginal discharge speaks of the imminent approach of the day of birth. The surest sign is the passage of a cork - a colorless lump of dense mucus, sometimes with a small amount of blood. The state of the cervix changes, it prepares for disclosure.

Before the onset of childbirth, a woman can lose a couple of kilograms in weight. The body gets rid of excess water. Weight loss may not be, but weight gain stops before childbirth.

Painful sensations foreshadowing the day of birth

A few weeks before the day of birth, there may be a pulling sensation in the abdomen and lower back, typical during menstruation. This is due to the stretching of the 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.

What sensations can be 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, they often answer: nothing!

On the day of childbirth, there may be mild pain sensations - this indicates the onset of contractions. They can be lengthy. If they are of an increasing character, you cannot hesitate - you must immediately go to the hospital.

It is not given to anyone to know exactly the day of birth. A pregnant woman should listen to her body. His physiological changes and emotional sensations will tell you when the important moment is close.

Useful video about the last week before childbirth

WHEN THE BABY LOWS BEFORE BIRTH (PHOTOS)

The approach of labor is characterized by numerous changes in the body of a pregnant woman. that indicate their near beginning.

Expectant mothers are listening to themselves more and more and celebrating new sensations and changes. Child before childbirth moves much less than during pregnancy ... Its activity is reduced, because there is not enough free space in the mother's stomach. A pregnant woman's mood may change, her appetite may deteriorate, and training contractions may begin.

The child, feeling ready to go out into the light, begins to move closer to the "exit". It takes the place of the presenting part in the small pelvis, taking a comfortable position for itself to wait for the onset of contractions ... Often before childbirth, the stomach hurts and stiffens. Often women ask if the stomach is drooping. Of course, the real sign of the close birth of a child is precisely ... In fact, when the abdomen drops before childbirth, it means that the fundus has dropped. Sometimeson the eve of childbirth, women have blood ... It can be used to judge the exit of the mucous plug.

Belly before childbirth, as can be seen in the photo, and its lowering for all women occurs in an individual way - at different times and in different ways. Many primiparous women experience prolapse within 2-4 weeks before labor begins. When a woman gives birth again, the belly drops.a few days before giving birth as shown in the photo, or does not fallright up to the birth itself.

Typical signs of lowering the abdomen before childbirth:

- the disappearance of heartburn and belching, so tormented during pregnancy;

Easier breathing, because the uterus is no longer putting pressure on the diaphragm;

The appearance of discomfort when walking and in a sitting position;

Increased urge to use the toilet on the eve of childbirth;

The presence of unpleasant pain in the perineum and pelvis.

Some pregnant women do not notice these sensations. The easiest way to understand if you have sagging belly before childbirth (photo above), is to put your palm between your stomach and chest. If it fits there, it is likely that the abdominal ptosis has already occurred before childbirth, and you will soongo to the maternity hospital.

HOW TO UNDERSTAND THAT BREACH BEGINS BEFORE BIRTH

Before giving birth, pregnant women are usually very afraid of the onset of the onset of contractions and the process of labor itself. It is very important to understand how contractions begin.

Cervix of a woman during pregnancy tightly closed. At the very beginning, when the contractions begin before childbirth, the uterus is also ready to open - its pharynx is smoothed out, expanding to 10-12 centimeters in diameter. During contractions, intrauterine pressure rises as the uterus begins to shrink in size. itleads to rupture of the amniotic fluid , as a result of which amniotic fluid is poured out.

How to understand that you have contractions? At first, you will feel some discomfort in the abdomen, hip joints and lower back. At first, contractions before childbirth will last only a few seconds, you will not notice any special painful sensations. The time interval between contractions will be about 10-12 minutes, sometimes 7-8 minutes. All these sensations will no longer raise your question, how to understand that the first contractions have begun.

The contractions will then become stronger, more frequent, and painful, and at a shorter interval. This will be the next phase. Thus, contractions will reach the moment when they will last about 2 minutes, and the next one comes after 60 seconds. If such moments occur, you should be prepared for the fact that the labor will begin soon, in 30-40 minutes.

How to behave before childbirth? After all, the most painful and last stage of contractions comes. Since a pregnant woman has a high diaphragm during labor, she can breathe only with the upper parts of the lungs. However, each breath must be accompanied by an infusion of air into the lungs, filling the upper chest freely. Exhale carefully and easily. In no case is it recommended to inhale the air forcibly, exhaling in jerks. When anesthetizing labor, self-massage can be used without resorting to analgesics.

Press in front of the points along the thighs, and massage with slightly spaced vibrating thumbs. The posture lying on its side with slightly bent knees is the most comfortable position for light massage of the lower abdomen with the correct inhalation-exhalation rhythm. Stroking is done with your fingertips - from the middle of the abdomen to the sides.


Once labor begins, some pregnant women vomiting may appear... It does not last long, no treatment is required. As soon as vomiting stops, rinse your mouth with water and drink 1-2 sips of water, but no more.so as not to cause new nausea .
The second stage of labor is characterized by the transfer of women in labor to the birth hall. You can control the attempts yourself under the supervision of a midwife and doctor. There will be an unpleasant feeling of strong bloating. The soreness of the pushing depends on what your posture is and whether you push correctly.

You need to completely relax and breathe deeply - while inhaling without delay. The strongest attempts are those when the fetal head will pass through the pelvis. When the head of the fetus appears, the midwife assists the woman in labor so that she does not tear the muscles of the perineum. Follow exactly all the professional directions of the midwife. Remember that the baby's head will be pulled out of the genital tract when there is no pushing. Therefore, it must be restrained, relaxing and breathing only through the mouth without any delay in inhalation.

HOW DOES THE MUCLEUS CUP LEAVE BEFORE BIRTH

Removal of the plug before childbirth is very individual. However, this may not happen until 3-4 weeks before delivery. It often goes away 7 days before the onset of labor pains.

What does a mucous plug look like? It consists of a dense clot of mucus (photo from the link) which closes the entrance to the uterus. The infection cannot get there, so the baby is safe.

How the mucous plug comes off before childbirth ? You may feel clots of mucus coming off. The mucous plug before childbirth (photo) looks beige, pinkish or whitish-yellowish. Oftendischarge may be mixed with blood or with streaks, since the cervix, expanding, causes the bursting of small capillaries. A small amount of blood on the eve of childbirth is quite normal. No need to panic. remember that this is a mucus plug coming off. Just take a closer look.

The mucous plug does not look like ordinary discharge. It looks more dense. A variant is possible when it comes out immediately in large volume. From that how the cork comes off just before childbirth, for example, little by little, little by little, you may not notice it, or you can confuse it with secretions.

Most of the cases when the mucous plug has come off before childbirth occurs during the toilet or shower. However, if the characteristic cork before childbirth has come off, while you were dressed, you can definitely see this mucus on the sheet or underwear.

Occasionally, the plug comes off during childbirth.

In the event that the cork has moved away, and then water or contractions, it means that you urgently go to the maternity hospital. It is also necessary to go there in case of bleeding after the plug comes off. You should visit a doctor if the cork has come off too early, 14 days before the due date, especially if it is bright red.

The plug should not be accompanied by bleeding. It is only dark in color.

AT WHAT MOMENT DOES THE CERVIC OPEN BEFORE GIVING IN FIRST AND REPAIR

In every pregnant woman, before childbirth, the genital organ becomes its maximum size. The shape of the uterus (stomach) before the upcoming birth may be different. In the event that the fetus occupies the most unfavorable location and lies across, this means that the uterus is stretched in width, not in length, just before childbirth. In this position, as a rule, according to the indications, a cesarean section is performed.

With a longitudinal presentation of the fetus, the shape of the abdomen takes on the correct oval shape. The abdomen of an irregular shape occurs in cases where the child deviates to the side.

During external examination, the midwife analyzes the muscle tone of the uterus ... The uterine wall is normally soft in a pregnant woman. However, with increased tone, it is solid.Hypertonicity of the uterus (increased tone) is one of the threats to abortion. An increase in tone can occur at any stage of pregnancy. The sensations will be in the form of pain in the lower back and lower abdomen. They can be light, very strong, or sipping. Signs of pain depend on the intensity and duration of uterine hypertonicity before childbirth, as well as on the pain thresholdsensitivity of a pregnant woman ... With a short-term increased tone, the sensations of pain or heaviness in the lower abdomen are small.

The cervix begins to open before delivery. This is the first stage of labor. It opens due to the tension during the contractions when the muscles of the uterus contract.

The maturity of the cervix depends on the production necessary hormones in the body of a pregnant woman, namely, prostaglandins. They have a complex effect - on the immune system, on the sensation of pain, on the regulation of blood pressure, secretion of gastric juice, blood clotting and uterine contractile activity.

Professionals should watch when the cervix begins to open before delivery. Women in labor are obliged to fulfill all their professional requirements.

In primiparous women, the internal os of the cervix first begins to open, acquiring the shape of a funnel, and then the external pharynx also stretches. Harbingers of childbirth in multiparous - the opening of the external os of the uterus by one finger. This happens at the end of pregnancy. and it is easier for them to dilate the cervix. The internal and external pharynx begin to open almost simultaneously.

Repeated childbirth, as a rule, in women is faster and easier than the first. In order to give birth to a baby without tearing and not to tear the cervix, you need to listen to and follow the advice of gynecologists who take delivery. The preservation of the perineum and birth canal of the woman in labor depends on them by 80%. To avoid episiotomy during childbirth, the gynecologist must lubricate the vaginal area and cervix with a special gel or oil, then straighten it and folds. In the next step, the doctor teaches the correct attempts. Don't neglect these tips.

Special differences in the harbingers of childbirth in primiparous and multiparousnot available. Reliable determination of the onset of labor can be only by observing the dynamics of the dilatation of the cervix.

The harbingers of childbirth can be, for example, a change in mood. Often a woman has a so-called nesting instinct. This is when a woman begins to clean everything, wash, sew, clean up. In a word, prepare for the welcome meeting of the long-awaited baby.

Signs of the onset of labor are changes in the motor activity of the fetus itself. The child begins to calm down, then, on the contrary, to be very active. The baby begins to choose a rhythm, as well as prepare for the right moment of his birth.

From the female womb, 1-3 days or several hours before the onset of labor, mucus is sometimes released, which resembles an egg white. In appearance, it is brown, very similar to the smearing of menstruation. The discharge may also be slightly streaked with blood.

Before giving birth, a woman in labor may noticeably change her appetite towards a decrease.

A woman's bowel movement can be a harbinger of childbirth. A pregnant woman often goes to the toilet. At the same time, the chair is much larger than usual. The urge to urinate will also be more frequent as the pressure on the bladder increases.

On the eve of childbirth, a woman may slightly lose weight - approximately 1-2 kilograms.

The lowering of the abdomen occurs due to the preparation of the child for the "exit" - he lies with the presenting part in the entrance of the small pelvis. The fundus of the uterus at this time deviates anteriorly due to a slight decrease in the tone of the woman's abdominal press.

It becomes easier for a pregnant woman to breathe as pressure is relieved from the stomach and diaphragm as the baby moves downward.

When the child moves down, the woman may begin to experience pain in the lower back. , in the lumbar region.

Sometimes, the onset of labor is characterized by the appearance of dull incomprehensible pain in the lower abdomen or in the lower back. There are also so-called girdle pains - when both the lower back and the stomach hurt.

The most reliable sign of the onset of labor is the presence of constant contractions in a woman in labor. ... At this time, the uterine muscles begin regular contractions with a steady rhythm.

Sometimes amniotic fluid may leak before childbirth ... But it can also burst suddenly. In this case, all the water can drain out at once. If amniotic fluid has leaked out, you need to urgently go to the maternity hospital.

HOW TO ELIMINATE PAIN BEFORE BIRTH (BUT SHPA, BUSKOPAN CANDLES, CANDLES WITH PAINT, OIL, CLISMA, SANITATION)

A special diet is recommended for pregnant women before childbirth to help prepare the digestive system for labor. Vegetable butterbefore childbirth has a beneficial effect on stretching and contraction of the uterus. In addition to everything else, dishes with vegetable oil enrich the body with vitamin E and are a means of preventing hemorrhoids and possible ruptures.

Women should definitely attend preparatory classes during pregnancy, where they will be taught to breathe correctly. , introduce you to an adaptive comfortable posture, and perform effective exercises (including the Kegel method for intimate muscles ) to reduce pain.

Pain, sometimes giving unpleasant moments to a woman before childbirth, is a harbinger of labor. On pain before a routine birth, the following factors may affect:

the state of health and age of the woman in labor;

physiological and psycho-emotional preparation for childbirth;

menstrual irregularities recorded before pregnancy;

size and position of the fetus;

premature birth;

the level of a woman's pain threshold;

individual anatomical features of the pelvis, muscular, hormonal systems, etc.

False contractions are a common first cause of pain before childbirth. This process is also often called training. At this time, the muscles of the uterus begin to contract, coming in tone for only one minute. Thus, the woman's cervix is \u200b\u200bbeing prepared for childbirth. Such sensations appear after 20 weeks. , but they do not cause severe pain.

False contractions are intended to prepare a woman's body for labor. They are usually not intense and are concentrated in the lower abdomen.

Pain symptoms before childbirth, which need special attention to understand signs of the onset of labor:

constant contractions of the uterus;

frequency of recurrence of pain with a break of 10-20 minutes;

reducing the gap between contractions to 2-3 minutes;

rapid relaxation of the uterus in the intervals between contractions;

the nature of the pain is widespread, pressing and encircling.

Pulling pains before childbirth signal the imminent birth of a child. They start at 33-34 weeks. This process is caused by stretching of the ligaments and muscles. In other words, preparation for labor. The pain is localized in the lower abdomen ... This is due to false contractions and the preparatory period, when the uterus acquires a tone, and the cervix shortens and shrinks. The pain in the lower abdomen, therefore, is an adaptation period that helps prepare the muscles, ligaments and tissues for normal labor. It is not worth dramatizing the pain sensations, since they are explained by a simple physiological stretching of the uterus and the displacement of organs located nearby.

Cause of pelvic pain before childbirth is an increase in the tone of the spiral uterine ligaments. Such sensations are especially common in pregnant women who have a history of pelvic muscle distortion (twisted pelvis). The ligaments that attach the uterus to the pelvis are unevenly stretched as a result of sacroiliac displacement, thereby causing pulling pain in the pelvic and lumbar region.

Chest pain accompany almost the entire period of pregnancy. This is normal. Within nine months, the mammary glands undergo changes. The most noticeable breast growth is after 30 weeks, when the glandular tissue grows rapidly. The capsules of the mammary glands stretch strongly, like the skin of a pregnant woman. Chest pain is associated with this.

Back painbefore childbirth is associated with the movement of the child into a natural prenatal presentation - head down. The fetus presses on the lower back, and the connective tissue of the sacroiliac zone is stretched. The lower back hurts mainly during the period of labor.

Hormonal dysfunctions in women provoke expansion and relaxation of the joints of the pelvis and intervertebral ligaments.

Physiological displacement occurs due to the large abdomen forward center of gravity of the body. It leads to compensatory tension in the back muscles. At this time, posture may be disturbed and a curvature of the spine may appear.

Factors causing perineal pain before childbirth:

increased weight puts stress on the lumbosacral region, which leads to pain in the perineum;

increased production of the hormone - relaxin, which controls the elasticity of the interosseous joints;

gradual expansion of the pelvic bones (pubic joints) in preparation for labor.

To prepare the birth canal for the passage of the fetus, doctors appoint No-shpa before childbirth. However, it should not be taken without the appointment of a specialist. No-shpa is contraindicated in hepatic, renal and isthmic-cervical insufficiency. In theory, it sometimes causes premature onset of labor, since it accelerates the opening of the cervix.

Usually it is prescribed by specialists together with other drugs, more often with suppositories. it may be Buscopan candles, Papaverine and candles Krasavka. Experts assure that before childbirth, No-shpa can help determine the authenticity of contractions. If you are not sure whether these are real contractions or false, then you can drink two No-shpa pills ... If the pain becomes more frequent and worse, it is recommended to go to the maternity hospital.

Buscopan candles will have a stimulating and relaxing effect on the muscles of the cervix. Thus, they facilitate its disclosure. They are usually prescribed to prepare the cervix and accelerate the development of the first stage of the labor process.

Buscopan suppositories before childbirth are prescribed only if the expected benefit from them is higher than the potential harm to the child and mother. Of course, the best option is if you don't use them at all. But in the last weeks, at the end of the third trimester, gynecologists quite often prescribe the use of special candles for pregnant women.

The main thing that a pregnant woman should know is that Buscopan candles cannot be used in the first trimester, as well as for constipation. The best way to solve this problem is to revise your diet. Thus, Buscopan suppositories can be used no earlier than 38 weeks of pregnancy in order to prepare the muscles of the uterus as much as possible in order to facilitate future childbirth.

In candles with belladonnacontains belladonna extract. The drug is produced in the form of rectal suppositories. It is used in the treatment of hemorrhoids and anal fissures. An additional function of this drug is to provide a relaxing effect on the cervix.

Belladonna suppositories have proven to be very effective in relieving tension in the cervix. However, they still fail to completely relieve pain when the pharynx of the uterus opens. Candles with belladonna are used before childbirth only if the pregnant woman does not have a risk of hemorrhoids and a predisposition to delayed dilatation of the cervix.

Immediately before childbirth, a pregnant woman is given an enema... The absence of feces can facilitate the movement of the baby's head in the pelvis, because in this case there will be no seals when moving along the birth canal. The enema's ability to tone the vagina, stimulating contractions and improving the birth process, is its undoubted advantage.

Enema before childbirth is very simple. Prepare a chamomile decoction solution, for example. The water temperature is recommended no more than 37 degrees. Fill the mug with the solution, release the air from it and secure it at the level of one meter from the place where you will be.

Lubricate the tip of the tube with soap, cream or petroleum jelly, release the air and carefully insert the tip. Gradually, you should feel the bowel filling. If you don't feel this way, try changing the direction of the tip. Make sure that air does not enter the intestines. If you feel uncomfortable, start breathing slowly and deeply, stroke your stomach and relax. After the solution is injected, go straight to the toilet.

Sanitation - one of the important components of preparing pregnant women for childbirth. Sanitation is the cleansing of pathogenic microorganisms of the birth canal. When a child is born, it comes into contact with the walls of the birth canal. He can swallow grease, secretions, etc. In the case of pathogenic microflora, the risk of various infections in the baby in the postpartum period increases (thrush in the mouth, conjunctivitis, etc.)

To cleanse the birth canal, you need use antiseptics... It can be a decoction for washing with St. John's wort, sage or chamomile. Dissolved baking soda is good for relieving burning and itching sensations.

In addition, doctors may prescribe antiseptics in the form of tablets or suppositories before delivery. They will be aimed at combating pathogenic microorganisms. The most common drugs are vinylin, miramistin, clotrimazole, terzhinan , chlorophyll solution.

It should be noted that antibiotics do not work on candida fungus. This means that antibiotic therapy involves only targeting the fungus itself. These antibiotics are antifungal antibiotics. For example, nystatin contained in terzhinane.

Especially useful during pregnancy is the consumption of olive oil on an empty stomach, which normalizes the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, relieving the pregnant woman of constipation. In the last months of pregnancy, constipation in women is a very common occurrence. Olive oil is also an excellent remedy for late toxicosis in the last months of pregnancy. ... To soften the cervix before childbirth, it will also not be superfluous to use olive oil.

HOW WATER IS WATER IN PREGNANT WOMEN

Answering the question of how amniotic fluid leaves in pregnant women, we can say the following. Before giving birth, the fetus increases the pressure on the woman's cervix. The membrane may burst at some point, then amniotic fluid is poured out. However, even in this case, the child is not dry, since that part of the anterior water that was between the head and the cervix of the uterus is poured out. In addition, the waters are replenished and renewed every three hours. Sometimes the waters drain before the contractions occur.

Understanding now how water leaves in pregnant women who are beginning to give birth, you need to know that they sometimes leave immediately in a huge volume, which is about 200 ml, or a glass of liquid. This process is such a feeling as if a cork is removed, an exit is opened and a bucket of water is poured out, at least. Such a process cannot be confused with anything. If this happens to you, you will have no doubt that the amniotic fluid is already leaving.

Sometimes the water flows away in a peculiar way, flowing in a small amount, little by little. This is simply because the amniotic membrane is torn from the side or top.

Waters of light color, almost colorless are considered normal. They are sometimes slightly cloudy and should not have an unpleasant or pronounced odor.

After the water pours out in a pregnant woman, contractions may immediately begin. Sometimes this happens after a few hours.

The most favorable and successful option for women will be the discharge of amniotic fluid after the onset of labor. This process takes place against the background of very strong contractions of the pregnant woman's uterus.

It is not worth accelerating childbirth with medications if the fetal bladder is intact, therefore, the penetration of infection is impossible. If water is retained, then the contractions will not be very painful. In this case, the opening of the cervix will be more efficient.

Seek urgent medical attention it is necessary when the released water is greenish in color. This green color signals that the fetus is either experiencing or is currently experiencing a serious lack of oxygen. This also happens when some of the contents of his intestines - meconium, original feces - get into it.

The temperature before childbirth can sometimes be elevated. This signals an ongoing pathological process. Fever should not be taken as a symptom of approaching labor. It can, of course, increase as a reaction to contractions and stress. But often she talks about an existing infectious disease in a pregnant woman.

The increase in temperature, which is associated with obstetric infection, is of serious importance for the child. Premature flow of water, not diagnosed for a long time, leads to inflammation of the membranes - chorioamnionitis. It can develop as early as 3-4 days in full force after damage to the amniotic fluid. This happens if the pregnant woman did not go to the doctors in a timely manner, therefore she did not receive any protection from them. Watch not only the temperature, but also the discharge of amniotic fluid.

If an infection has got into the womb, then the child will not resist it well. At first, bacteria can infect the eyes, resulting in conjunctivitis and blepharitis. In utero, the lungs may be affected (congenital pneumonia). When bacteria enter the bloodstream, they cause blood poisoning (sepsis) and meningitis.

In the first days immediately after childbirth, it is very difficult to treat a child with intrauterine infection and infections.

Fear, which often occurs in pregnant women before childbirth, is most common among primiparous women. This is a completely natural phenomenon. To overcome it successfully, it is necessary, first of all, to think about the child and his safety.

Tune in to this behavior when you need to listen to the opinion of the obstetrician-gynecologist. Only in this case, childbirth can take place easily, quickly and relatively painlessly. A little pain will only speak of their positive resolution. Always believe in your own strength.

Overcoming fear, as a natural reaction of the body, is necessary because during childbirth it is an absolutely useless thing. And even harmful. The attitude towards a favorable outcome of labor, and your confidence in this will help you successfully overcome it.

Do not listen too much to the stories of friends who have already given birth and are now relishing the smallest details of the process, sharing with you the details of their already forgotten feelings, or maybe somewhat exaggerated ones. The best option for you is taking preparatory courses for pregnant women. There you will have the opportunity to ask all your questions, to which you will receive comprehensive and very useful answers from professional medical professionals.

Look only for positive information about childbirth. Listen to the stories of those who consider childbirth the most amazing and wonderful moment in life.

Pregnancy is a natural process for a woman. As it is often said, pregnancy is not a disease. Don't neglect exercise. Keep doing your gymnastics and going to the pool. Your nine months' activity will form the basis for absolute preparation for childbirth.

LAST PREPARATIONS BEFORE BIRTH (WEEK). What to take with you in the maternity hospital

The long-awaited week before childbirth has come after so many days and months of waiting for the baby to appear. Weeks 36-37 are already called the prenatal period. The child may already be born any time. Now, expectant mothers begin to experience fears that are associated not with pregnancy, but with the upcoming birth, increasingly thinking about the very process of childbirth. But first, it is necessary to do some recommendations of specialists in order todelivery was successful and without complications ... This can be largely facilitated by pregnant women themselves, if they unconditionally comply with the requirements and advice that doctors give them.

Recommended approximately one month before expected birth, starting at 36 weeks gestation , remove animal protein from your diet: fish, meat, butter, eggs and milk. At this time, your diet will be fermented milk products, porridge on the water, a variety of plant foods, fresh juices, baked vegetables, herbal teas and mineral water.

As the due date approaches, the diet becomes more limited. This is due to the fact that the intestines should not be overloaded before childbirth. It is also recommended to give up fermented milk products in the last days before childbirth.

Experts recommend that you make a complete debridement of the birth canal, starting from the 36th week of pregnancy. This is done in order to cleanse the birth canal from pathogenic microflora and ensure their purity directly during the upcoming birth. The risk of infection in a child increases if there is an infection in the birth canal. For example, herpes, common thrush and STDs ... A child can become infected with all of this when passing through the birth canal.

Pregnant women should be weighed regularly throughout the nine months. The optimal weight gain is considered to be 9-13 kilograms during all this time. This calculation is done along with the weight of the baby, uterus, amniotic fluid, breast, placenta. The placenta, we note, at the end of pregnancy becomes much heavier and grows in size.

The urine given by a woman before each doctor's appointment is examined for the presence of sugar and protein in it ... Protein can signal the so-called gestosis. This is late toxicosis, or toxicosis of the second half of pregnancy. The presence of sugar is known to be indicative of diabetes.

You can exercise and swim in the pool until birth. Do not under any circumstances give up on this.

The day before giving birth, a woman should sleep well. Sleep can be at least 8-10 hours. This is only the minimum time, do not deny yourself a dream, because it calms the body. The main thing is to feel refreshed and refreshed.

Before giving birth, doctors prescribe No-shpa to pregnant women , as well as candles with belladonna. They are necessary when preparing the cervix of those women who are at risk of slow dilatation.

Very often, before giving birth, a pregnant woman begins to vomit, vomiting and diarrhea appear in a few hours. Do not panic, this body in this way begins to prepare for childbirth, naturally clearing itself of all unnecessary.

Labor begins immediately with regular labor pains. First, they pass at intervals of 10-15 minutes. Then they become more frequent, much stronger. There is a gradual opening and smoothing of the cervix. Then mucus, slightly colored with blood, begins to move away, a fetal bladder forms.

Two weeks before the upcoming birth, it is recommended to think about what to take with you to the hospital ? Do not take anything extra so that you do not return home later. Here's a rough list of things you need to do.

1. Required documents.
2. Items required during childbirth.
3. Things that are required after childbirth.
4. Necessary things for a newborn baby.
5. Necessary things for discharge:

- things for mom;
- things for discharge for the child;
- required documents.

The optimal list of things to take with you to the hospital:

Perhaps you will needtake some other things to the hospital additionally. Consult your family doctor and the specialists who have monitored your health during pregnancy.

Among the many questions about childbirth, pregnant women are least likely to ask what causes labor to begin. Many treat this naturally: the time has just come - the child is ripe, like an apple ripens on a tree, and it's time for you to become a mother.

Throughout the entire period of pregnancy, natural changes took place in the body: the child grew and developed, the uterus increased, all internal organs, heart and kidneys worked with a vengeance. All you had to do was keep your body healthy. Likewise during childbirth - everything happens by itself. You only need to help your body to cope with this task, and your child - to be born.

Effective contractions of cervical dilation will get closer and closer, last longer and longer, and will be more intense. Real work will be accompanied by regular and painful contractions. ... Taking a bath or shower can help you determine if the real work is starting. If the contractions disappear, slow down or completely disappear under the soothing effects of water, there is no need to rush to the hospital or home. But beware: if the work is really started and they are real cuts, they can intensify in duration and pain and speed up the process.

Recently, experts have been of the opinion that the initiator of the onset of labor is the child, but most likely it is a combination of signals from the body of the mother, child and placenta. Over the past months, the child has grown, and there is little room for him in his mother's tummy. The amount of amniotic fluid decreased, the placenta began to age, the child began to receive less nutrients and oxygen.

Contractions are mainly found in the abdominal muscles, but some women may also experience pain in the lower back and in the kidney area, which is said to "give birth with the kidneys." In fact, the child presses his head at the base of the sacrum, in a region where there are many nerve terminals.

The pains associated with childbirth are the only physiologically meaningful pains: they announce the arrival of a child. It is still a happy event and should not be forgotten. The epic that will live as a child at birth is an exciting challenge worthy of all the Olympic Games.

These circumstances cause stress in the child, and therefore his body begins to produce the stress hormone - cortisol. At this time, the amount of estrogens, hormones that prepare the uterus for childbirth, increases in the mother's body. Under their influence, the cervix shortens and softens, and the contractions of the uterus become more regular.

The increased adrenaline caused by increased stress during childbirth counteracts the production of endorphins and counteracts the effects of oxytocin, which promotes uterine contraction. To calculate contractions, we count from the start of the first contraction to the start of the next contraction. If this is our first delivery, wait for the contractions to last 30 to 40 seconds and they will be every 5 minutes since about two hours. For the rebirth, you can leave home for your birthplace in an hour.

Especially when it comes to having your first child. Small anecdotes and advice from “those who have already passed there” do not help, on the contrary! The right and choice not to suffer. The idea that a woman has no alternative but to give birth to pain takes a long time. And we can only rejoice! With the advent of epidural anesthesia and its generalization over twenty years, the expectant mother was entitled to less suffering and freedom to choose how she wants to live her birth.

The onset of labor is not always clear and definite, especially if a woman is giving birth for the first time. But even women giving birth to a second or third child cannot always determine with certainty the exact onset of labor. Therefore, more and more approaching the expected date of birth, with the appearance of some new sensations, a pregnant woman asks the question: is this childbirth or not? How to distinguish the actual onset of labor from the usual precursors, or, as doctors say, false contractions?

An epidural is a so-called "localized" injection of a low-dose anesthetic to soothe pain. Therefore, it only acts on a specific part of the body. The expectant mother retains all her feelings. An epidural can be performed during natural delivery or caesarean section. For programmed caesarean delivery, spinal anesthesia is increasingly being used. This version of epidural anesthesia is a local anesthetic: an anesthetic product, injected at the same time between two vertebrae, has a quick effect and allows the mother to remain awake.

Changes in the mother's body - a few days before delivery:

At the very end of pregnancy, changes take place in the body, preparing the female body for the upcoming event. Some changes are more noticeable, others less.

Diarrhea (loose stools once).

A few days before childbirth, a substance is actively produced in the body that stimulates uterine contractions at the beginning of labor. This substance - prostaglandin - triggers the mechanism of stimulating smooth masculature, including the intestines. This is often the cause of loose stools.

Questions often arise around the epidural area. Let's try to answer it with maximum clarity and precision. Can all women use an epidural? Contraindications are very rare and are often associated with blood problems such as coagulation. Therefore, preliminary visits to the anesthesiologist are mandatory. This occurs during the 8th month of pregnancy. It includes a complete blood test and medical history check to identify potential risks. It is also time to ask all the questions that growl in your head before making your choice.

Discharge of the mucous plug. This lump of dense mucus forms early in pregnancy. The function of the plug is to protect the unborn child from infection throughout the entire period. In preparation for childbirth, the cervix softens, begins to expand, and mucus comes out. Often this lump is stained with blood and is brownish or brownish in color. Many women are afraid that due to inexperience they will not notice the cork coming off. Indeed, this process sometimes goes unnoticed, especially if a woman follows a very calm lifestyle. If you do not notice it moving away, you should not worry about this. In this case, you should focus on the contractions and their duration.

Epidural anesthesia is performed during labor. Because when the cervix dilates to 6-7, it's too late! The exact moment of the intervention depends mainly on you. Perception of pain is very subjective and varies from one person to another: it's up to you to say “stop” and ask you for an epidural. And even if your choice is made before birth, consider not being able to benefit from an epidural when the time is right, for various reasons.

You are sitting with a slightly rounded back to ease the posture. Very little local anesthesia is performed beforehand to make the injection site numb. The anesthesiologist then inserts, very gradually, the famous large needle between the two vertebrae. He then places a catheter that will disperse the anesthetic product continuously. Rest assured, although this description may sound impressive. Relax and allow yourself to be guided by confidence. You will hardly feel anything. Moreover, you are not a direct spectator of the operation.

Increasing the number of Braxton Hicks contractions. Doctors call these contractions false, or harbingers.

However, these are real contractions, only they do not speak about the beginning of labor, but about preparation for it. Such contractions are manifested by pulling, sometimes spasmodic pains in the lower abdomen. But unlike labor pains, the pain does not intensify, and the pains pass when the woman changes her body position, starts walking, or takes a warm bath. These contractions are irregular, their frequency does not increase, and they are felt only in the lower abdomen.

What's wrong with dad! This is why he is asked to move away from the injection. How does he feel after the injection? Slight tingling, like ants in the legs, feeling of heaviness. After a few minutes, the pain caused by the contraction disappears until it disappears. If not, tell the midwife or midwife who is giving birth. A new injection can be used.

What are the side effects? They are non-existent or almost non-existent. Sometimes a few headaches. Regarding commonly-induced back pain, a recent study found that there was no causal relationship with epidural anesthesia. These back pains are a consequence of the fatigue accumulated during pregnancy and the effort put into giving birth. This intervention also does not adversely affect your child's well-being.

All these signs indicate that soon you will go to the hospital. Plan your days before childbirth in such a way that you will not be away long and far from home. During this period, it is best to make the last preparations for sending to the hospital: collect things and the necessary documents. In the same way, you can do some hygiene beforehand, in particular, shave your pubic hair. Sometimes this intimate procedure is much more pleasant to do at home on your own or with the help of your husband.

It remains that an epidural is a medical act. This can lead to more or less serious complications. This is very rare. And it can be said that the vast majority of epidural deliveries occur without any concern. Now that you know what you want, you still have to think about how you want to give birth. This is your birth, your experience, your history. The epidural will indeed act on your pain, but also on your perception of the event and your emotions. Fear of being misunderstood, you will undoubtedly be more serene, more attentive to what is happening in you and around you.

If you feel the need for a lighter menu, you can switch to diet food, giving up flour products and meat, replacing it with fish, consume more fiber, so that prenatal cleansing procedures in the body are easier to go through.

Some women feel energized during this period. But it's not the best option to start a general cleaning right now. In the last days or days before childbirth, try to sleep more to gain strength and energy for a future event. You can go for a walk in the nearest park. If you feel contractions, take a bath for 15-20 minutes to relax the muscles of the uterus and the whole body, and at the same time check if labor begins. If the contractions have stopped, it means that these are just harbingers. The last days can really be colored with anxiety and painful anticipation, but these are not your best companions. Be calm and patient, because no one in the world has remained pregnant for life. So please be patient - everything goes on as usual.

The work can be facilitated and, naturally, accelerated. The effects also affect the dad, who often feels overwhelmed by the pain and inability to relieve him. The relative calm that follows an epidural is likely to help him relax.

It should also be noted that this operation, which has made great strides in recent years, will continue to evolve. An example is self-approved epidural anesthesia. In this case, the mother holds the bulb containing the anesthetic product within reach so that she can act directly on the dose of product diffusing through the catheter, depending on the intensity of the pain. Today, the "epidural outpatient clinic" is also practiced. Even at a lower dosage, it allows mothers to get up while working: a constant position makes it easier to "lower the baby".

The interval between preparation and onset of labor:

Contractions are difficult to detect at first, like pinching or pain during menstruation. Listen to your feelings. Often, due to the beginning of contractions of the uterus, a woman more often and stronger than usual, there is a desire to empty the bladder. If these are really prenatal contractions, then after a while they will become more frequent, more regular and rhythmic, and their duration and soreness will increase. Some women in labor think that contractions are like waves that originate in the middle of the back, run into the hips and connect in the abdomen. Many have the feeling that a tight belt is wrapped around the abdomen, which loosens a little when the contraction passes.

At the beginning of labor pains, in no case should you take painkillers and self-medicate. If the sensations are really painful, it is better to relax as much as possible, and even more so not to panic. It should be noted that during contractions, the pain dulls if you start to actively move. Therefore, at such moments it is better not to take a horizontal position, not to lie on the bed. Walk around the apartment, and if your husband or girlfriend is next to you, you can even walk a little down the street. And all this time, mark the duration of the contraction on the watch with a second hand. If the rhythm of the contractions is not "miscalculated", take a warm bath or shower. After these, contractions usually become more rhythmic.

Everything is under the constant supervision of a midwife. Of course, there are other ways to tame his pain. Gentle techniques such as sophology or haptonomy can be helpful. Feel free to ask the midwife about your preparation for birth. But the most effective method remains medical.

In the world What to give birth means: the midwife tells Chantal Birman. Waiting for my child today, Edwige Antje. Life and Pregnancy Happy Birth, Isabelle Brabant. Have you started your ninth month of pregnancy and the long-awaited day - or so much feared - is fast approaching? Changes occur over time to gently prepare your body for delivery. Some women, for that matter, are feeling their first contractions, a sign that the term is coming soon. Here's some information to help you make a difference.

In past centuries in Russia, in order to facilitate and accelerate childbirth, a woman in labor was instructed to step over various objects: a rocker, a shovel, a poker, her husband's pants, through her husband himself, through a sack, etc. with a bundle of salt. If the village was too large, the woman walked around the house.

Fake work, what is it? According to specialists in obstetrics, false work results in contractions that can be regular and painful, but which do not affect the expansion of the cervix. Typically, these contractions do not intensify AND are mostly localized in the lower abdomen before they stop spontaneously or after an antispasmodic pill is given, which is more often referred to as a false warning. Where such contractions are felt until the 37th week of pregnancy, It is rather potential.

Disappointment of the expectant mother. It's not easy to hear that you are suffering for nothing and that you probably won't give birth now. The episodes of false work are indeed discouraging, even disappointing, for the mother-to-be, who has been preparing for several weeks at this fateful moment. This type of contraction occurs mainly during the first pregnancy. It is important that the pregnant woman is not destabilized by this setback and remains mobilized, because it is likely that the real work will come very soon.

If your contractions start in the middle of the night, try to sleep. During sleep, the cervix continues to open gradually. Sitting on your back usually slows down the progress of labor, so sit on your side and roll over from one side to the other every hour. If you can't sleep, don't lie in bed; instead, do something easy. Make sandwiches for your husband, check if everything is ready to go to the hospital. Most importantly, do everything calmly, without much zeal and fuss, take your time, breathe deeply and evenly, slightly slowing down the pace during the fight.

The mother is not obvious to distinguish truth from false contractions, that is, those that sign or are not the beginning of work. If the regularity of contractions is not a trial element of differentiation, then the fact that their intensity does not increase is indeed so. Indeed, the actual contractions are gradually getting stronger, longer and closer and closer. But only a midwife or obstetrician can confirm with vaginal touch and monitoring settings so that your contractions do not affect your cervix and therefore the job is not done, but be careful, things can speed up quickly!

If you are certain that labor is beginning, you can have a light snack. Avoid rich, fatty and heavy foods. Now you need products that will give strength and energy. This can be broth, croutons, fruit juice, nuts, or dried fruit. Meat, milk and any fatty foods are not recommended - heavy food will only increase the burden on the body when childbirth begins. In addition, if anesthesia is unexpectedly needed, a full stomach will create complications. And light food will give you strength and a little relaxation.

Once the false work is proven, the medical team will do their best to free the patient and, if possible, allow her to return home. If the mother-to-be lives away from the clinic and arrives at a late hour, she is usually hospitalized overnight, and some of the women who passed praised the virtues of a hot bath to ease contractions. When antispasmodic administration does not relieve symptoms, a doctor may recommend an analgesic drug derived from morphine.

What happens during childbirth? Sometimes it happens that false contractions cannot be removed, or that new painful episodes occur several hours or days after the first. In this case, some doctors decide to artificially initiate delivery by introducing substances that activate contractions with the expectant mother. The use of this medication should be avoided for as long as possible as it can lead to complications requiring, for example, an emergency caesarean section or the use of forceps.

Before you go to the hospital:

If you have an outpouring of amniotic fluid, immediately go to the hospital, without waiting for the onset of contractions. The outpouring of water is a natural process, indicating the onset of labor.

It is also time to go to the hospital if you observe the following signs:
contractions have become regular and appear every 5-10 minutes, that is, 12-15 contractions occur per hour;
each contraction lasts about a minute;
contractions don't go away when you change position;
it is no longer possible to ignore the contractions - you feel that the pain has spread to the lower back and hips.

Along with these sensations, you may feel the need to go to some quiet secluded place. No wonder it was previously believed that a woman in labor is, as it were, between two worlds. This is due to the fact that a woman's self-awareness during childbirth changes intensively - she really plunges into a special state of consciousness. A woman's feelings are concentrated on what is happening to her, and she seems to go inside herself.

Before leaving home, try to take a shower, put a sanitary napkin in your panties, trim your nails, and rinse nail polish and makeup off your face. If you do not want to do an enema in the hospital (if it is required in this institution), do it yourself before leaving. Just remember and be prepared for the fact that uterine spasms may intensify, and labor, thus, accelerates. At the hospital, you will be asked to remove all jewelry: rings, earrings, etc., so it is better to leave them at home right away.

When calling the car, consider the time of day (day or night) and the distance to the maternity hospital. Do not drive yourself. Decide in advance who is lucky and plan your route to the hospital. In the car, take a reclining position, making yourself as comfortable as possible. For convenience, bring a couple of small pillows with you, and put an oilcloth on the seat in case of amniotic fluid discharge. Go to the hospital calmly, take a pre-prepared bag with you. If in the hospital it turns out that you have forgotten something, do not worry: your family will bring everything you need a little later.

Also remember that the first birth is usually slower, and the next one is a little faster, and for some women, everything happens quickly. Consider these features when you plan your departure to the hospital.

What to do when you arrive at the hospital?

Most women do not know how they will be greeted at the hospital - friendly or dry, indifferent or joyful. Therefore, do not think about how you will be received in terms of hospitality or hospitality. Everywhere they meet in different ways, and the mood of this or that midwife or nurse depends on the character of the person or on some circumstances. It doesn't matter at all to you.

At the front desk, you need to change into a bathrobe and slippers. You can bring everything with you if the conditions of the maternity hospital allow it, but in some institutions it is customary to give birth exclusively in "government" underwear. While you are changing your clothes, the nurse will record all your details. To do this, you will be asked for documents: a passport, an insurance policy and an exchange card (generic certificate). You should be weighed, measured the growth and volume of the outer dimensions of the pelvis, examined the skin for the presence of infectious and fungal diseases, and measured the temperature and examined the throat.

If all goes well, you can give birth in the healthy women ward. In the event that you arrived at the hospital by ambulance and you do not have a preliminary agreement with a specific doctor, you will have a conversation with the doctor on duty. He will get acquainted with your exchange card, find out how the pregnancy went, whether you were ill with anything during this period, whether there were any complications. Be sure to tell your doctor or midwife when the contractions started, how often they recur, whether the water has receded, when the last time you ate, and what kind of food.

The doctor will then do an internal vaginal examination to find out the dilatation and condition of the cervix and to see if labor has actually begun. Also, the doctor will determine the height of the child's head and its position, find out the strength of the contractions, listen to the child's heartbeat. An examination is also necessary in order to preliminarily understand how the birth will proceed.

During the conversation, a good, experienced doctor will definitely tell you how the birth is going so that you are not afraid and nervous; will tell you how to behave correctly. If for any reason the doctor does not start this conversation with you, do not hesitate - ask him about it yourself. You can also ask your midwife for this information and advice.

After the examination, the doctor will draw up a labor management plan. Ask to familiarize you with this plan in detail; find out what is not clear to you, as well as the need for certain procedures; express your wishes, which, if possible, should be taken into account. The most important thing for you now is the health and safety of you and your child. If labor is normal and labor is not rapid, the doctor will perform an examination and vaginal examination only from time to time.

How to behave in the hospital - courtesy rules?

Regardless of whether you chose this hospital deliberately or came here by accident, accept the rules and traditions of the hospital. All months of pregnancy, what was happening inside you, you perceived as a miracle - the miracle of the birth and development of a new person. And now, when this miracle is about to appear, you do perceive yourself, if not the center of the universe, then at least the unofficial navel of the earth. And you think that everyone around and the staff in the hospital should treat you the same way and meet you accordingly. Although your expectations are quite fair and reasonable, the real situation is often different.

The attitude towards a woman in labor is indifferent and even cool. As a result, the woman gets upset, nervous, it is already hard for her to relax and tune in to the right wave in order to fully prepare for childbirth. Therefore, in advance, do not put yourself in dependence on someone else's mood, do not interrupt your mood for childbirth. And instead of being isolated or offended, try to forge warm, friendly relationships with the people who will be with you during labor. After all, these people also expect a kind and friendly attitude from their patients.

And although you are now really in a special position, this does not exempt you from tactful behavior:
Be courteous to nursing staff and other women in labor.
In a conversation with a doctor, stick to the golden mean - talk about the main thing. Don't be too wordy when describing your pregnancy, but don't forget to include important points.
Do not argue or argue with your doctor. If you have any fundamental wishes regarding your childbirth, express them and try to calmly come to an optimal solution. But it is better to resolve this issue in advance - to discuss all the points of interest with the doctor and include them in the contract.
Don't be silent if something bothers you. Such false modesty is fraught with complications during childbirth, for which the doctor will hardly be grateful to you.

You may ask how certain rules can be changed, but you have no right to dictate them. Therefore, in order not to become a victim of conditions that you do not like, the best thing you can do is to find out all the information that interests you in advance.

Hygiene procedures before childbirth in the maternity hospital:

Until recently, in all maternity hospitals, women were given an enema and shaved their pubis before giving birth. Why are these procedures carried out and what is the attitude towards them now? The enema was believed to reduce the risk of contamination during childbirth due to involuntary bowel movements, reducing the stress that the baby's head stumbles upon as it passes through the birth canal.

Now there is no such categorical opinion on this matter anymore: in some maternity hospitals they continue to use an enema as a mandatory procedure, in others this practice has been abandoned. If during the day before childbirth the woman had normal bowel movements, and during internal examination, no solid feces are felt, there is no danger of blocking the birth canal.

And yet there are arguments for carrying out this procedure. First, during childbirth, involuntary bowel movements can occur. Although the sterile pads discarded with feces will protect the newborn from contamination, it will add an unpleasant moment to the birth process.

If the enema is given on the eve of birth, you will most likely be spared this event, which disrupts the general atmosphere of labor. If you do not want to do an enema in the hospital, carry out this procedure shortly before leaving for the hospital.

Secondly, when an enema is given at the beginning of labor, it further stimulates the contraction of the uterus, which increases the overall tone of labor.

Another prenatal procedure is controversial in many women - shaving pubic and perineal hair. The hair in this area was thought to collect various bacteria that could infect a baby during childbirth. Now, many doctors find these fears exaggerated and do not always insist on shaving. Therefore, instead of shaving, the perineal area is washed with a special bacteriological liquid to prevent and reduce the risk of infection.

On the other hand, there are also arguments for this procedure. Firstly, after childbirth, doctors examine the woman's perineum to make sure it is intact, there are no breaks, including in the cervical region. This is easier to do when the perineum is free of hair. Secondly, if there is a need to sew up tears, even the smallest ones, this should be done on a clean skin surface - this is the golden medical rule.

Therefore, if the doctors in your hospital recommend shaving, listen to them and try to make their work easier on your part. You can remove the hair in the crotch and anus, leaving it in the pubis. Find out in advance information regarding these procedures at the hospital and agree on the option that suits you.

Feelings on the eve of childbirth. Harbingers

How does labor start? How to distinguish false contractions from real ones? When does the "plug" leave? Why does my back hurt? Experienced sibmoms share their observations, and Nelly Mikhailovna AGAMYAN, obstetrician-gynecologist, chief physician of the network of the MC "Ultrasound Studio" in Novosibirsk, tells what symptoms can signal an impending birth at 37-40 weeks of gestation.

• Abdominal prolapse on the eve of childbirth
• Weight loss and bowel cleansing
• Passage of the mucous plug before childbirth
• Painful sensations
• The nesting instinct
• Change in how you feel
• Is there a lack of forerunners?

Abdominal prolapse before childbirth

If you look at your exchange card, you will see there the numbers marked during visits to the doctor with the mark VSDM (the height of the fundus of the uterus). These measurements help the doctor monitor the dynamics of the baby's development - during pregnancyas it grows, the uterus rises higher, reaches its highest point at about 37 weeks, and then begins to decline. This is because the child goes to a “low start” and starts moving closer to the “exit”. Its head (subject to cephalic presentation) moves to the cervix and is located in the pelvic area.

Sibm experience:

Sweetmama

- My belly sank 2 days before giving birth.

Herringbone

- At 24 weeks my baby was already low. At 37 weeks, the head was already inserted into the pelvis. The doctors were all worried that I would sneeze, for example, and immediately give birth. Aha, how! She gave birth at 39 weeks 3 days, and that had to be done, because the bladder was flat.

- 5 days before giving birth, I felt an increase in heaviness in the abdomen, I thought that the head sank after reading books. Something hard pressed. On examination the next day, head drooping was confirmed.

Abdominal prolapse before childbirth. Expert commentary

The height of the fundus of the uterus increases by about 1 cm per week throughout pregnancy. This figure reaches 37-40 cm by 37 weeks of gestation, and a couple of weeks before giving birth, the belly drops by 2-3 cm.This can happen literally in a few hours. The fact is that on the eve of childbirth, the lower segment of the uterus stretches and becomes softer. Because of this, the fetus sinks lower and is pressed against the base of the pelvis.

37-40 weeks of pregnancy is accompanied by the following sensations:

• relief of breathing (the uterus is no longer squeezing the chest so hard);

• pulling pains in the lower abdomen associated with the fact that the uterus and the fetus are pressing with all their weight on the lower abdominal cavity;

• low motor activity of the baby - movements at 37-40 weeks of gestation, if the belly has dropped, are not so noticeable: this is due to the fact that the baby has already taken a stable position before childbirth and cannot turn, but only move the legs and arms.

Weight loss and bowel cleansing before childbirth

Many pregnant women are surprised to find that the weight, which is known to grow by leaps and bounds in the last trimester, unexpectedly drops by 1-1.5 kg after 37-39 weeks. Weight loss is especially noticeable if severe edema was observed during pregnancy. Do not be afraid - this is an absolutely natural process and another sign that a meeting with your baby is not far off.

Sibm experience:

Nika

- 2 days before giving birth, I started to feel nauseous (I even vomited with Polinka, but I just felt sick with Leshka) and (sorry for the detail) the stool was liquid 3-4 days before the birth. The body was cleared.

MaMashka and BABY M.

- I woke up at 4 in the morning and realized that my stomach ached. Well, the real thing is indigestion. I went, sorry, to the toilet, strained ... And only when my stomach was relieved, I realized that something was wrong. Timed the time - contractions every 7 minutes go like a clock.

Lucier

- I did not feel the abdominal prolapse, but ... loose stools of 4-5 days before giving birth! And also the tummy ached, pulled somehow. And then the waters left in the morning, and gave birth in the evening.

Tamiri

- The first sign of the approaching birth was, sorry, diarrhea: about 4 hours before the birth. Then they flushed me water, and after a couple of hours I gave birth. All!

Weight loss and bowel cleansing. Expert commentary

Before childbirth, the body gets rid of excess fluid, which leads to a little weight loss. This happens in order to thicken blood and, in the future, reduce its loss during childbirth. In addition, the additional fluid that was previously used to produce amniotic fluid is no longer required and the body gets rid of it. Often this process can be accompanied not only by increased urination at 37 weeks of gestation, but also by nausea or diarrhea.

False (training) contractions

One of the most important signs that your uterus is preparing itself for the upcoming event is the appearance of "precursor" contractions. They are usually not painful and feel more like intense muscle tension. At this moment, the abdomen seems to "stiffen" and shrink, and then gradually relaxes. The main sign by which such contractions can be distinguished from true ones is their irregularity. They occur at random unequal intervals - the uterus contracts several times a day, then a couple of times a week. Most often, pregnant women note the appearance of such training contractions in the morning or evening.

Sibm experience:

Margarita

- 3 days before the birth in the morning there were false contractions - I even woke up from them. They were not strong, but rhythmic, at intervals of 10 minutes, 2 hours each. Another interesting phenomenon - during the week before childbirth, when driving a car, when jumping on bumps, I, apparently, in the cervical region, had a strong feeling of cramps. Apparently, this is how the neck opened.

e-Katherine

- My training fights have begun in 2 weeks. The interval reached 10 minutes, and after 1-2 minutes it stopped. I started to write down the time every time. So on the day of birth: in the morning I woke up from pain, well, I think, again training ... I went to the shower ... And then I realized that after a shower it is easier (and usually after a shower, training contractions go away) does not become I took it five times while I was washing ...

- On the eve of the birth itself, everything was as usual, but a week before that I had false contractions.

False (training) contractions. Expert commentary

At 37-40 weeks of gestation, training contractions are the most important sign of an impending birth. They differ from prenatal contractions by their irregularity and low intensity. These are training tensions of the uterus, which can appear several times a week, and sometimes every day. Such contractions help the cervix to flatten and soften it, preparing for the upcoming labor.

Discharge of the mucous plug on the eve of labor

Another harbinger of an imminent birth can be the discharge of a mucous plug - a jelly-like mass that is secreted by the membranes of the cervix during pregnancy. This "plug" fills the cervix and protects the birth canal and fetus from infection ascending. On the eve of childbirth, the cervix begins to soften, open slightly, and as a result, the cork (in the form of colorless, yellowish, or slightly pinkish mucus) can move away before the onset of labor - sometimes this can happen in a week, or even two. An important point: after the cork is released, you should refrain from visiting the pool, swimming in ponds and even taking a bath, as this increases the risk of getting into ... Better to limit yourself to a shower.

Sibm experience:

- On July 10, in the evening, the plug came off without any preliminary symptoms. At 11 in the morning, water began to leak, by lunchtime small contractions began, at the direction of the midwife I arrived at the hospital at 7 pm, all this time I kept in touch with her by phone. She gave birth on July 12 at 12.20. The PDR was on July 29th.

Sweetmama

- The cork completely went away in 1 day (the first half of it went away in 2 weeks).

- My plug came out gradually, it looked like the result of a lingering rhinitis, with blood streaks.

Removal of the cork. Expert commentary

Mucous discharge can signal the passage of the plug, which protects the uterus and the fetus from external infections. In preparation for childbirth, the cork liquefies and begins to flow. It should be borne in mind that this sign is individual, for some, the cork leaves a week before childbirth, and for someone with the onset of labor. Sometimes this discharge can be confused with amniotic fluid. In this case, it is worth remembering that the latter leak constantly and intensify with a slight cough. If you still have doubts, it is best to see your doctor immediately for an amnio test. ”

Painful sensations before childbirth

In the last weeks before childbirth, many pregnant women begin to complain of pulling and aching pains in the lower back and lower abdomen. This is another sign that the body is intensively preparing for childbirth: the pelvic ligaments begin to soften and stretch and the blood flow to the pelvic organs increases. The sensations are specific, a little reminiscent of menstrual pains, but the realization that at this moment the baby is preparing to open a "way out" greatly facilitates the experience of discomfort.

Sibm experience

Natalika

- On the eve of childbirth, my back was pulling, my stomach was “felt” and there was a feeling as if my son's head was already at the exit. The next day in the delivery room, I was surprised for a long time that this is exactly what the first hours of labor looked like.

Nata K.

- My back ached for about a week before giving birth. Sometimes there were false contractions, also for about a week. But, in general, everything was as usual. I was driving until the last day. I went there on Sunday and gave birth on Monday. But! Somewhere inside I felt that I would give birth before PDD, and so it happened.

- The back ached terribly. Pulled his stomach. And most importantly, an unrelenting feeling of anxiety.

- And the day before my back hurt so much that I climbed on the walls. The cork did not come off.

Painful sensations before childbirth. Expert commentary

At 37-40 weeks of pregnancy, the expectant mother may have a stomach ache. The cause of pulling pains, as a rule, is not only abdominal prolapse. The fact is that closer to the beginning of childbirth, a pregnant woman stretches and softens the joints of the pelvis, so that the baby is born more freely. In addition, it can stretch muscles and ligaments, this is also a preparation of the pelvis for labor.

Nesting instinct on the eve of childbirth

On the eve of childbirth, many women receive from nature yet another "news" that the baby will be born very soon. There is an indomitable desire to cook him a cozy "nest" and the expectant mother with great pleasure chooses tiny socks and undershirts for her future son or daughter, embroiders diapers, knits a hat and plaid, buys the softest and most beautiful bed linen for a crib, a comfortable stroller, a warm envelope. a lace blanket, a set of bibs, and that glorious rattle! General cleaning (or even repairs) often becomes one more obligatory item of "nesting". Having arranged a children's corner, bought things and "licked" the house, the woman sighs with relief: she can give birth. And ... it is at this moment that contractions often begin. - an incredibly happy time, because it reminds you that your dream of meeting your baby soon is about to come true!

Sibm experience

- Two days before giving birth, it became more active -both timesstarted large cleaning throughout the apartment, for which there was no strength for a long time. I noticed because I read here on the forum that this happens - preparing a nest. And there were no more precursors.

Ekaterina

- At 39 weeks 5 days I woke up with a terrible surge of strength and decided that it was just vital to rip out all the floors in the house. Then I realized that it would begin at night.

- I had no special feelings before giving birth, except that I, like a field mouse, dragged all the products from the store home, the last 10 days. Well, I could not walk past the store. I pick up a full bag and drag it, then I realize that I won't carry it, it's hard, so I catch a taxi. Twice I took a taxi home with string bags ...

Change in well-being and mood

All changes in a woman's body on the eve of childbirth are associated with hormonal changes. At the beginning of pregnancy, the main task of the body was to preserve and take care of the safety of the baby. The "boss" of this process was the hormone progesterone, which is produced by the placenta during pregnancy. By the end of the third trimester, the placenta begins to age and progesterone levels gradually decline. Now the first fiddle is played by the female sex hormones estrogens, the level of which increases with the aging of the placenta and the functional maturation of the baby. It is estrogens that are "responsible" for softening the cervix, stretching the ligaments and increasing the sensitivity of the uterus, contributing to its contraction. Such a hormonal "storm" can affect mood, causing sudden tears, or bursts of joy. In addition, in the last weeks before childbirth, a woman prepares for serious changes, fears the upcoming birth, in a word, leads a rich emotional life. Treat your changing moods with understanding, because such mood swings are also part of preparing for one of the most important meetings in life!

Sibm experience

Cheshire Cat

- The mood before childbirth changes in the direction that you want to kill everyone who even hints at the topic« well, when already» ... And in books, by the way, they often write that one of the signs of an impending birth is hormonal changes, accompanied by mood changes and a feeling that everything is tired, there is no strength, fatigue from a sense of uncertainty, impatience - when it’s already childbirth, finally! Probably, there is something in this, you really expect childbirth, like a holiday. But when the contractions begin, there are already no previously tormented fears, and one thought - well, thank you, Lord - began!

Change in well-being and mood. Expert commentary

A few days before giving birth, there may be changes in the well-being and mood of the expectant mother. Some are worried about tearfulness, quick mood swings, irritability, emotional uplift. In addition, severe sweating, chills, fever, and dizziness may appear. Such symptoms are caused by hormonal changes in the body of a pregnant woman on the eve of childbirth. It is important to understand that the harbingers of childbirth at 37-40 weeks are not yet the beginning of labor. However, if you feel these symptoms, you should not ignore them. Be sure to inform your doctor about them.

Did anyone give birth to a binge?

- My first childbirth began in the hospital. Before that, in a few days the cork came off - but, in my opinion, the doctor just picked it out. And then there was silence for several days, no signs of an approaching birth - until the first regular, slightly painful stretching in the tummy on the day of birth. It all started very smoothly, I had time to get used to the idea that today we were spending the night with my husband and a doctor in the maternity ward ...

- And I had no forerunners, no tummy droop. It was just at night at 3 that the contractions began, in a dream I could not understand why my stomach hurts, as with menstruation. At 6 I woke up, realized, measured - the interval between contractions is 5-7 minutes.

O_l_g_a

- I didn't have any special feelings. I ran, as usual, ate cherries well for the night ... in the morning I woke up from strong contractions.

- We were told at the courses that the primiparous most often does not really feel anything. Cork and water is by itself, and the onset of labor and other precursors in primiparous are most often weakly expressed. Although I understand that this is individual for everyone.

How did you feel before giving birth? Share the link to our article on social networks!

For nine months, a woman is preparing for one of the main events of her life - the birth of a child. Although childbirth is a relatively short process, it takes a lot of time and effort. This is a very important and difficult stage for a woman, after which her life changes radically. Despite the fact that childbirth is a natural process, it is imperative to prepare for it. The prenatal or prenatal period is considered to be the last month of pregnancy. At this time, the woman's body is already attuned to childbirth, and the fetus is already fully formed and almost ready to leave the "house". Already a few weeks before giving birth, a woman changes in many ways: both psychologically and physically.

Way of life before childbirth

For a woman's good physical condition, so that the muscles are in, throughout pregnancy it is necessary to do, which are included in the gymnastic complexes developed for women "in position". Activities in the pool have a very beneficial effect on the physical condition.

Of course, we really hope that if you smoked before pregnancy, then upon learning about the baby, you immediately gave up this nasty habit. If (and sometimes it happens!) Not, then find the strength in yourself. Both you and your baby need this. You must understand that smoking, like, is incompatible with the birth of a healthy child.

Relaxation, walk in the fresh air, exercise for pregnant women, read good books - all this will ensure you not only a good pregnancy, but also an easy delivery.

Health status before childbirth

It's no secret that a pregnant woman should carefully monitor her health. Check your health again before giving birth. It does not hurt to visit a therapist, ophthalmologist, ENT doctor, neuropathologist. Do not forget to go to the dentist, because bad teeth can become and cause complications in the postpartum period. If yours is severe, see a vascular surgeon. The doctor will determine if the condition has worsened and if a caesarean section is required. A month before giving birth, doctors recommend a complete sanitation of the birth canal. This is done to clean them from pathogenic microflora. This is especially true if a woman has sexually transmitted diseases (herpes, ureaplasmosis, mycoplasmosis, etc.). Such procedures are necessary in order to protect the baby during his passage through the birth canal. Also, sanitation will help protect the woman in labor from cracks in the vaginal mucosa, the occurrence of which is possible due to inflammation.

As for the gynecologist, starting from the 36th week, a woman must visit him once a week. At the appointment, the doctor measures the size of the uterus, listens to the fetal heartbeat, determines its position.

Nutrition before childbirth

If a pregnant woman needs to monitor the quantity and quality of food eaten for all nine months, then on the eve of childbirth, special attention should be paid to this issue.

A month before childbirth, nutrition does not change in favor of meat: its amount should be limited, and two to three weeks before it should be excluded altogether. It is also recommended to remove from the diet and others containing animal protein (fish, eggs, butter, milk). At the same time, fermented milk products, plant foods, cereals on the water, baked vegetables, fresh juices, mineral water, herbal teas are very useful.

A week before the expected birth, it is worth excluding cereals, bread, dairy products, salt. The diet should be only plant foods. It is very important that vegetable oil enter the body of a pregnant woman at this time. Vitamin E, contained in it, helps to make both blood vessels and tissues of the birth canal more elastic. It is also lovely.

On the day of birth, it is better not to eat anything at all, however, if the contractions have begun, then, it is unlikely that you will have an appetite. Moreover, many people experience nausea or vomiting during labor, so an empty stomach is a good thing in this case.

Weight before childbirth

The optimal weight gain for the entire pregnancy is between 9 and 13 kg. This figure includes the weight of the fetus, amniotic fluid, uterus, placenta, breast. Of course, everything is very individual, and gaining 15 kg is not at all a problem. But you should be on your guard if the weight has increased by 20 or more kg. In this case, the doctor prescribes a diet for the woman. After all, a large weight gain can significantly complicate the birth process.

An interesting fact: as a rule, before childbirth, approximately in the last two weeks, women experience a weight loss (on average, by 2 kg). Experts attribute this to the loss of a large amount of fluid.

Sleep before childbirth

The closer the moment of birth, the more the pregnant woman tends to sleep. Thus, the body is trying to sleep off and gain strength before hard physical work. That is why proper sleep in preparation for childbirth is very important. At this time, you need to sleep as much as you want, but not less than 8-10 hours. A pregnant woman should sleep in a well-ventilated room. It is even possible with an open window. It is important for a woman to feel that she has rested and slept, because very soon she will hardly be able to soak up an extra couple of hours in bed.

Fear of childbirth

Fear arises in a pregnant woman for all nine months. But, the closer the birth, the stronger the fear of them. A woman, especially a primiparous woman, asks a number of questions: How will the birth go? Will it hurt? Will the child get hurt? How to avoid complications? These and many other questions prevent a woman from sleeping peacefully. The situation is significantly aggravated by the stories of “well-wishers” about difficulties, difficult personal experiences, labor pains, negative postpartum consequences, and fatal childbirth. Believe me, this is not at all the information that a pregnant woman should be interested in, preparing to become a mother. If you have not attended a pregnancy course before, do so now. Many maternity schools offer prenatal express courses. In these classes, a woman is explained a lot: the mechanism of childbirth, ways to relieve pain, breathing techniques are taught. All this knowledge is very helpful during childbirth. Moreover, it is quite natural: the more a woman knows, the less she is afraid. If it is not possible to attend courses, special literature will come to the rescue, as well as Internet pages.

Most importantly, you must understand: fear of childbirth negatively affects the course of the birth itself, constraining, squeezing muscles, forcing the tissues to lose their elasticity. All this leads to pain, cracks,. It turns out that the more a woman is afraid, the more she feels pain. Pain breeds fear - and so on in a circle. To break out of it, a pregnant woman must learn to relax long before giving birth, and when the time comes, calmly apply the acquired knowledge.

Psychological mood before childbirth

The mood should be fighting. Of course, in the best sense of the word. We do not mean an aggressive pregnant woman, but one who is firmly convinced of a favorable outcome both for the baby and for herself. A woman should understand that childbirth is a step towards her own little man, who from now on will become for her the greatest jewel in the world. A pregnant woman must be sure that the birth will go well, because she loves her baby very much and is ready to do everything possible to help him to be born healthy.

Harbingers of childbirth

As the day of birth approaches, certain signs may appear that indicate that labor is about to occur. For example, it becomes easier for a woman to breathe, pressure is relieved from the diaphragm and stomach, as the child goes down. At the same time, it becomes a little more difficult to sit and walk. Before childbirth, urination also increases (pressure on the bladder increases) and bowel movements (hormones of childbirth act on the intestines). There are pains in the lower back. A woman has an unexpected change in mood and state: she is tired and passive, then energetic and "subversive". Many can no longer wait for "this" to happen. 2-3 weeks before giving birth, pregnant women show the nesting instinct. It is called so because a woman equips a "nest" - now it is very important for her to make her own home cozy. She is ready for hours to clean, wash, clean, tinker. All this, of course, is good. Only in moderation. Remember that it is contraindicated for you to overexert yourself.

Naturally, one of the most obvious signs that labor is near is the irregular contractions of the uterus. Thus, while exercising, the body prepares up to the "X" hour. One to two weeks, or even several days before childbirth, the woman loses a mucous plug, which closes the cervical canal throughout pregnancy. it can be yellowish or slightly pinkish, or it can be completely colorless. Sometimes a woman clearly sees that the plug has come off her, and in some cases this happens unnoticed. A woman who is expecting childbirth from day to day should know that her amniotic fluid can leave at any time. This is a clear sign that labor has begun. In this case, not a minute can be lost. Call an ambulance urgently or go to the hospital by car (of course, as a passenger and not at all while driving).

Especially for - Olga Pavlova

Feelings before childbirth are clues that the body gives to a pregnant woman. With their help, you can determine the current changes in the body, the state of health of the expectant mother, the moment the child appears. Below we will take a closer look at this issue, and also describe and explain the feelings that women experience during the period of bearing a child.

Due to numerous changes in the body, expectant mothers become more distracted, forgetful and impulsive. Their mood often changes, fatigue accumulates, non-standard wishes arise. Many of them put all their efforts into arranging the house where the unborn child will live. This behavior can be easily explained - expectant mothers want to bring the child into a clean and beautiful world. And also to get distracted from fears and experiences that bother women especially a week before giving birth, when they begin to feel the approaching appearance of a child.

Pain sensations

1-3 weeks before childbirth, muscles and ligaments are strongly stretched in a woman's body. Because of what they feel a stringy pain (as with menstruation) in the abdomen and lower back. Often, ladies are worried about false contractions that prepare the body for the upcoming birth. They create the same sensations as when the uterus is petrified. Finally, due to the displacement of the bones in the pelvic region, ladies may experience pain in the pubic bone. Usually, it persists after the birth of the child. To solve this problem, you need at least a week of rest, during which changes in the woman's body will return to normal.

Physiological factor

Approximately 1-2 weeks before the onset of contractions, the women begin to lower their abdomen. Feeling 2 2 weeks before giving birth is a relief of breathing (the baby stops pressing on the diaphragm and stomach). But during this period there are also less unpleasant sensations:

• numbness in the thigh and leg;
• pressure on the bladder;
• increased stool frequency, dilution.

It is important - no need to be afraid of prenatal pain, in the last weeks before childbirth, unpleasant sensations are the norm. They appear due to displacement of bones, softening of cartilage, changes in the location of the child and many other changes that take place in the body of a pregnant woman. But if the pain is very severe, then you need to immediately call an ambulance and wait for her arrival, being in a comfortable position.

Another clear signal of the imminent approach of labor is the appearance of mucous secretions. They appear several days (less often - hours) before the onset of contractions and signal the destruction of the mucous plug, which isolated the child from all external threats.

Premonitions

Even in the early stages of pregnancy, a close bond is established between mother and child. Thanks to this, many ladies can determine the date of birth of a child without any signals. Some call it spiritual closeness. Others argue that in such moments you simply feel changes in the body at an unconscious level.

Summing up

The above information describes only the general features of pregnancy. We cannot give an answer to the question: "What do you feel before giving birth?" - since this process is individual for everyone. But we can assure you that every test that you have to pass will be compensated by the great joy of the birth of a pink-cheeked toddler.

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