Condition before childbirth: mental and physical state, harbingers of childbirth. How to understand that childbirth has begun
The closer the time when the baby should be born, the more the woman listens to the body and monitors her feelings.
In this article, we will talk about the first signs that childbirth is already “on the way”.
A well-known fact is that the first and main signal of childbirth for a woman is contractions. But still, first we will consider the first signs that childbirth is close.
How to understand that the day of birth is close
- When the baby's head drops down to the pelvic cavity, the bottom of the uterus sinks in the woman. This happens about two weeks before delivery.
- Sometimes a woman before childbirth suffers from nausea and upset stools. But it is very important not to accept food poisoning as the beginning of the birth process.
- Throughout the pregnancy, the cervix was protected from various infections by a mucous plug. A few weeks before the birth, she departs. This manifests itself in the form of transparent discharge on the linen, sometimes they can be brownish in color.
- Usually, shortly before the onset of childbirth, a woman loses a few kilograms, since the female body no longer retains a lot of fluid, and is thus cleansed.
- A decrease in the activity of the baby also indicates that it is time to go to the hospital soon.
- Training fights are not real fights yet, but still harbingers of real childbirth. A week before childbirth, a woman feels irregular, and not severe pain in the lower abdomen - these are false contractions, so the uterus trains its muscles before childbirth, and prepares for them.
- Softening and expansion of the walls of the uterus occur approximately two weeks before the birth process.
The closer the birth, the contractions will be felt stronger and more painful.
Contractions are needed for the cervix to dilate. When it is 4 cm open, doctors will install a labor regulator. For every hour, the cervix opens one centimeter in primiparas. For women who have given birth before, this process occurs twice as fast.
When the cervix opens completely, the second stage of labor will begin - attempts. It lasts approximately 1 hour. During this period, the baby is removed.
Before the straining period, as a rule, the amniotic sac should burst. Sometimes he bursts before contractions. With this process, approximately 100-150 ml is released from the genitals of a woman. transparent liquid. The color of the amniotic fluid is very important, because if, for example, they are greenish or reddish, this is a bad sign, which may mean that the fetus has hypoxia.
So, we found out that contractions are the main sign of childbirth. It is very important to be able to distinguish between real contractions and false ones. To understand this, doctors recommend lying down to relax and counting how often you feel pain. If the contractions are regular, then this is the main sign that it is time to go to the hospital.
When you feel that the birth process has begun. It is very important to remain calm. Remember how the birth will take place depends on your behavior and morale. When you feel contractions, do not panic, let your family know that the baby will be born soon, and that you
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So the 9 months of waiting are coming to an end, and every pregnant woman wonders what the first symptoms will help her understand that childbirth is starting, at what point to call an ambulance. Doctors talk about signs of incipient labor activity in the mother and fetus.
Harbingers of the imminent onset of childbirth in a woman
After 38 weeks, the pregnancy is considered full-term. Before childbirth, the normal beginning of which is considered to be any time between 38 and 42 weeks, the level of hormones responsible for bearing the fetus decreases in the body of women, and the level of those that stimulate labor activity increases significantly.
Hormonal changes affect both the physical and psychological state of women. The presence of several of the following signs indicates the imminent onset of labor. The first symptoms may appear even a few weeks before childbirth.
One of the main symptoms of approaching childbirth is the prolapse of the abdomen, which occurs due to a tighter entry of the fetal head into the pelvic ring. Many women say that it has become easier for them to sit and breathe, heartburn has disappeared. Obstetricians note the prolapse of the uterine fundus. Although for most this occurs within a few weeks, for some women, the stomach drops right before childbirth.
Very often, to train the body before childbirth, Braxton-Hicks contractions occur (precursor, false, training). They can be quite long and intense. Unlike true false contractions, they are not regular, do not increase in intensity and duration, often resemble menstrual pain, and usually stop if the woman relaxes or takes a warm bath. If you were able to fall asleep, these are definitely training bouts.
Many women experience nausea, loose stools, and even vomiting during the prenatal period. According to doctors, these signs indicate the process of opening the cervix. However, one must be careful, constantly drink water in small quantities in order to prevent dehydration of the body, because these symptoms can accompany poisoning and intestinal infection.
In some cases, in women in the last stages of pregnancy, urination may become more frequent, which occurs due to increased pressure of the uterus on the lower abdomen, in particular the bladder. As a result, swelling disappears. It is also believed that this indicates the ridding of the body of excess, cleansing before childbirth. Those of the women who are regularly weighed may notice a weight loss of 1-2 kilograms.
Some of the pregnant women experience pain in the lumbar region and pressure in the lower abdomen.
The discharge of the mucous plug can occur both immediately before childbirth, and 2 weeks before them. Mucus is located in the cervical canal and protects the fetus from infection. When it stands out, the child continues to be reliably protected by the amniotic membrane.
How to understand that it was the mucous plug that stood out? It is transparent, colorless, may be streaked with blood; quantity - about 20 ml. If the cork came out more than 2 weeks before the due date (estimated date of delivery) or the cork was painted in some color, you need to seek medical help, otherwise there is no cause for concern
The psychological sign of an approaching birth is the “nesting instinct”, when a woman tries to stay at home as much as possible, choosing a cozy corner, or cleans, erases, irons, preparing a “nest” for her child. Here you should not overdo it with physical activity and save energy for the upcoming birth.
All of the first manifestations of approaching labor listed above do not require immediate medical attention, but in case of any doubt, it is better not to be shy and consult a doctor.
Fetal symptoms
Usually, a few days before the birth, the baby becomes less active: he has grown up, and it is increasingly difficult for him to move in a cramped space. However, if a woman feels less than 10 series of movements per day, it is necessary to consult a doctor to exclude the risk of developing fetal hypoxia.
The main signs of incipient labor
The main sign of the development of labor activity is the development of contractions, that is, an increase in their intensity, an increase in duration and a decrease in the intervals between them. The first contractions usually appear as pulling pains in the lower abdomen or lower back, lasting several seconds at intervals of 15-20 minutes. Often contractions are accompanied by chills. You should not worry when chills appear, this is one of the natural reactions of the body before childbirth.
The outflow of amniotic fluid is the second reliable sign of the onset of labor. In this case, the liquid should be light or yellowish, colored water may indicate an oxygen starvation of the child in the womb or an infection. Rupture of the amniotic membrane can occur both immediately before childbirth, and many hours before them.
When to call an ambulance?
- If your water has broken, you should immediately go to the maternity ward: the longer the child is without water, the higher the likelihood of complications.
- With regular increasing contractions, when the interval between them is 7-10 minutes. If it takes more than 30 minutes to go to the hospital, it is better to call an ambulance without waiting for such a short interval.
- If bleeding occurs.
In primiparous and multiparous women, the symptoms of the onset of labor are the same, however, in the second childbirth, as a rule, they proceed more rapidly than if the childbirth is the first, therefore, if signs of labor activity are manifested in women who have already given birth, it is better to immediately go to a medical facility.
Easy childbirth and health to you and the baby!
However, sometimes the safety of mother and baby can only be ensured with the help of medical intervention.
Changes may occur in your body, indicating that the crucial moment is approaching. Women feel them a few weeks before giving birth - with varying degrees of intensity - or do not feel at all.
The duration of the difficult process of the birth of a baby can be very different. For the first birth, it averages 13 hours, for repeated - about eight. The beginning of childbirth among physicians is considered to be the opening of the cervix with regularly repeated contractions.
Over the past 50 years, the average duration of this process has been halved, asin severe cases, a caesarean section is now done in a timely manner. Often spontaneous contractions begin at night, when the body relaxes. Many children prefer to look at this world for the first time in the dark. According to statistics, most births occur at night.
What exactly causes labor pains is a question, the answer to which is not yet known. What is clear is that the child himself plays an important role in this process. But which mechanisms give a decisive impetus remains a mystery.
Recent studies suggest that contractions begin under the influence of a protein substance produced by the child, the so-called SP-A protein, which is also responsible for the maturation of the lungs.
Gynecologist's consultation. Usually, Braxton-Hicks contractions are difficult to distinguish from real labor. In the third trimester, false labor pains become more intense and more frequent if you live an active life or if you are dehydrated. If you feel them, sit in a cool place, put your feet up, drink something and rest. If the intervals between contractions increase, and their intensity decreases, then they are false. If it gets more frequent and worse (especially if it happens every 5 minutes), call your doctor. I always tell patients that no one has ever described their feelings as "spastic" when giving birth. As a rule, the intensity of labor pains, in which the child passes through the birth canal, is described as follows: "I can not walk and talk."
You have seen it in countless films. Sudden realization: the woman in labor needs to be taken to the hospital URGENTLY! The woman becomes a real fury, spewing curses (“You did this to me!”). Doubled over in terrible pain, she stops moaning, only to issue another batch of curses at her unfortunate, panic-stricken husband, who suddenly forgets everything he learned in Lamaz's courses, loses the bag prepared for the trip to the maternity hospital, and inevitably sends the car straight into a traffic jam, where he eventually has to deliver himself.
The truth is that most couples have plenty of time to realize that labor has actually begun. No one knows for sure what triggers this mechanism, but they are approaching fast enough. Here are some signs that tell you it's time to grab the bag and the woman in labor - and get into the car.
Childbirth begins - signs of childbirth
Most women give birth to their children earlier or later than the estimated date indicated on the exchange card.
Moreover, most often the deviation in both directions does not exceed ten days. In the end, the estimated date of birth only plays the role of a guideline. Only 3% to 5% of children are born exactly on this day. If the doctor said that your baby will be born on December 31st, you can be sure that you will not give birth on New Year's Eve.
loose stool
This is due to hormonal changes caused by prostaglandins.
And it makes sense: your body is beginning to cleanse the colon to make more space inside the body for the baby.
Estimated date of delivery (ED)
This is the day your baby is statistically likely to be born. Most give birth somewhere between 37 and 42 weeks. Although many women do not give birth exactly on the expected date, you should definitely know it in order to be prepared. The closer it is, the more attention you need to pay to your bodily sensations and possible signals of the onset of labor. Turning over a sheet of the calendar and seeing the month in which the birth is due, you will feel excitement (and a little panic). Soon!
Contractions - first signs of approaching labor
In 70-80% of cases, the onset of labor declares itself with the appearance of real labor pains. They are not immediately distinguishable from the training ones that you may have noticed for the first time a few weeks ago. At these moments, the abdomen hardens and the uterus contracts for 30-45 seconds.
The pain caused by contractions is initially well tolerated: you can even walk a little if you want. As soon as a certain regularity is established in contractions, you will put everything aside without any prompting and will listen to what is happening inside you.
As contractions gradually increase, it is recommended that you do the breathing exercises that you were taught in your childbirth preparation courses. Try to breathe as deeply as possible, inhale with your stomach. Your baby also has to do hard work during childbirth. And oxygen will be very useful to him for this.
Braxton Hicks contractions (preparatory). These contractions of the uterine muscles begin early, although you may not notice them. You will feel tension in the uterus. These contractions are short and painless. Sometimes there are several of them, they follow each other, but usually they stop quickly. Closer to childbirth, Braxton-Hicks contractions help prepare the cervix for the process.
Immediately to the clinic!
Regardless of the onset of contractions, when the baby stops moving, the rupture of the sac, or vaginal bleeding, you should immediately go to the clinic.
Braxton Hicks contractions are the warm-up before real contractions begin. They can start and end several times and often stop when you are active (for example, when you are walking). Early labor pains will be uneven in intensity and frequency: some will be so strong that they will take your breath away, others will just resemble spasms. The intervals between them will be either 3-5 or 10-15 minutes. If for 15 minutes you talked with the doctor, discussing whether labor began or not, and never interrupted, this is most likely a false alarm.
Learn to recognize contractions
In the initial stage of labor, contractions lasting about 30 seconds may occur every 20 minutes.
- The first contractions are similar to spasmodic menstrual pain (radiating pain). The muscles of the uterus begin to contract so that the cervix opens all 10 cm.
- Late contractions feel like strong menstrual cramps or reach an intensity that you could not even imagine.
- When the contractions become very strong, and the rhythm of contractions is regular, it means that it has begun for real!
There are no mandatory rules for when you can come to the hospital. But if contractions occur every 5 minutes for an hour and make you freeze in pain, no one will prevent you from appearing in the maternity ward. Make an action plan with your doctor, taking into account the time it takes to travel.
- If you live near a maternity hospital, then wait until the rhythm of contractions is 1 every 5 minutes for an hour, and then call and tell your doctor that you are going.
- If the hospital is 45 minutes away from you, then most likely you should leave even when the contractions are less frequent.
Discuss this with your doctor ahead of time so you don't panic during labor. Remember that with the onset of the active stage, the cervix in most women opens at 1-2 cm per hour. So count: 6-8 hours before the start of attempts. (But if you were told at your last doctor's appointment that you were 4 cm dilated, it's best to arrive early at the hospital.)
Gynecologist's consultation. I warn expectant parents, especially if this is the first pregnancy, that there may be a few "false alarms". My wife is an OB/GYN and she made me bring her to the hospital 3-4 times while pregnant with each of our 3 kids! If she couldn't recognize for sure, then who could? I always tell patients that it's better to have them come and get checked out (if it's premature, they'll just be allowed to go home) than to give birth on the side of the road.
Time is everything
How to calculate the time and rhythm of contractions? There are two ways. Just pick one and stick with it as you watch it unfold.
Method 1
- Note the start of one contraction and its duration (for example, from 30 seconds to 1 minute).
- Then note when the next contraction begins. If within 9 minutes she was not felt, then the regularity of contractions is 10 minutes.
- It can be confusing if contractions occur more frequently. Always note the time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next.
- If the contraction lasts for a whole minute, and the next one begins 3 minutes after the end of the previous one, then the contractions occur 1 time in 4 minutes. When their frequency increases, it is difficult to concentrate on counting. Ask someone close to count the contractions for you.
Method 2
Almost the same, but here you start counting the time from the end of one fight to the end of the next.
Opening and flattening the cervix
Imagine your cervix as a big, plump donut. Before childbirth, it begins to thin and stretch. Expansion (opening) and thinning (smoothing) can occur within a few weeks, one day or several hours. There is no standard time frame and nature of the process. As the date of delivery approaches, your doctor will make conclusions about the condition of the cervix in this way: "Disclosure 2 cm, shortening 1 cm."
Prolapse of the abdomen
This happens when the fetus descends to the entrance to the small pelvis and, as it were, “gets stuck” there, i.e. no longer moves inside. With Braxton-Hicks contractions, it shifts even more into the lower pelvis. Imagine that the child moves into a "starter" position. This process begins for all women at different times, for some - just before the very birth. For many, the news of a fetal drop is both good news and bad news. Breathing and eating is now easier, but the pressure on the bladder and pelvic ligaments makes it necessary to run to the toilet more often. For some expectant mothers, it even begins to seem that the child can simply fall out, because he is now so low. During the exam, your doctor will determine how low the baby is in the pelvis, or what their "position" is.
The prolapse of the abdomen occurs when the child seems to "fall", descends to the entrance to the small pelvis. Head first, the baby moves into the pelvis, thereby preparing for the journey through the birth canal. However, for women who experience abdominal prolapse days or weeks before delivery, this symptom is "false evidence," and for some, this does not happen at all until the onset of active labor. Braxton-Hicks contractions become stronger, the baby gradually moves lower into the pelvis, the pressure on the cervix increases, and it softens and thins.
Rupture of the fetal bladder
In 10-15% of cases, the onset of labor is heralded by a premature rupture of the fetal bladder, which occurs before the first contractions appear.
If the baby's head is firmly established in the small pelvis, then the loss of amniotic fluid will not be so massive.
You will know about the rupture of the amniotic sac by the abundant discharge of a clear, warm liquid from the vagina.
The rupture of the fetal bladder does not cause any pain, since there are no nerve fibers in its membrane. Sometimes the amniotic fluid may be green in color: this means that the child has already allocated his first stool in them. Record the time of rupture of the amniotic sac and the color of the discharged fluid, report this to the midwife or the maternity ward of the clinic. Here you will receive instructions on your next steps.
Very rarely, a rupture of the fetal bladder occurs in its upper part, while the amniotic fluid leaves only drop by drop. Then they are easy to mistake for urine or vaginal discharge, especially with a slight weakness of the bladder. If you suspect that amniotic fluid is breaking, call your doctor right away or go to the hospital. A short inspection will bring clarity to the situation.
As a rule, rupture of the fetal bladder does not lead to dramatic consequences. Usually, in the next 12-18 hours, contractions spontaneously occur, and childbirth occurs naturally. In the absence of contractions, they are artificially stimulated with appropriate medications to reduce the risk of infection for the mother and child.
Outflow of waters
Sometimes the fetal bladder is called the strange, biblical-sounding term "fetal sac." When it bursts (naturally or pierced by a doctor), this means: childbirth will occur within 24-48 hours. As a rule, the doctor decides not to risk not waiting more than 24 hours after the bubble has opened, especially if the baby is born at term, because. there is a risk of infection.
If the waters broke
When the fetal bladder bursts, there is something like a small flood, and it is impossible to predict exactly when and where this will happen. In the third trimester, the amniotic sac, the soft and comfortable "place" of the baby, already contains about a liter of amniotic fluid. (Pour a liter of water on the floor - something like this might look like.) But remember:
- some women have very little "leakage".
- Fluid will continue to flow out of the amniotic sac even after the waters have broken because your body will continue to produce it.
- In some women, the water does not break spontaneously, and to stimulate the process of childbirth, the doctor performs an amniotomy by piercing the bag with a long plastic hook.
- The liquid should be colorless. If it is dark (greenish, brownish, yellowish), this may mean that the baby has defecated right in the uterus (such an original stool is called meconium). This may be a sign of severe stress in the fetus. Call your doctor right away.
Gynecologist's consultation. Abundant vaginal discharge in late pregnancy is absolutely normal. V 10-20% of women at this stage they are so significant that they have to wear pads all the time. The blood flow to the vagina and cervix increases in the third trimester, so the vaginal secretion also increases. You may not immediately understand whether it is discharge or water has departed. If you feel "wet", dry off and walk around a bit. If fluid continues to leak, call your doctor.
Signal bleeding - a symptom of the onset of labor
Usually, throughout pregnancy, the uterine os remains closed with viscous mucus, which protects the fetal bladder from inflammation. With the shortening of the cervix and the opening of the uterine os, the so-called mucous plug comes out. This is also a sign of approaching childbirth. However, labor pains do not necessarily occur on the same day. Sometimes it takes a few more days or even weeks before the onset of real contractions.
Closer to childbirth, the mucus may lose its viscosity and come out as a clear liquid. In most cases, this is accompanied by a small, so-called signal, bleeding. It is much weaker than menstrual and completely harmless. And yet, to be sure, you should talk to your doctor or midwife about this - you need to make sure that the bleeding is not caused by other causes that could threaten you and your baby. Very often, a woman does not notice the separation of the mucous plug at all.
Small spotting or spotting
May appear due to changes occurring in the cervix - it is preparing for disclosure. The contractions soften the cervix, the capillaries begin to bleed. Contractions intensify and bleeding occurs. Any pressure on the cervix can cause some bleeding (due to exercise, sex, straining to have a bowel movement, or tension in the bladder muscles). If you're not sure if this bleeding is normal, call your doctor.
Removal of the mucous plug
The cervix softens and begins to open, while the mucous plug is released. Sometimes the mucus flows out slowly or the plug can come out in the form of a knotty thick flagellum. Up to this point, mucus acts as a protective barrier in the cervix and is constantly produced by the body, especially a lot of it closer to childbirth. It's not a sign of upcoming labor - some women have mucus a few weeks before - but it's definitely a sign that something is starting to change.
Backache
Pain may occur if the child is facing forward, and not towards your back. If the baby does not turn to the back, they may intensify. Pain can also occur due to the pressure of his head on your spine at the start of contractions.
Cozy nest: not only for birds
Pregnant women often have a strong desire to make a cozy nest even before the onset of childbirth. The burst of "nesting" energy, so contrasting with the exhausting fatigue of the last trimester, is forcing expectant mothers to equip their habitat, turning it into a nice and clean "incubator". Another sign that you have begun a period of "nesting" is the speed with which you try to do all the work, the exactingness with which you make requests to your family. "Nesting" is usually expressed as:
- painting, cleaning, arranging furniture in the nursery;
- throwing away rubbish;
- organizing things of the same kind (food in the buffet, books and photographs on the shelves, tools in the garage);
- general cleaning of the house or the completion of "renovation projects";
- buying and laying out children's clothes;
- baking, cooking and stuffing it in the refrigerator;
- packing bags for a trip to the hospital.
An important caveat: some pregnant women never “nesting”, and if such impulses appear, the expectant mother feels too lethargic to do anything.
Labor symptoms
False contractions are a pulling pain in the lower abdomen, similar to pain during menstruation. If such contractions are not strong and not regular, you do not need to do anything on purpose: this is just preparing the uterus for childbirth. The uterus, as it were, tries its hand before the upcoming important work, gathering and relaxing its muscles. At the same time, you can feel the tone of the uterus - sometimes it seems to be going into a lump, it becomes more solid. The uterus can come into tone without pain, since the closer the birth, the more sensitive and irritable it becomes. This is fine.
The third important harbinger of childbirth may be the discharge of the mucous plug. This is the mucous content that "lives" in the cervix, as if clogging the "house" of the baby. The mucous plug may come out in the form of thick and sticky secretions of a transparent pinkish color.
A woman may not feel the harbingers of childbirth, although most often the expectant mother still feels preparatory contractions.
A normal first birth lasts approximately 10-15 hours. Subsequent births usually proceed somewhat faster than the first, but this is not always the case. I am an example of such an exception, since my second birth lasted 12 hours longer (20 hours) than the first (8 hours).
If a woman's amniotic fluid has broken, then you should immediately go to the clinic. The amniotic fluid protects the baby, and he should not be without them for a long time. Therefore, if you feel lukewarm transparent water flowing out, call the doctor and get ready for the maternity hospital.
Usually, after the waters have broken, contractions begin (or they increase dramatically if you have been in labor before). If contractions do not start, most likely in the maternity hospital they will try to induce labor (with the cervix ready) so as not to leave the baby for a long time without protection.
Labor usually starts with contractions. Usually, women often begin to feel pain in the lower abdomen and an ache in the lower back about a couple of weeks before giving birth. But how then to understand what it is: preparatory contractions of Braxton-Hicks or the onset of labor ?! Such a question and concerns almost always arise in women who, theoretically or practically, face the harbingers of childbirth.
It’s not at all difficult to distinguish preparatory contractions from the onset of labor! When your stomach starts to sip, be a little more attentive to yourself: is it such a pain as usual, perhaps the painful sensations dragged on a little, or something else intuitively seems unusual to you?
If you feel that these painful sensations are regular (appear and disappear with a small frequency), it makes sense to start timing, counting the contractions and writing them down.
Let's say around 5 o'clock in the morning you decide that your stomach hurts a little in a special way or for quite a long time. Stock up on a stopwatch (it's on your phone) and start counting.
At 5 o'clock in the morning pain appeared, the contraction began, it lasted 50 seconds, then there was no pain for 30 minutes.
At 5:30, the stomach starts to pull again, the pain lasts 30 seconds, then nothing bothers you for 10 minutes, etc.
When you see that the pain is regularly repeated, intensifies, the duration of the contractions increases, and the interval between them decreases - congratulations, you have started labor.
What are contractions-harbingers, how much time is before childbirth after their appearance. How to distinguish real contractions from training ones?
A woman feels the tension of the uterus to one degree or another throughout the entire pregnancy. But especially active in the last trimester. Often a woman, especially without the experience of motherhood, perceives the so-called false contractions for the onset of labor and goes to the hospital. There, the doctor examines her, he is especially interested in the readiness of the cervix, at what level it is in the vagina, what consistency it is, whether it is open or not, whether there is uterine tone. If these contractions are harbingers of the Braxton-Higgs contraction, but there is uterine tone, the woman feels unwell - she can be left in the hospital and even undergo pregnancy-preserving (prolonging) therapy if the period is less than 37-38 weeks. If everything is back to normal, they are usually sent home.
A woman can independently determine contractions or harbingers for her. This generic activity is on the rise. Contractions are palpable, painful, regular, their frequency increases. This is how the contractions differ from the precursors, and the doctor sees all this on the cervix, which begins to open. At the same time, the mucous plug leaves. In some women, amniotic fluid passes on its own. Some people experience nausea, while others experience diarrhea. Precursor contractions at week 39 are often combined with a sharp decrease in the level of the uterus. Women notice that the stomach "hangs" at a level slightly above the navel. This means that the baby's head has entered the pelvis and will be born soon.
To determine the contractions-harbingers of childbirth, special programs - contraction counters also help. But usually, at the beginning of childbirth, a woman does not even have doubts whether it is or not. If you are in doubt whether the X-hour has come or the harbingers of labor contractions have appeared, you need to wait a bit, take a bath (if there is no discharge from the vagina, the mucous plug has not come off). You can take a couple of tablets of valerian and "No-shpy", try to fall asleep. If the pain does not subside, it becomes stronger - it is probably time to go to the hospital.
And often training turns into a real “work”. There may be a different time for how long before the birth, contractions-harbingers appear. For some it is less than a day, and for someone it is one or two weeks. Everything is individual.
You can not be afraid that you will give birth at home or in the car, such cases are rare. Contractions usually last several hours. But there are reasons when you need to go to the hospital immediately, not to think about how to distinguish contractions from harbingers.
