To determine if you are in true labor, ask yourself the following questions:Ĭontractions come at regular intervals and last about 30-70 seconds. These irregular uterine contractions are perfectly normal and generally start during your third trimester of pregnancy. Many women experience what is known as "false" labor pains or Braxton Hicks contractions. Dilation is expressed in centimeters from 0 to 10, with 10 being completely dilated or open. Cervical effacement is described as a percentage, with 100% being completely thinned. In some women, this process may occur over a period of weeks. How fast your cervix opens and thins varies from woman to woman and cannot be predicted with any certainty until active labor begins. Effacement and Dilation of The Cervixĭuring early labor, your cervix will gradually thin and stretch (called effacement) and open (called dilation) to prepare for the passage of your baby through the birth canal. Many times, your doctor will rupture the amniotic membrane in the hospital. Not all women have their water break during labor. If your "water breaks," write down the time, approximately how much fluid is released, and what the fluid looks like. The fluid is usually odorless and may look clear or straw-colored. When this happens, you may feel either a sudden gush or a trickle of fluid that leaks steadily. Water BreakingĪs your body prepares for childbirth, the amniotic sac that has surrounded your baby during pregnancy usually breaks, releasing the amniotic fluid it contains. These early, unpredictable contractions begin the process of opening (dilating) your cervix so that your baby can be born. Irregular Contractionsĭuring early labor, you will most likely experience irregular contractions that are mild enough that they do not interfere with your normal activities. The mucus will be clear, pink, or slightly bloody. When your cervix begins to open wider to prepare for the birth of your baby, the mucus is discharged into your vagina. Passing of The Mucus Plugĭuring your pregnancy, a mucus plug accumulates at the cervix to seal off the cervix and protect your baby from infection. Lightening can occur a few weeks or a few hours before labor begins. The process of your baby settling or lowering into your pelvis is called lightening. While no one knows what causes labor to start or can predict when labor will start or how long it will last, there are several hormonal and physical changes that indicate you are in early labor: Early labor may last as many as twenty hours, especially during your first pregnancy. Labor is divided into two phases: early, or latent, labor and active labor. In fact, each time you give birth, your labor and delivery will probably be different. Like pregnancy, your labor and delivery will be different from any other woman's. When it is time for your baby to be born, your body will go through a series of changes to prepare for and complete the birthing process.
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