Sarah Raymond
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Learn how to recognize the signs of labor, from early contractions and bloody show to water breaking and active labor. Find out what to do if you think you're in labor and when to call your doctor.
- Karen Miles
- Lightening. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as lightening a few weeks before labor starts. Lightening means your baby has "dropped" and now rests lower in your pelvis.
- Loss of the mucus plug. If your cervix begins to efface or dilate significantly as you get close to labor, you may pass your mucus plug – the small amount of thickened mucus that has collected within your cervical canal during your pregnancy.
- Bloody show. You may have noticed more vaginal discharge during pregnancy, thanks to your body's increased estrogen. Normal, healthy discharge is usually creamy white or clear, but it may also be tinged brown, pink, or red.
- Cervical dilation and effacement. In the days and weeks before delivery, changes in the connective tissue of your cervix make it soften and lead to dilation and effacement.
Jul 20, 2023 · Learn what labor pain feels like, how it changes throughout the stages of labor, and how to cope with it. Find out about pain management options, such as medications, natural methods, and support systems.
Aug 29, 2024 · Learn about the signs of labor, from early labor to active labor, and when to call your health care provider. Find out how to cope with contractions, water breaking, and other symptoms of delivery.
Jul 23, 2024 · Learn about the common signs of labor, such as cervical changes, vaginal discharge, nesting, lightening and water breaking. Find out how to tell the difference between false labor and true labor contractions and when to seek medical attention.
- Before labor, the lower part of your uterus called the cervix is typically 3.5 cm to 4 cm long. As labor begins, your cervix softens, shortens and...
- Another sign of labor is your cervix beginning to open (dilate). Your health care provider will measure the dilation in centimeters from zero (no d...
- During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervical opening to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. During the late third trimester,...
- Lightening is the term used to describe when the baby's head settles deep into your pelvis. This might cause a change in the shape of your abdomen....
- The amniotic sac is a fluid-filled membrane that cushions your baby in the uterus. At the beginning of or during labor, your membranes will rupture...
- During the last few months of pregnancy, you might experience occasional, sometimes painful, contractions — a sensation that your uterus is tighten...
Learn about the different types of pain relief options for childbirth, such as analgesics, local anesthesia and regional anesthesia. Find out the risks and benefits of each option and how to discuss them with your provider before labor.
Apr 23, 2024 · Learn the difference between Braxton Hicks and labor contractions, how to recognize the signs of real labor, and when to call your practitioner. Find out how contractions affect your body, what causes them, and how to cope with them.
