Contractions during pregnancy: everything a expectant mother needs to know about them. How to understand that contractions have begun

Many expectant mothers are worried that they will not be able to recognize the onset of labor in a timely manner. Therefore, they are worried about what sensations arise at this moment. How not to confuse false contractions and incipient labor? What pains arise at this most cherished moment of the birth of a child?

The expectant mother should know the answers to all questions.

Before you start describing contractions, every mom should know what it is all about.

Contractions are a kind of contraction of the muscles of the uterus with its further relaxation. At the very beginning of labor, contractions begin to intensify, which makes it possible for the baby to move through the birth canal.

Every woman's body is unique. Therefore, all the sensations during the period of contractions will differ. Also, feelings during the birth process, of which contractions are a component, are different for each organism. But they are united by a wonderful result - this is the birth of a new person into the world.

The contraction begins at the upper point of the uterus and gradually spreads through all its muscles. In general, such sensations resemble the tension of muscle fibers, which gradually begin to weaken. At the very beginning, the appearance of a contraction rarely brings pain. Rather, to a greater extent for a woman in labor, this is a feeling of discomfort.

In some pregnant women, it accompanies feeling of contractions pain in the lumbar region. Most often, this is caused by the fact that the child is turned to face the spine and moves with the back of the head.

For a woman who gives birth for the first time, such sensations are unfamiliar. But pregnant women who have already gone this way will not confuse this state with anything. As already noted, each woman has contractions in different ways. Some feel the relaxation of the muscles, someone pain in the lower back, while others have all the symptoms and sensations, as during menstruation.

During this period, contractions do not cause a woman much anxiety, so it is better to relax and try to rest before the upcoming birth. For the quick and correct birth of a child, the mother will need to give maximum strength. After all, the speed of flow largely depends on the woman herself.

But what unites them all is regularity. The first contractions can be with an interval of half an hour or more. Gradually, the gap between them will decrease.

• Regularity of occurrence;
• Constant decrease in the interval between each contraction;
• There is a gradual increase in pain.

Marriages just before childbirth gradually become much more intense and longer. At first they are mild and last for a short time. The pain increases and is felt stronger, and the contractions are longer and more painful.

Just before the birth, the contraction lasts about a minute, and the intervals between them become short.

Almost every woman periodically begins to feel attempts She wants to go to the toilet all the time. As many mothers say, you can’t confuse this feeling with anything, you always get the feeling that a watermelon will appear as a result.

Many mothers who have given birth say that during the contractions their uterus turned to stone. It is easy to feel if you put your hand on the surface of the abdomen. Before the onset of the birth process, pain is felt, mostly in the lumbar region and lower abdomen.

Contractions during childbirth are very rapid and most painful. Even though some claim that there was no severe pain for them, just a feeling of discomfort, like during menstruation.

But still, one or another painful sensation will be present in everyone, this is natural and normal. Only during childbirth can pain be aggravated by improper preparation of the mother and her behavior.

During childbirth, the contractions become as intense as possible. With the full disclosure of the uterus, the contraction begins to be replaced by one another. The relaxation period becomes almost imperceptible. Under the influence of emotions, often, a woman can no longer simply notice him. It seems to her that a new fight begins immediately after the end of the previous one.

Most often, with strong contractions, a woman gets a desire to push. Such attempts in response to contractions, they speak of the final process of contractions - expulsion. Pain in the lumbar region and lower abdomen begins to recede. And all painful sensations move to the perineal region.

Throughout pregnancy, a woman may feel light contractions that occur during physical exertion or sudden movements. Closer to childbirth, they can intensify.

Also, shortly before giving birth, a woman may experience training contractions. They are often called false. Many are afraid of not distinguishing them from the real ones. But do not panic, as such concepts are difficult to confuse.

From the reviews of women who have already given birth, for example, relatives or acquaintances, one can draw up an approximate picture of sensations with false contractions. During the appearance of such contractions, discomfort may be felt in the lumbar region and lower abdomen. As many say training bouts very similar to the symptoms that are present during menstruation. Gynecologists very often warn women during consultations that false contractions can also appear during sleep. The child is usually calm in such situations and his activity is not felt.

Maternal instinct in most cases tells a woman that she should not worry. And the fights themselves last no more than a minute. Most often they occur about a month before the upcoming birth.

More details description of sensations You can learn about each type of contractions by watching the video:

In conclusion, I would like to note that the expectant mother should not get too carried away with especially terrible options for describing the upcoming birth. As experienced obstetricians say, severe pain occurs in women who are clamped, are in constant fear and do not adhere to previously received recommendations for behavior during childbirth.

It is necessary to go to give birth in a good mood, emotionally tuned in, because the birth of a child is a great joy.

Do you understand what contractions feel like? You can read the experience of others on the forum. Leave your opinion or feedback for everyone.

So the last weeks of waiting are over. Fights begin. The climax of the whole pregnancy is coming - a few more hours, and you will see your baby. Of course, you will worry and worry about the outcome of childbirth, but if you are well prepared and understand what to expect, what happens at each stage of the contractions, then the courage will also return. Give life to a child! After all, this is such happiness! Prepare yourself, master the techniques and techniques of relaxation and breath control in advance - they will help you maintain composure and cope with pain. And do not be alarmed if during the fights something is not quite the way you expected.

HOW TO DETECT THE STARTING OF BRIGHT

YOUR ANXIETY that you will miss the onset of contractions is absolutely groundless. Although the false contractions that occur in the last weeks of pregnancy can sometimes be mistaken for the onset of labor, you will not confuse real contractions with anything.

SIGNS OF STRENGTH

Appearance
As the cervix opens, it pushes out the blood-stained mucous plug that clogged it during pregnancy.
What to do This can happen a couple of days before the onset of labor, so wait until the pain in your stomach or back becomes constant or the amniotic fluid breaks before calling your midwife or the hospital.

Drainage of amniotic fluid
The rupture of the amniotic sac is possible at any moment. The waters can flow away, but more often they ooze little by little - they are delayed by the head of the child.
What to do Call a midwife or an ambulance right away. Hospitalization is safer even if there are no contractions yet, as infection is possible. In the meantime, lay down a waffle towel to absorb moisture.

Uterine contractions
At first they make themselves felt as dull pains in the back or in the hips. After a while, contractions will begin, similar to the sensations during painful menstruation.
What to do When contractions become regular, fix the intervals between them. If you think your contractions are on, call your midwife. As long as they are not very frequent (up to 5 minutes) or painful, there is no point in rushing to the hospital. The first birth usually lasts quite a long time, 12-14 hours, and part of this time is best spent at home. Walk slowly, stopping to rest. If the water has not yet broken, you can take a warm shower or lightly refresh yourself. The maternity hospital may advise you not to come until the contractions have intensified and begin to recur every 5 minutes.

harbingers of fights
Weak uterine contractions occur throughout pregnancy. In the last few weeks, they have become more frequent and more intense, so sometimes they can be mistaken for the start of contractions. Feeling such contractions, get up, walk around and listen to see if they continue, if the pauses between them become shorter. Harbingers of contractions are usually irregular.

PERIODICITY OF STRENGTHS
Track the dynamics of contractions during the hour: the beginning and end, amplification, increase in frequency. When the contractions stabilize, their duration should be at least 40 seconds.

FIRST PERIOD

AT THIS STAGE, the uterine muscles contract to open the cervix and let the fetus through. At the first birth, contractions last an average of 10-12 hours. It is possible that at some point you will panic. No matter how well prepared you are, the feeling that something beyond your control is happening to your body can be frightening. Stay calm and try not to interfere with your body, do what it tells you. Right now you will truly appreciate the presence of a husband or girlfriend nearby, especially if they know what contractions are.

BREATHING IN THE FIRST PERIOD OF LABOR
At the beginning and end of the contraction, breathe deeply and evenly, inhaling through your nose and exhaling through your mouth. When the contraction reaches its peak, resort to shallow breathing, but now also inhaling and exhaling through the mouth. Don't breathe like this for too long - you may feel dizzy.

ARRIVAL AT THE Maternity Hospital

At the reception you will be met by a nurse midwife who will carry out all the formalities and preparatory procedures. The husband at this time may be next to you. If you are giving birth at home, you will be prepared for childbirth in the same way.

Midwife Questions
The midwife will check the registration records and your exchange card, as well as clarify if the waters have broken and if there has been a mucus plug. In addition, he will ask a series of questions about contractions: when did they start? how often do they occur? what do you feel about it? what is the duration of the attacks?

Survey
When you change, your blood pressure, temperature and pulse will be taken. The doctor will conduct an internal examination to determine how much the cervix has dilated.

Fetal examination
The midwife will feel your abdomen to determine the baby's position and use a special stethoscope to listen to your baby's heart. It is possible that for about 20 minutes she will record the heartbeat of the Fetus through a microphone - this recording will help to establish whether the child receives enough oxygen during uterine contractions.

Other procedures
You will be asked to provide a urine sample for sugar and protein analysis. If your water hasn't broken yet, you can take a shower. You will be taken to the delivery room.

INTERNAL SURVEYS
The doctor will, if necessary, conduct internal examinations, controlling the position of the fetus and the degree of cervical dilatation. Ask him questions - you should also know about what is happening. Usually, the opening of the uterus is uneven, as it were. jerks. The examination is carried out in the intervals between contractions, therefore, feeling the approach of the next contraction, you will need to inform the doctor about it. Most likely, you will be asked to lie on your back, surrounded by pillows, but if this position is uncomfortable, you can lie on your side. Try to relax as much as possible.

BATTLE
The cervix is ​​a ring of muscles, normally closed around the uterine os. The longitudinal muscles that form the walls of the uterus depart from it. During a contraction, they contract, drawing the neck inward, and then stretching it so that the baby's head passes into the uterine os.
1. The cervix relaxes under the influence of hormones.
2. Weak contractions smoothly smooth the cervix.
3. Strong contractions lead to the opening of the cervix.

PROVISIONS FOR THE FIRST PERIOD OF LABOR
In the first period, try to try different positions of the body, finding the most convenient for each stage. These positions must be mastered in advance so that at the right time you can quickly take the right posture. You may suddenly feel that it is better to lie down. Lie on your back, not on your side. The head and thigh should be supported by pillows.

Vertical position
At the initial stage of contractions, use some kind of support - a wall, a chair or a hospital bed. You can kneel if you wish.

sitting position
Sit facing the back of a chair, leaning on a padded pillow. Head down on hands, knees apart. Another pillow can be placed on the seat.

Leaning on her husband
At the first stage of labor, which you will probably endure on your feet, during contractions it is convenient to put your hands on your husband’s shoulders and lean on. Your husband can help you relax by massaging your back or stroking your shoulders.

kneeling position
Get on your knees, spread your legs and, relaxing all the muscles, lower your upper body onto the pillows. Keep your back as straight as possible. Sit on your hip between contractions.

Four point support
Get on your knees, leaning on your hands. It is convenient to do this on a mattress. Move your pelvis back and forth. Don't hunch your back. Between contractions, relax by lowering yourself forward and resting your head in your hands.

BIRTH PAIN IN THE BACK
In cephalic presentation, the baby's head pushes against your spine, causing back pain. To make it easier:
during contractions, lean forward, transferring weight to your hands, and make progressive movements with your pelvis; walk in intervals
in the intervals between contractions, have your husband massage your back.

Lumbar massage
This procedure will relieve back pain, as well as calm and invigorate you. Let the husband massage the base of your spine, pressing in a circular motion with the protrusion of the palm of your hand. Use talc.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF

Move more, walk in the intervals between contractions - this will help to cope with the pain. During attacks, choose a comfortable body position.
Stay as straight as possible: the baby's head will rest against the cervix, the contractions will become stronger and more effective.
Focus on your breath to calm yourself and take your attention away from contractions.
Relax during breaks to save energy until the time when they are most needed.
Sing, even shout, to ease the pain.
Look at one point or at some object to distract yourself.
React only to this fight, do not think about the next. Imagine each attack as a wave, "riding" which you will "carry" the child.
Urinate more often - the bladder should not interfere with the progress of the fetus.

WHAT CAN A HUSBAND HELP

Praise and encourage your wife in every possible way. Do not get lost if she is annoyed - your presence is still important.
Remind them of the relaxation and breathing techniques she learned in the course.
Wipe her face, hold her hand, massage her back, offer to change position. What kind of touches and massage she likes, you need to know in advance.
Be an intermediary between the wife and the medical staff. Keep her side in everything: for example, if she asks for a painkiller.

TRANSITION PHASE

THE MOST DIFFICULT time of childbirth is the end of the first period. The contractions become strong and long, and the intervals are reduced to a minute. This phase is called transitional. Exhausted, you will probably be either depressed at this stage or overly excited and tearful. You may even lose your sense of time and fall asleep between contractions. This may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and chills. In the end, you will have a great desire, straining, to push the fetus out. But if you do it ahead of time, swelling of the cervix is ​​​​possible. Therefore, ask the midwife to check if the cervix is ​​fully dilated.

BREATHING IN THE TRANSITION PHASE
If premature attempts begin, take two short breaths and one long exhalation: "uh, uh, fu-u-u-u-u." When the urge to push stops, exhale slowly and evenly.

How to stop pushing
If the cervix has not yet opened, in this position, take a double breath and a long exhalation: "uh, uh, fu-u-u-u" (see top right). You may need pain relief. Get on your knees and, leaning forward, lower your head into your hands; the pelvic floor should seem to hang in the air. This will weaken the urge to push and make it difficult to push the fetus out.

WHAT CAN A HUSBAND HELP

Try to calm your wife, cheer, wipe the sweat; If she doesn't want it, don't insist.
Breathe with her during contractions.
Put on her socks if she gets chills.
If you start pushing, call the midwife immediately.

WHAT IS HAPPENING TO THE CERVOCUS
The cervix, palpable at a depth of 7 cm, is already sufficiently stretched around the fetal head.
If the cervix is ​​no longer palpable, then its expansion has ended.

SECOND PERIOD AS soon as the cervix has dilated and you are ready to push, the second stage of labor begins - the period of expulsion of the fetus. Now you add your own efforts to the involuntary contractions of the uterus, helping to push the fetus out. The contractions became stronger, but they are already less painful. Pushing is hard work, but your midwife will help you find the most comfortable position and guide you when to push. Do not rush things, try to do everything right. In the first birth, the second period usually lasts more than an hour.

BREATHING IN THE SECOND PERIOD OF LABOR
Feeling the urge to push, inhale deeply and lean forward to hold your breath. Take deep, calming breaths between pushes. Relax slowly as the contraction subsides.

POSES FOR THE EXJUICE OF THE FETUS
When pushing, try to stay straighter - then gravity will also work on you.

Squatting
This is the ideal position: the pelvic lumen opens and the fetus is released by gravity. But if you have not prepared yourself for this pose in advance, you will soon feel tired. Use the easy option: if your husband sits on the edge of a chair with his knees apart, you can sit between them, resting your hands on his hips.

On the knees
This position is less tiring, and it also makes it easier to push. If you are supported from both sides, this will give the body more stability. You can just lean on your hands; the back should be straight.

sitting
You can give birth while sitting on the bed, surrounded by pillows. As soon as the attempts begin, lower your chin down and clasp your legs with your hands. Rest between pushes by leaning back.

HOW TO HELP YOURSELF
At the moment of contraction, strain gradually, smoothly.
Try to relax your pelvic floor so that you can feel it sinking.
Relax your facial muscles.
Don't try to control your bowels and bladder.
Rest between contractions, save energy for attempts.

WHAT CAN A HUSBAND HELP
Try to somehow distract your wife between attempts, continue to calm and cheer her up.
Tell her about what you see, such as the appearance of the head, but do not be surprised if she does not pay attention to you.

BIRTH

THE PEAK OF BIRTH has arrived. The baby is about to be born. You will be able to touch your baby's head, and soon you will be able to pick him up. At first, you will probably be overwhelmed by a feeling of great relief, but it will be followed by surprise, and tears of joy, and, of course, a feeling of immense tenderness for the child.

1. The fetal head approaches the vaginal opening, pressing on the pelvic floor. The top of the head will soon appear: with each push, it will either move forward, or, perhaps, roll back a little when the contractions are weakened. Don't worry, this is completely normal.

2. As soon as the top of the head appears, you will be asked not to push any further - if the head comes out too quickly, perineal tears are possible. Relax, take a break. If there is a threat of serious tears or any abnormalities in the child, you may have an episiotomy. As the head expands the vaginal opening, there is a burning sensation, but it does not last long, giving way to numbness, which is caused by a strong stretching of the tissues.

3. When the head appears, the baby's face is turned down. The midwife checks if the umbilical cord is wrapped around the neck. If this happens, it can be removed when the entire body is released. The infant then turns its head to the side, turning around before full release. The midwife will wipe his eyes, nose, mouth and, if necessary, remove mucus from the upper respiratory tract.

4. The last contractions of the uterus, and the baby's body is released completely. Usually the baby is placed on the mother's stomach, because the umbilical cord still holds it. Perhaps at first the baby will seem bluish to you. His body is covered with primordial grease, traces of blood remain on the skin. If he breathes normally, you can take him in your arms, press him to your chest. If breathing is difficult, the airway will be cleared and, if necessary, an oxygen mask will be given.

THIRD PERIOD
At the end of the second stage of labor, you will probably be given an intravenous injection of a drug that increases uterine contractions - then the placenta will move almost instantly. If you wait for it to flake off naturally, you may lose a lot of blood. Discuss this point with your doctor in advance. To remove the placenta, the doctor puts one hand on your stomach and gently pulls on the umbilical cord with the other. After that, he must check that the placenta has passed completely.

APGAR SCALE
After receiving the baby, the midwife evaluates his breathing, heart rate, skin color, muscle tone and reflexes, calculating a score on a 10-point Angar scale. Usually in newborns, this indicator ranges from 7 to 10. After 5 minutes, a re-count is performed: the initial score, as a rule, grows.

AFTER CHILDBIRTH
You will be washed and, if necessary, stitched. The neonatologist will examine the newborn, the midwife will weigh it and measure it. To prevent the baby from developing a rare disease associated with insufficient blood clotting, he may be given vitamin K. The umbilical cord is cut off immediately after birth.

Question and answer "I'm afraid of injury during childbirth. Is there such a danger?"
Do not be afraid, there is no such danger - the vaginal walls are elastic, their folds can stretch and let the fetus through. "Should I breastfeed my baby immediately after giving birth?" You can give a breast, but if the baby does not take it, do not insist. In fact, the sucking reflex in newborns is strong, and when they suck, they are in a good mood.

ANESTHESIA

BIRTH IS RARELY painless, but pain also has a special meaning: after all, every contraction is a step towards the birth of a baby. You may need pain medication, depending on the progress of your contractions and your ability to manage the pain. You may be able to overcome it using self-help techniques, but if the aggravating pain becomes unbearable, ask your doctor for painkillers.

EPIDURAL ANESTHESIA
This anesthesia relieves pain by blocking the nerves of the lower body. It is effective when contractions cause back pain. However, not every hospital will offer you an epidural. The time of its application should be calculated so that the effect of the anesthetic ceases by the 2nd stage of labor, otherwise slowing down labor and increasing the risk of episiotomy and forceps may occur.

How does this happen
For epidural anesthesia, approx. 20 minutes. You will be asked to curl up with your knees resting on your chin. An anesthetic will be injected into the lower back with a syringe. The needle is not removed, which allows you to enter an additional dose if necessary. The anesthetic wears off after 2 hours. It may be accompanied by some difficulty in movement and trembling in the hands. These things will pass soon.

Action
On you The pain will pass, the clarity of consciousness will remain. Some women experience weakness and headache, as well as heaviness in the legs, which sometimes lasts for several hours.
per child None.

NITRIC OXIDE WITH OXYGEN
This gas mixture significantly reduces pain without completely removing it, and causes euphoria. Apply at the end of the 1st period of childbirth.

How does this happen
The gas mixture enters through a mask connected by a hose to the apparatus. The action of the gas manifests itself in half a minute, so at the beginning of the fight, you need to take a few deep breaths.

Action
On you The gas dulls the pain, but does not remove it completely. When inhaling, you will feel dizzy or nauseous.
per child None.

PROMEDOL
This medicine is used in the 1st stage of labor, when the woman in labor is excited and it is difficult for her to relax.

How does this happen
Promedol is injected into the buttock or thigh. The onset of action is after 20 minutes, the duration is 2-3 hours.

Action
On you Promedol manifests itself in different ways. It has a calming effect on someone, relaxes, causing drowsiness, although the consciousness of what is happening is completely preserved. There are also complaints about the loss of control over oneself, the state of intoxication. You may feel nauseous and shaky.
per child Promedol can cause respiratory depression and drowsiness in a child. After childbirth, breathing is easy to stimulate, and drowsiness will disappear by itself.

ELECTRO-Stimulation
The electrical stimulation device reduces pain and stimulates the internal mechanism of overcoming pain. It works on weak electrical impulses that affect the back area through the skin. A month before the birth, find out if there is such a device in the maternity hospital, and learn how to use it.

How does this happen
Four electrodes are placed on the back at the concentration of nerves leading to the uterus. The electrodes are connected by wires to the manual control panel. With it, you can adjust the current strength.

Action
On you The device reduces pain at the initial stage of childbirth. If the contractions are very painful, the device is ineffective.
per child None.

OBSERVATION OF THE STATE OF THE FETUS

DURING the entire period of childbirth, doctors constantly record the heart rate of the fetus. This is done with a conventional obstetric stethoscope or with an electronic monitor.

OBstetrical Stethoscope
While you are in the delivery room, the midwife regularly listens to the fetal heartbeat through the abdominal wall.

ELECTRONIC FETUS MONITORING
This method requires sophisticated electronic equipment. In some hospitals, such monitoring (control) is used throughout the birth, in others - occasionally or in the following cases:
if childbirth is artificially induced
if you have had an epidural
if you have complications that could threaten the fetus
if the fetus has abnormalities.
Electronic monitoring is absolutely harmless and painless, however, it significantly limits the freedom of movement - thus you cannot control contractions. If your doctor or midwife has suggested that you have ongoing monitoring, find out if this is really necessary.

How does this happen
You will be asked to sit or lie down on a couch. The body is fixed with pillows. Adhesive tapes will be attached to the abdomen with sensors that capture the fetal heartbeat and register uterine contractions. Instrument readings are printed on paper tape. After the amniotic fluid breaks, the baby's heart rate can be measured by holding an electronic sensor close to the baby's head. This monitoring method is the most accurate, but not very convenient. Some maternity hospitals use radio wave monitoring systems with remote control (telemetry monitoring). Their advantage is that you are not tied to bulky equipment and can move freely during fights.

SPECIAL DELIVERY TECHNIQUES
EPISIOTOMY
This is a dissection of the entrance of the vagina to prevent rupture or to shorten the second stage of labor if the health of the fetus is threatened. To avoid an episiotomy:
learn to relax your pelvic floor muscles
keep upright when expelling the fetus.

Indications
An episiotomy is needed if:
the fetus has a breech presentation, a large head, other deviations
you have a premature birth
use forceps or vacuum
you are not in control
the skin around the entrance to the vagina is not stretched enough.

How does this happen
At the climax of the contraction, an incision is made in the vagina - down and, usually, slightly to the side. Sometimes there is no time for an anesthetic injection, but you still won’t feel pain, since partial numbness of the tissues also occurs due to the fact that they are stretched. Quite long and painful, perhaps, will be the suturing after an episiotomy or rupture - a complex procedure that requires special care. So insist that you get a good local anesthetic. The suture material dissolves itself after a while, it is not necessary to remove it.

Effects
Uncomfortable sensations and inflammation after an episiotomy are normal, but pain can be severe, especially when infected. The incision heals in 10-14 days, but if something bothers you later, see a doctor.

FRUIT RECOVERY
Sometimes forceps or vacuum extraction are used to help the baby come into the world. The use of forceps is possible only when the cervix is ​​fully dilated, when the fetal head has entered it. Vacuum extraction is also acceptable with incomplete disclosure - in the case of prolonged labor.

Indications
Forced extraction is performed:
if you or the fetus has any abnormalities during childbirth
in case of breech presentation or premature birth.

How does this happen

Forceps You will be given anesthesia - inhalation or intravenous anesthesia. The doctor applies forceps, wrapping them around the child's head, and carefully pulls it out. When applying forceps, attempts are completely excluded. Then everything happens naturally.
vacuum extractor This is a small suction cup connected to a vacuum pump. Through the vagina, it is brought to the head of the fetus. While you push, the fetus is gently pulled through the birth canal.

Effects
Forceps may leave dents or bruises on the head of the fetus, but they are not dangerous. After a few days, these marks disappear.
vacuum the suction cup will leave a slight swelling and then a bruise on the child's head. This, too, will gradually subside.

STIMULATION OF LABOR
Stimulation means that contractions will have to be artificially induced. Sometimes methods are used to speed up contractions if they go too slowly. Doctors' approaches to stimulation often differ; so try to find out what is the practice of artificial induction of labor where you will give birth.

Indications
Contractions are artificially induced:
if, with a delay in labor for more than a week, signs of abnormalities in the fetus or a disorder in the functions of the placenta are found
if you have high blood pressure or any other complications that are dangerous to the fetus.

How does this happen
Artificially induced labor is planned in advance, and you will be asked to go to the hospital in advance. Use 3 methods of stimulating contractions:
1. Cerviprost is injected into the cervical canal to soften the cervix. Contractions may start in about an hour. This method is not always effective in the first birth.
2. Opening of the amniotic sac. The doctor pierces a hole in the amniotic sac. Most women do not experience any pain. Soon, uterine contractions begin.
3. Through a dropper, a hormonal drug is administered intravenously, which promotes uterine contraction. Ask to have the drip placed on your left hand (or your right hand if you're left-handed).

Effects
The introduction of a hormonal drug is preferable - you can move freely during contractions. When using a dropper, the contractions will be more intense and the intervals between them will be shorter than during normal childbirth. Plus, you have to lie down.

BUTTOCK PRESENTATION
In 4 cases out of 100, the baby comes out with the lower part of the body. Childbirth in this position of the fetus is longer and more painful, so they must take place in a hospital. Since the head, the largest part of the baby's body, will be the last to appear at birth, it is measured beforehand with an ultrasound scanner to make sure it passes through the pelvis. An episiotomy will be required; caesarean section is often used (in some clinics it is mandatory).

TWINS
Twins must be delivered in a hospital, as forceps are often used to extract them. In addition, one of them may have a breech presentation. You will probably be offered an epidural. The first stage of childbirth will be one. There are two second ones - pushing - first one child comes out, followed by the second. The interval between the birth of twins is 10-30 minutes.

C-SECTION

With a caesarean section, the baby is born through the opened abdominal wall. You will be advised in advance of the need for surgery, but this measure may be due to complications during childbirth. If a caesarean section is planned, an epidural will be used, meaning you will be awake and able to see your baby right away. If the need for surgery arises during contractions, then epidural anesthesia is possible, although general anesthesia is sometimes required. It's hard to come to terms with the fact that you can't give birth normally. But these experiences are surmountable if you prepare psychologically.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN
Your pubis will be shaved, a dropper will be placed on your arm, and a catheter will be inserted into your bladder. They will give you anesthesia. In the case of epidural anesthesia, a screen will probably be installed between you and the surgeon. Usually a horizontal incision is made, then the surgeon removes the amniotic fluid with suction. The child is sometimes removed with forceps. After the placenta has been rejected, you will be able to take him in your arms. The operation itself takes five minutes. Another 20 minutes takes suturing.

Incision
The bikini incision is made horizontally, above the upper pubic line, and after healing it is almost invisible.

AFTER OPERATION
You will not be allowed to lie down for a long time without getting up after childbirth. Walking and movements are completely harmless for you. The incision will still be painful for the first few days, so ask for pain medication. Stand straight, supporting the seam with your hands. After two days, start light exercises; in a day or two, when the bandage is removed, you can swim. The stitches are removed on the 5th day. In a week you will feel quite well. Avoid strenuous activities for the first 6 weeks. After 3-6 months, the scar will fade.

How to breastfeed
Place the child on pillows so that his weight does not press on the wound.

Even very calm and balanced women experience quite natural anxiety before childbirth. No matter how the sequence of contractions, frequency and duration are memorized in courses for expectant mothers, fear still remains and is associated with the unknown. What will the contractions be like, how much will it hurt, what can they be compared to? We will give answers to these questions in this article.

What it is?

Contractions is the process of tension of the muscles of the uterus, in which the cervix opens. The walls of the uterus at this time exert pressure, under which the baby takes the correct position based on its presentation, which is optimal for passing through the birth canal after the cervix opens completely.

Sensations during contractions can be different, and largely depend on the period of childbirth, the individual pain sensitivity of the woman in labor. Those who sell methods of childbirth without pain are somewhat cunning, because there are no contractions without pain. Another issue is that some women tolerate pain relatively easily, while others are worse.

The first contractions are rare and short. They are called latent. They last no more than 8-10 hours. This is the longest period of childbirth, and contractions feel sore.

This is followed by a period of active contractions, when they are repeated every 5 minutes and last up to a minute. This is already more painful, but the opening of the cervix at the end of the period is about 7 centimeters, and there is very little left before attempts. After 3-5 hours of active contractions, transitional contractions occur, with them the opening increases to 10-12 centimeters, the uterus opens completely. These are the most tangible contractions that are protracted, last about a minute each and are repeated after a minute, a maximum of two. This period lasts from half an hour to an hour and a half and turns into attempts when the baby begins its journey through the mother's birth canal.

Recognizing real labor pains is easy. They differ from false and training ones in that they are repeated at certain intervals, develop and intensify.

With what to compare?

Often, women compare the initial contractions with pain during menstruation, with the ebb and flow of the surf. Indeed, contractions are similar to this in their rhythm - the uterus tenses and relaxes. Spasms occur at regular intervals, in the intervals between them you can relax. Naturally, the longer the rest period at the very beginning, the easier it is to endure a short spasm.

With pain during menstruation, labor pains are similar only in localization. Bursting pain arises when the tone of the uterus occurs in the back, smoothly descends and envelops the lumbar region, lower abdomen, and spreads throughout the abdominal wall. Then, in the reverse order, relaxation occurs.

Pain - what is it?

It is believed that pain during childbirth is of psychogenic origin, because there are no nerve endings in the uterus. The main cause of painful contractions, experts call overexcitation of the nervous system. Therefore, women who remain calm have a good idea of ​​what exactly happens in her body at one or another moment of childbirth, give birth easier and faster, and claim that they did not experience transcendental unbearable pain.

It should be noted that pain is a very subjective concept. What is unbearably painful for one woman in labor is quite bearable for another. It all depends on the pain threshold - an individual threshold beyond which the human nervous system simply ceases to perceive pain as pain.

In world practice, there was a proposal to measure pain in dol. These conventional units allow us to determine the threshold values ​​of pain from a particular impact, but, alas, only for a particular person. On average, pain at the very peak of labor, during the transition from contractions to attempts, is estimated at 9-10.0 dol.

To understand whether this is a lot or a little, a woman needs to know that the average limit of patience beyond which the perception of pain as such stops is 10.5 dol, that is, labor pain is at the limit of human capabilities.

The experiment was carried out in 1948 in one of the American clinics, where drops of boiling water were dripped onto the skin of 13 women in childbirth between contractions. It was then that it turned out that the burn, which was previously considered the most painful, was not at all like that - childbirth would be more painful. Many women did not respond to a drop of boiling water after a contraction, but not all. And this proves that the pain threshold is different. Those who felt the hot water had pain that was below 10 dol, although they were in the same stage of the birth process.

There is no consensus about these units of measurement, and there is an assumption that they are so subjective that they cannot act as a single measure of pain. If we talk about some kind of scale by which labor pain and pain during real contractions can be assessed, then it is easier to focus on the usual 10-point scale adjusted (solidly!) For individuality.

So, surveys conducted in several clinics in France, Great Britain and Canada, when women were asked to describe the pain after childbirth in numbers, showed that many estimate the initial stage of childbirth at 0-2 points. Active contractions received higher marks from women in labor - 5-7 points. Transitional contractions - up to 8-10 points. But after giving birth, an hour later, the women rated their well-being at 1-2 points on a ten-point scale of pain.

If you want to determine your own pain threshold before childbirth, you should ask any anesthesiologist to test you with a special algesimeter device - this is the only more or less accurate way to understand what your pain sensitivity is. All people are divided into four types of pain sensitivity and susceptibility.

What influences perception and how to facilitate?

As already mentioned, it's all about the nervous system of a woman. Pain is a controlled process, which is why yogis and special forces soldiers are able to regulate their own pain, walk on glass, not feel pain from a burn or cut. A woman, of course, is not a yogi or a special forces intelligence officer, but absolutely any woman in labor can learn to perceive pain correctly and reduce it.

For a long time, explanatory work was based on this, which was carried out with all pregnant women in Soviet antenatal clinics. The development of a method for reducing pain belongs to Soviet scientists, it formed the basis of exclusively all international methods for reducing pain.

The right attitude includes auto-training, meditation training, self-hypnosis, breathing techniques and muscle relaxation techniques. Calmness, confidence that the female body has enough natural wisdom and strength to give birth to a child will help to feel contractions more easily. It's true.

From the first contractions, you need to move, not lie down, inhale deeply and exhale slowly, this will help you relax, and the relaxed muscles of the uterus contract less painfully. If the contractions have become active, a change of position will help, some are more comfortable standing, some are sitting on a fitball, someone is walking or standing on all fours. Strong contractions are better to “breathe” finely (“dog-like”), and when trying, it is important to take in air and hold your breath, “squeezing” the baby’s chest outward.

Pain is aggravated by fear, panic, screaming, groans, hectic spontaneous breathing, lack of contact with medical personnel (the woman does not listen to the requests of the obstetrician, does not fulfill them).

In the last months of pregnancy, a woman feels natural anxiety, because the time of childbirth is inevitably approaching, and it is difficult to predict how they will pass. Those who give birth for the first time can hardly imagine this process, although they theoretically know its sequence. The burning question is what the contractions feel like, because they, moreover, are false.

Contractions during pregnancy: physiology

An inexperienced woman in these matters needs to understand what contractions are and why they occur. The last weeks before the appearance of the baby are associated with the complex work of hormones that prepare the body for an important moment.
The level of progesterone, which ensures the safety and development of the fetus, as well as maintaining the tone of the uterus throughout pregnancy, gradually decreases, and oxytocin and estrogen begin to take the lead.
The main task of the uterus during childbirth is to open it so that the baby can pass through the birth canal. If before that she protected him, being in a closed state, before giving birth, her tissues become more extensible and pliable, thanks to estrogen. Contractions are contractions of the uterus trying to open up. These spasms allow the child to take the optimal position to facilitate the exit from the mother's body.
They are divided into:

1. False;
2. True.

Each contraction causes the cervix to stretch until it is fully dilated into the vagina. It is very important for the woman in labor to keep her presence of mind at this time, since the increased concentration of adrenaline and cortisol can interfere with this process, slow it down and even block it. It is fear that prevents normal childbirth.
Since the hormonal background of a pregnant woman is constantly changing, the first contractions can occur as early as 5 months. Of course, these are false spasms, they are also called training. They last no more than a minute and, in general, they are quite difficult to confuse with real contractions. But what they are, you need to know. After all, this will allow you to behave correctly, immediately, before childbirth.

Some moms start experiencing exercise contractions as early as 20 weeks or a little later. This doesn't happen to everyone. However, knowing how it feels, a woman will no longer go to the doctor every time without special need.
False spasms have their own characteristic features:

• They are practically painless, can spread over the upper and lower abdomen, groin, and rather cause discomfort.
• If there is a slight pain of a pulling nature, then mainly in the lower back.
• Such fights are very short, can be provoked by a stressful situation or physical activity.
• By frequency, they appear up to 5-6 times a day with different intervals.

A future woman in labor needs to remember that training contractions of the organ occur for the following reasons:

• Unstable mental state;
• When the body does not have enough fluid;
• After intercourse;
• With irregular emptying of the bladder;
• During physical overload.
• Sometimes the prerequisite is the activity of the baby.

If you describe what contractions feel like, then you can compare them with pulling spasms of low intensity. In such cases, you can cope with the situation by taking a more comfortable position, taking a walk in the fresh air or taking a warm bath.

Real labor pains appear at 9 months. They are distinguished by regularity, soreness, and the intervals between them tend to shorten. Right before the birth, the uterus is subjected to intense pressure from the baby's head, and this effect enhances the activity of the opening of the cervix.
Pregnant women often worry about what contractions feel like in the beginning. They can be understood, because a woman does not want to miss the very beginning of labor. Fortunately, this process cannot be confused with anything else.
Early labor spasms are much stronger than training ones, and cause significant discomfort to the woman in labor. In some cases, they are accompanied by pain in the lower back - this happens when the baby comes out with the back of the head. In this regard, a woman may feel quite severe pain.
Physiological signs of approaching childbirth may look like this:

• The pain gradually increases, covering the abdomen and lumbar;
• There are discharges with blood;
• The amniotic fluid leaves;
• Uterine contractions become more frequent;
• There is a powerful pressure on the perineum.

According to women who have already passed such a test as childbirth, true labor pains can resemble:

1. Poisoning- in a sense, contractions at an early stage resemble the “mess” in the intestines, which happens with food intoxication. This state of seething covers the entire region of the abdomen.
2. The urge to the toilet in a big way- a woman in labor may feel a desire to empty the intestines, as she feels a strong load on the rectum. This feeling also occurs at the very beginning of labor.
3. Pain during menstruation when the uterus contracts, only 15-20 times stronger and more often. Of course, there is nothing to compare such sensations in terms of their strength, in comparison with labor pains.
4. Rising tide feeling- a completely appropriate description of true contractions. The pain syndrome of a pulling nature is able to increase and “roll down” again. Gradually, the waves become more powerful and longer.
5. Strong compression, that is, a spasm, many mothers note. The insides in the abdomen seem to freeze, turn to stone, and the pain syndrome increases with each new contraction.
6. Some compare the process of childbirth with a greatly increased toothache, and not sharp, but aching.

If you figure out why contractions are needed during childbirth, it will be easier for you to accept them and distinguish them from attempts or simple malaise in the lower abdomen:

Unfortunately, painless contractions cannot be, just different women experience more or less severe pain. It also depends on the ability to endure such discomfort, or rather, on a low or high pain threshold. What the contractions feel like is strictly individual for each woman in labor, and purely subjective feelings play a role here. Once having given birth to a baby, a woman will get a complete picture of this process and will have her own, purely personal opinion.

Why do contractions hurt?

The uterus consists of three layers of muscles (outer, middle and inner layers), which during childbirth begin to work harmoniously, harmoniously, but polarly (some muscles tense, others relax). For the expulsion of the fetus to proceed normally, the internal muscles must be relaxed, and the external ones must contract. However, it often happens that women, with their experiences, fears and poor preparation for childbirth, force those muscles to contract, which are prescribed to relax during contractions. This causes severe pain. In the case when the expectant mother does not resist childbirth, does not try to control the process from the inside, the sensations become more tolerable, resembling a spasm.

What determines the pain of contractions?

In many ways, sensations depend on the position of the child in the womb, the period of childbirth, the presence or absence of previous experience of natural childbirth, the level of physical and emotional preparation. So, for example, it is known that the expectation of pain, the fear of childbirth can turn the experience of childbirth into the most terrible hours in a woman's life. This vicious circle of sensations, when a woman is afraid of pain and therefore feels it more sharply, was described by Dr. Grantley Dick-Read and was called fearful-tense pain syndrome.

What types of fights exist?

1. Training contractions, or Braxton-Hicks contractions, appear around the middle of pregnancy. It is believed that they prepare the pelvic organs for the birth of a child. Such contractions are usually painless and do not lead to the onset of labor.
2. False labor pains may appear a few weeks before delivery. They differ from the real ones in their randomness and the fact that they pass if the woman takes a different position or starts to move.
3. Real labor pains can begin a day before childbirth (for nulliparous women) and differ from all others in that:

- become more intense with time;
- do not weaken and do not pass from a change in body position;
- aligned in rhythm (you can track equal time intervals between contractions);
— last from 30 to 70 seconds;
May be accompanied by stomach pain, diarrhea or nausea.

What happens during fights?

Contractions are a big and important work that precedes the birth of a child. During contractions, the muscles of the uterus contract, which push the baby down the birth canal, as well as the opening of the cervix so that the baby can exit it. Both processes are interconnected: some muscles seem to wrap around the uterus in a circle, and some are located vertically. When a contraction occurs, the first ones push the child, and the second ones are responsible for opening, as if pulling up the neck.

The first stage of labor, when the opening is just beginning, can go almost unnoticed for many. The contractions are not yet intense and feel more like discomfort than pain. However, for some women in labor, these sensations seem very vivid and even painful. A warm shower and a light walk around the apartment or the corridor of the hospital helps to cope with this pain. It is not necessary to intensify contractions on purpose, for example, by walking up stairs or other physical exertion, in order to speed up the process of childbirth, otherwise you risk approaching the active phase of childbirth without strength.

The active phase of labor will begin when the disclosure reaches six centimeters. Previously, it was believed that four centimeters were enough to start the active phase, but recent studies show that this is not the case. These two centimeters between four and six are considered an important period of childbirth, an intermediate stage between the initial stage and the start of "real" childbirth.

How long do contractions last?

The duration and frequency of contractions depends on the stage of labor at which the woman is.

• The first contractions that accompany the dilation of the cervix from zero to six centimeters last from 30 to 90 seconds and can be irregular - an interval of half an hour is quite normal. But when the opening is at least a few centimeters, the contractions will become more regular and the interval will be reduced to five minutes. The opening period of up to six centimeters can last from six to 12 hours.
• When the disclosure is six centimeters, the contractions will become more intense and more painful. They will last more than a minute, and the interval will be three minutes. The closer the moment of full disclosure, the shorter the interval between contractions, and they themselves are longer. So, at nine centimeters, the contractions will last for two minutes, and there will be only one and a half to rest. The journey from opening six centimeters to full ten will take five to six hours.
• When the cervix is ​​fully dilated, contractions can last up to two minutes, and the interval between them will be reduced to 60 seconds.
• It will be easier during the attempts (many women feel this period as a relief): the contractions will become intense, but almost painless. They will last from 45 seconds to three minutes, and the interval between them will be three to five minutes. Attempts will take from 15 minutes to two hours.
• Many women do not even notice the discharge of the placenta. These are contractions that last an average of half an hour. During this time, the uterine cavity gets rid of the placenta and remnants of the fetal bladder. After the baby is born, these contractions can hardly be called tangible. Doctors may ask the woman to push to help the placenta pass.

What are contractions like?

Some say that the sensations in the first stage of labor resemble menstrual pain. You may feel a pulling pain in your back and lower abdomen. The sensations may also resemble the urge to have a bowel movement and discomfort that you cannot explain in any way. Some women go into labor without even knowing it.

The second stage of childbirth seems painful to most women, while in addition to pain in the front of the abdomen (if you put your hand on it at the peak of the contraction, you will feel how much the muscles contract), women in labor are often also worried about back pain, which does not go away with a change in position . At full disclosure, many rate pain as 75-80 on a 100-point scale.

Pushing is experienced by many as an almost painless experience. During this period, a woman, as a rule, feels an unbearable desire to push (if this desire is not there, the midwife will tell you when to start pushing). When the baby's head erupts, the expectant mother feels a tingling sensation, and then a burning sensation in the area of ​​​​the perineum and the entrance to the vagina. But the pain that was before is no longer there: the child's head presses on the nerves in the perineum region, so there is actually a natural desensitization, that is, a drop in sensitivity.