How to recognize the signs of childbirth?

This is it, the moment you were looking forward to (and dreading a bit too) has arrived! You will soon give birth to your little baby and finally meet him. If this is your first pregnancy, it is a wonderful event that you have never experienced before. And even if, when you were pregnant, you took childbirth preparation classes, you are stepping into the unknown!

It is therefore quite normal to have many questions about the birth of your child and to wonder if you will be able to distinguish the signs of childbirth. After all, these are new symptoms! What is more, between the “false” contractions, and those which precede the birth, there is something to be lost. Rest assured, your body will quickly tell you that you are about to give birth and that you need to go to the hospital. You are given the first signs to recognize when childbirth is near.

The loss of the mucous plug

The loss of the mucous plug is different from the loss of the water bag. All women secrete cervical mucus at the entrance to the cervix. During pregnancy, this substance thickens to form a mucous plug. The latter's role is to close the cervix and protect the fetus from infections. Before childbirth and when the cervix begins to open, the pregnant woman expels the mucous plug: the cervical mucus becomes more liquid and begins to flow. Note that the substance is sometimes tinged with blood. Rest assured, the loss of the mucous plug is painless. It can also go unnoticed. If you realize it, you don't have to go to the hospital, though, as the mucous plug can lose its way a few days before giving birth. It marks the start of the childbirth phase.

Contractions

Contractions are a good way to recognize whether or not childbirth is imminent. But beware, they can be misleading! Indeed, we must distinguish between several types of contractions: preparatory, Braxton Hicks, labor, delivery and postpartum.

• Preparatory contractions often go unnoticed and allow the uterus to begin to dilate, minimally and occasionally. They are therefore not a sign of childbirth.
• Braxton Hicks contractions are they often perceived as "false" labor contractions because it arrives in the ninth month of pregnancy and are quite painful. However, they are irregular and do not indicate an imminent delivery. They simply mark the prenatal phase and signify that labor contractions will come soon.
• Labor contractions are the contractions that should alert you! This is the start of labor. They are felt in waves, the pain gradually intensifies and then descends and gives way to a moment of relief. These painful uterine contractions prepare the body for childbirth by gradually dilating the cervix. The pain is felt in the lower abdomen and back, and may suggest period pain, pre-menstrual syndrome. To distinguish them from Braxton Hicks contractions, make sure they are regular. If the pain intensifies, lasts more than 40 seconds, and is 5 minutes or less apart, it is time to go to the hospital.

Be careful, a first childbirth can be quite long. A lot of time can pass between the first contraction and the pushing out phase. On average, it takes 8 to 9 hours to give birth to a first child. This will help healthcare professionals tell you to go home, so that you are more comfortable with your contractions if you are still in the early phase of childbirth. Either way, if you have any doubts before you go to the hospital or maternity ward, don't hesitate to contact your midwife or obstetrician-gynecologist.

Contractions lead the mother the most to natural childbirth. Even so, it is sometimes necessary to have a cesarean section if there is fetal distress or complications. It even happens that the child, while warm, is not determined to get out of his mother's womb. In these cases, it is necessary to induce labor and therefore to stimulate contractions.

The breaking of the water pocket

When you “break the water” it means labor has started and your baby is on the way. This is a rupture of the water bag, that is, the sac containing the amniotic fluid, which ensured the safety and good development of the fetus throughout the pregnancy. The rupture of the water bag takes place when the baby descends into the basin. To allow the child to pass, part of the membranes of the uterus rupture, including that of the water bag.

Contrary to what can often be seen in movies, the flow of amniotic fluid can be gradual. But, in some cases, the pocket of water can also rupture suddenly and unexpectedly.

Be careful not to confuse the rupture of the water bag with a urinary leak (quite frequent during the last weeks of pregnancy). The smell of amniotic fluid is less strong than that of urine. If the color of your amniotic fluid is green or brown, you should definitely consult.

You must go to the maternity ward as soon as your water bag breaks, it means that childbirth is imminent!

This is the fastest childbirth in the world

Different physical symptoms

Some women experience other symptoms as they approach childbirth, such as:

• Tremors or chills
• Diarrhea
• Back pain
• Great fatigue
• Sleep problems, restlessness
• Nausea
• The baby moves more than usual in his mother's womb

If you are not feeling well, never hesitate to contact your doctor or midwife. It is essential to stay calm as you approach childbirth: let your body prepare to welcome your baby. The signs of childbirth can also vary among women.

Prepare a cozy nest

According to some myths and legends, when a woman is about to give birth, she suddenly wants to clean, tidy up and prepare a cozy nest for the arrival of her baby. This is said to be linked to the "instinct of nesting", also called "nesting" and the renewed energy felt by women as they approach childbirth! Remember, however, that it is essential to rest before welcoming your cherub. Your nights sleep will never be the same again!

Will I give birth on the due date?

If you know exactly when the baby was conceived, just add nine months to it to get a due date. But this method is quite approximate. Usually, specialists calculate the due date based on the first day of the last period. They add 41 weeks to this (41 weeks of amenorrhea, or no period) to find out the end date. This is different from the first method, because one month of pregnancy is equivalent to 6 weeks.

However, it remains difficult to know if you will give birth on this exact day. Above all, this is a date that allows you to organize yourself and know that after that, you will be over time, which may require a trigger. In general, pregnant women give birth within a few days of this date. In 20% of cases, they give life in the 10 to 15 days preceding the term. 20% of them give birth, however, 4 to 8 days before the term. You may also be faced with a premature birth, that is, before reaching 37 weeks.

Whether you give birth on the due date or not, this day will remain a unique moment for you, as a mother. It’s the start of a new life!