Pregnancy labor marks the end of a long pregnancy term and usually begins around the 36th week of a normal 40 week pregnancy. The following symptoms of labor during pregnancy are experienced by all women. However, the onset, severity and duration of the symptoms have a tendency to vary from woman to woman.
Most expectant women go on a cleaning spree as their due date nears. This is referred to as the nesting urge when women begin to prepare for the arrival of their little angels with great enthusiasm. This time is usually devoted to adding the final...
...touches to the nursery, buying clothes and other baby essentials and keeping the house spic and span. 'Lightening' and frequent trips to the toilet are other pregnancy labor symptoms. The baby descends into the pelvis resulting in the pregnant belly falling low. This happens as the baby moves into an upside down position as it prepares for delivery, with its head resting against the neck of the uterus. At this stage, pressure is exerted on the bladder and frequent trips to the toilet are inevitable. The passage of the mucus plug and bleeding are other pregnancy labor signs. This plug blocks the cervix throughout the term of the pregnancy so as to prevent the spread of infection to the uterus and the baby. A few days before actual labor, the mucus plug may be dislodged and eliminated through the vagina as a mucus blob. In other cases, it may be passed out over a short period of time in the form of a clear discharge having a consistency similar to that of egg white. It may be blood stained. Visiting your doctor as soon as these pregnancy labor signs are experienced is advisable, especially if accompanied by bleeding, as it could lead to complications if neglected.
When the baby is ready to leave the confines of his or her mother's womb, the active labor stage begins. This stage is marked by contractions that are very painful as well as rhythmic. The contractions experienced at this stage do not ease on moving around, unlike Braxton Hicks. The breaking of the water bag is the most crucial pregnancy labor symptom as nothing can be done to delay delivery once the amniotic sac ruptures. This is confirmed when the expectant mother experiences a gush of or a constant trickle of clear fluid from the vagina. The wonderful experience of bonding with the baby immediately after delivery marks the end of labor.
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