The initial period of labor is perhaps the longest, especially if the birth is the first. It can last up to 12 hours and even drag on for up to a day and a half. In such situations, doctors are forced to use labor induction. The goal of the first stage is to dilate the cervix to ten centimeters.
Most often, the onset of labor is characterized by regular contractions. Already in the first hours from the onset of labor, they become more and more intense, and the pauses between them are shortened.
Feelings before contractions
The uterus consists of muscles, therefore, speaking of uterine contraction, we mean the contraction of them. During the contraction, the uterus tenses (for about one minute) and thickens. The feeling of contractions comes in the form of heaviness in the sacrum and lower abdomen, in the form of an ache in the back. As if menstruation has come, only the pain is much stronger. It builds up, reaching a climax, then gradually subsides until the next muscle contraction.
Each bout does two things. The first is to limit the space for the baby inside the uterus in order to force the fetus to move to the muscular zone.resistance - to the internal pharynx. Another task is to stretch the muscle fibers inside the cervix and spread them up and to the sides. Each new contraction lowers the baby lower and lower, which causes the uterus to open. The first stage of labor ends when the uterus is completely smoothed and opens. She is ready to give birth.
The waters broke
The second variant of the initial stage is the discharge of amniotic fluid or their discharge in small portions. This suggests that it is time to get ready for the hospital. Long waterless intervals can provoke complications during childbirth, penetration to the fetus or inside the uterus of infections. Ideally, the waters break in the middle or towards the end of the first period. The bubble may leak slightly or burst suddenly. At the same time, pain is not felt, but a woman in labor can be frightened by a strongly gushing stream of fluid. After the waters break, the feeling of contractions as such may begin in 1-2 hours.
You need to pay attention to the color of the departed water and inform the doctor about it. Normally, they are transparent, odorless, have a slightly yellowish tint and may contain particles of blood. Coloring the waters green can cause the original feces of the fetus, which indicates oxygen starvation of the child.
When the first contractions begin, their sensations can be so minimal that they are not even felt by a woman as contractions. After a couple of hours, a feeling of rhythmic compaction of the uterus comes, similar to muscle tension. The duration of the first contractions can be from 15 to 30 seconds at intervals of 10-20minutes.
Initial uterine contractions in the first stage of labor may be characterized by secretions of thick, viscous mucus mixed with blood. You should not worry - this is a mucous plug that has performed the function of protecting the fetus from infection.
Gradually, the feeling of contractions intensifies. They begin to repeat every seven minutes and last up to 50 seconds. In the first pregnancy, this phase can last up to 9 hours, and in women who have given birth - up to 5 hours.
The uterus begins to open up to 1 cm per hour. If initially the sensation of contractions was barely distinguishable, now the woman in labor feels increasing pain. A woman gets tired during the contraction, which can last up to one minute with breaks of 3-5 minutes. During this phase, the doctor may suggest pain medication.
After opening the uterus by 8 cm, contractions intensify to the limit and last up to 90 seconds at intervals of two minutes. A woman at this time cannot understand where the fight is, where the break is. She gets tired both physically and emotionally. This period lasts up to 20 minutes, but sometimes drags on up to an hour. The final stage is the birth of the baby, then the afterbirth.
