Many pregnant women, especially primiparas, do not know how the contractions differ from the harbingers of childbirth, and therefore they appear either too early in the hospital, where you have to spend more than one week before the birth, or too late, and it’s good if the birth did not happen at home or in car, and qualified assistance was provided in the maternity hospital. The signs of childbirth include:

Removal of the mucous plug

The mucous plug is located in the cervical canal and protects the unborn child from possible infection. The cork can come off gradually, appearing as small spots on the underwear or all at once, the whole thing, resembling a piece of thick gel. Sometimes the mucous plug contains an admixture of blood in the form of veins. The discharge of cervical mucus indicates the imminent onset of labor, but can occur from 3 to 10 days before childbirth.

Descent of the uterine fundus

Descent of the uterine fundus (верхней границы матки) у первородящих женщин происходит за одну-две недели до родов, у повторнородящих непосредственно в родах. The future baby, no less than his mother, is preparing for the upcoming tests (birth) and is trying to establish himself with the presenting part, more often the head, to the entrance to the small pelvis. Subjectively, the pregnant woman notes that it became easier for her to breathe, shortness of breath and heartburn disappeared, and her gait changes towards the “proud peahen”, which is associated with lowering the abdomen and straightening the back.

Irregular uterine contractions

The appearance of uterine contractions does not yet indicate the onset of labor. These are the so-called “training” contractions, they are irregular, the intervals between them are not shortened, and the contractions themselves do not cause inconvenience and pain. The appearance of “preparatory” contractions can begin two to three weeks before the birth, and usually do not disturb the expectant mother’s sleep.

Increased urination and defecation

Increased urination is associated with the pressure of the fetal head on the bladder when the abdomen prolapsed, and the increase in defecation is associated with some liquefaction of feces due to hormonal changes that occur in the body before childbirth.

Weight loss

One to two weeks before giving birth, a pregnant woman loses weight from 0.5 to 2 kg. Again, hormonal changes that occur in the body before childbirth are “guilty” of this. In the blood, the level of progesterone, which is responsible for maintaining pregnancy, gradually decreases, and the level of estrogen increases, which remove excess fluid (edema) from the body. Progesterone, on the other hand, causes fluid retention and swelling.

Change in appetite

Usually, the appetite before childbirth decreases, although before that the pregnant woman noted just a “wolf” appetite. This is again connected with the upcoming load in childbirth, and the body prefers to give itself a rest before responsible work.

Change in motor activity

On the eve of childbirth, a pregnant woman notes an increase, but more often, a decrease in fetal movements. This is a normal condition and you should not be afraid, since the child has already grown up and it becomes cramped in his mother’s stomach. This happens one to two weeks before delivery.

It is not necessary that all the harbingers of childbirth will make themselves felt. Two or three signs are enough that indicate the end of pregnancy and the upcoming birth.