While waiting for the baby, the female body undergoes severe changes. Thus, the body prepares for the most important process - childbirth. How to count contractions? This question is often asked by future mothers to their doctor. This article will tell you about the main signs of childbirth. You can also find out how long the contractions last during the birth of a child and how to correctly detect their duration.
Childbirth and their signs
Before you find out how long the contractions last and how to correctly count them, it is worth saying a few words about the birth process. The birth of a child may be urgent or premature. In most cases, this natural process occurs between 37 and 40 weeks of gestation.
Signs of childbirth in women can be different. In some situations, a woman does not notice any manifestations at all. Only the contractions inform her of the process that has begun. Consider the main signs of the onset or approach of childbirth.
Amniotic fluid effusion
This feature is absolute. If a woman's fetal bladder burst and the outflow of water began, then after a few hours she will meet with her baby. When this symptom appears, it is no longer possible to stop the process. A child cannot exist in the womb without amniotic fluid.
Even if the expectant mother does not have contractions, doctors perform their stimulation or insist on delivery through cesarean section.
Cork
Training fights last a short time and do not cause any discomfort. However, they can provoke the passage of the mucous plug. This formation begins to form from the very beginning of pregnancy. Small contractions contribute to the opening of the cervical canal. Because of this, the mucous plug simply falls out of it.
In some cases, the cork may not extend to the very birth. If this formation came out, then this does not mean the momentary beginning of the natural process. Perhaps delivery will begin in a few hours or a week later.
Contractions
How to understand that the long-awaited meeting with the baby will happen soon? Contraction is one of the signs of childbirth. This process is triggered by the pituitary gland and affects the state of the uterus. Contraction of the genital organ can be true or training. Only in the first case, the process inevitably leads to the birth of a child. The time between contractions is gradually reduced, and their duration becomes longer.
How to count contractions?
If you already have children, you probably know how the fights go. Originous women can attend special courses that are held in every antenatal clinic. There experienced obstetricians and gynecologists talk about the birth process. Doctors also tell expectant mothers how to count contractions and not confuse them with precursors.
When you feel the tension of the abdomen, this is the beginning of the fight. At the same moment, the future mother may slightly change breathing and pulse. The fight ends when the genital organ relaxes completely. It is worth noting that somewhat different characteristics have training fights. How to understand what they are? Their duration is irregular, and the gap is not reduced.
The next fight can occur both in half an hour, and within five minutes. It is worth noting that after the outflow of amniotic fluid, the frequency of contractions of the uterus increases. When you spot the first fight, write down its duration. After that, indicate the gap between the abbreviations. The next fight may be longer, but never the duration is reduced. Often the first reduction lasts 10 seconds, and the second occurs after 20 minutes. Further, the battle can go for 15 seconds. Another reduction occurs after 17 minutes. Variations in time may be different. In some women, contractions begin suddenly and last immediately for a minute and a half. The gap between them is approximately 5 minutes.
The second period of labor and labor
How to count contractions in this period? In the second stage of labor, cervical dilatation already reaches 4-5 centimeters. After this, contractions become more frequent and longer. It can be very difficult for a woman in labor to make time on her own. You can ask the maternity staff for help. In doubles, the spouse helps to count the contractions.
Contractions in the second stage of labor can last one and a half or two minutes. The interval between contractions will be approximately 30-120 seconds. It is worth noting that at this stage the sensations of the woman are rather painful.
An alternative way to count contractions for women
How to count contractions yet? Currently, there are various computer and telephone programs that help to count. In this case, the woman just needs to press a button that reports that the fight has begun. As soon as the discomfort and tension of the abdomen has passed, another key is pressed. The equipment independently calculates the duration of the bout and the gap between them.
Some maternity hospitals have systems that are issued to every woman in labor. They not only record the fetal heartbeat and its activity, but also monitor the state of the genital organ. All uterine contractions are transferred to paper, and the doctor can assess the condition of the woman at different stages of labor.
Summary and short conclusion
Now you have become aware of the signs of labor and labor. As soon as you feel uterine contractions, abdominal tension, or lower back pain, immediately start timekeeping. If the sensations have a certain regularity, then soon you will become a mother. At this moment, it's time to pack up and go to the maternity hospital.
When the fight has a different duration and appears then after half an hour, then within five minutes, we are talking about precursors. Most likely, your birth is not far off. However, they have not yet begun. Be sure to inform your doctor about these symptoms and follow all received appointments and recommendations. Remember all signs of childbirth. I wish you success and good health!