Condition of a woman before childbirth. Pain before childbirth. Changes before childbirth in a woman's body

Women expecting a baby experience the most various feelings. This is excitement and joy, self-doubt, expectation of changes in the usual way of life. By the end of pregnancy, there is also a fear caused by the fear of missing important point start of childbirth.

So that the state before childbirth does not turn into a panic, the expectant mother needs to carefully monitor her well-being. There are certain signs that indicate the imminent appearance long-awaited baby.

What are the harbingers of childbirth

Immediately after conception, the hormonal background of a woman begins to change. IN in large numbers the body produces progesterone, a hormone that is responsible for maintaining pregnancy. And in the last stages, the aging of the placenta occurs, which significantly reduces the production of progesterone. Against the background of such changes, the body begins to produce another hormone - estrogen, the main function of which is to prepare the body of the expectant mother for childbirth.

When the level of such hormones reaches a maximum, the brain receives a certain signal that contributes to the onset labor activity. The change in hormones causes certain changes in the state of the pregnant woman.

Before childbirth, certain symptoms appear that indicate the imminent appearance of the baby. These are the harbingers long-awaited birth. The above changes begin to occur in a woman's body at the 32nd week of pregnancy. A woman can feel the harbingers of childbirth starting from the 36th week.

Change in the cervix

The state of the cervix before childbirth changes, it matures. As a result of morphological changes, the connective tissue softens, which makes the neck soft, pliable and easily extensible. There are three degrees of maturity of this body:

immature - the neck is long, dense, the external pharynx is either closed, or passes only the tip of the finger;
insufficiently mature - the neck is slightly softened, shortened, the cervical canal passes one finger (in nulliparous to closed internal os);
mature - the neck is smoothed and shortened as much as possible, softened, centered, the cervical canal easily passes one finger.

The whole process of childbirth and their successful completion depend on the state of the cervix.

Fetal activity

Of course, a pregnant woman is concerned about the question: what is the condition before childbirth in the baby inside? By the end of pregnancy, the fetus reaches its maturity: it gains desired weight(about three kilograms), the organs are formed and ready for extrauterine existence.

By this time, the uterus has already stopped growing, so the baby becomes cramped in it. This leads to the fact that the child inside moves less. At the 34-36th week, the expectant mother notices that the baby has begun to roll over less, and from the 36th week she may feel that small movements become less frequent, but they are very noticeable, and there are also pain in the places of poking with arms or legs.

The main harbingers of childbirth

The state of a woman before childbirth undergoes some psychological and physiological changes, indicating to mother that she will soon see the long-awaited baby. In order not to miss anything important and not to harm herself and the baby, a woman should know the main signs of an imminent onset of labor.

Their main precursors are as follows:

Weight loss. Almost all pregnant women testify that the weight before the onset of childbirth stabilizes or decreases by 0.5-2 kilograms. This is due to a decrease in edema and the excretion of excess fluid from the body by the kidneys. So the body begins to adapt to the fact that the tissues are better stretched, become plastic and flexible. Thanks to the work of hormones designed to remove all unnecessary, the intestines are cleansed. Therefore, a woman may experience abdominal pain and frequent urges to emptying.
Loss of appetite. Simultaneously with the departure of excess weight in a pregnant woman, her appetite decreases or completely disappears. This is a normal state before childbirth, you do not need to force yourself to eat through force.
Dropping of the abdomen. This is one of the main harbingers of childbirth. Baby two to three weeks before important event sneaks closer to the exit. As a result, abdominal tone decreases, it becomes easier for a woman to breathe.
Appearance This harbinger of childbirth is directly related to the previous one. The baby sinks down the abdomen, so the pressure on this part of the body increases. It becomes difficult for the expectant mother to sit down, get up, she is tormented by pain and stretching in the lower back.
Frequent urination. It is caused by increased work of the kidneys and pressure in the bladder area.
restless sleep. The condition of a woman before childbirth becomes alarming, sleep becomes restless. This is caused not only emotional experiences, but also the ongoing changes in the body. Due to the fact that the baby begins to actively move at night, pressure increases on bladder which causes the urge to urinate. This is what causes sleep disturbance during pregnancy.
Diarrhea. Due to the prolapse of the abdomen, there is pressure on the intestines. The expectant mother notices the urge to defecate. Constipation is replaced by diarrhea. It is she who is the harbinger of the approaching birth. Often, pregnant women confuse this harbinger with poisoning or intestinal upset.
Change of pain sensations. Throughout pregnancy, a woman may feel slight back pain. Before childbirth, pain is observed in the pubic part. This is due to softening of the bones, which is an important factor for normal labor activity.

cork discharge

By the end of pregnancy, the cervix matures: it shortens, softens, the cervical canal opens slightly. Inside the cervical canal there is thick mucus, the main function of which is to prevent the penetration of harmful microorganisms into the uterus, which can cause infection of the fetus. This mucus is called the mucus plug.

As mentioned above, by the end of pregnancy, the body begins to produce estrogens, which affect the general well-being of the expectant mother and her condition before childbirth. A few days before the onset of labor (three to ten), under the influence of hormones, liquefaction and expulsion of mucus from the cervical canal occurs.

The mucous plug looks like a small lump of a transparent or yellowish color, streaks of blood can be observed in it. The mucus plug can come off in parts over several days. Pregnant women usually cannot determine the discharge of the mucous plug on their own.

Sometimes future mother there are doubts - the cork leaves or the amniotic fluid leaks. Leakage of water will be constant, such discharge is transparent in color (may be with a yellowish or greenish tinge) and watery. The cork leaves in portions, the discharge is thicker and disappears after a few days.

If a pregnant woman doubts whether a cork is coming off or water is leaking, then you should not hesitate and contact a gynecologist.

false contractions

These are training contractions that can bother a woman a few weeks before the date of the expected birth. They are caused by the body's overproduction of the hormone oxytocin. The role of false contractions is to prepare the myometrium for childbirth. Such contractions do not lead to the development of labor, they do not affect general state before childbirth. Signs of training fights are as follows:

they are neither regular nor intense;
they differ from real ones in relative painlessness and an interval of rest between contractions with an interval of thirty minutes;
appear 4-6 times a day (mostly in the morning or evening), last no more than two hours.

A pregnant woman feels false contractions as a hardening of the abdomen in response to the movement of the fetus or any physical activity. To relieve stress, you should relax, take warm bath and get a massage.

The difference between false contractions and real ones

The main difference between false contractions and true labor contractions is the gradual increase in the latter, followed by a reduction in the interval between them. Labor pains are stronger, brighter, more painful. If training fights do not have regularity, then with real ones it is mandatory.

The main purpose of labor pains is the opening of the cervix, therefore, no matter what a pregnant woman does, they will only intensify. False contractions can be weakened or completely removed discomfort.

Outflow of waters

The brightest and warning sign, indicating that a pregnant woman needs to urgently go to the hospital, is an outpouring amniotic fluid. Such an event can occur simultaneously with contractions. Normally, the water should be clear and odorless. The presence of red discharge may indicate placental abruption. All waters can leave at once, but leakage is possible. In the latter case, you should put a gasket on and consult a doctor.

Some women confuse water leakage with involuntary urination which can occur intermittently in late pregnancy. The difference in these processes is the absence of the smell of urine in the waters and their transparent color. If the water is greenish, yellow or brown shade you should see a doctor as soon as possible.

The mood of the expectant mother

Emotional condition before childbirth in pregnant women also changes. The mood can be joyful and cheerful, but suddenly sadness-sadness suddenly rolls over or starts to irritate everything. This is due primarily to the fatigue of a pregnant woman, with a long wait and natural excitement. The mother-to-be can't wait to give birth.

This condition of a woman before childbirth is influenced by endocrine processes occurring in the body. An interesting fact is that a few weeks before the birth, the expectant mother has a desire to put the apartment in order and establish comfort in the house. Psychologists call this condition "nesting syndrome." A woman with enviable zeal begins to equip her "nest", create comfortable conditions for living with a baby: clean, wash, clean, hem, etc.

What is the state before the first birth

Primiparous women experience more excitement and anxiety about the upcoming event. They may not be aware of the harbingers and may not pay attention to the main symptoms of the approaching birth. For women who are preparing to become a mother for the first time, the harbingers may appear in three weeks, or may be in a day. The condition of a woman before childbirth depends on the reaction of the body to the changes taking place. There are no specific dates or periods.

Primiparous women should remember that there may be several signs of approaching the onset of labor, it is not at all necessary that they all appear. Due to their inexperience, a pregnant woman may simply not notice them.

It is important to carefully monitor your condition before childbirth, pay attention to the slightest changes in time and report them to your gynecologist.

Harbingers of childbirth in multiparous

Mental condition before childbirth in women who survived childbirth is significantly more stable. Their body clearly reacts to the ongoing changes, and the precursors appear brighter. This is because the uterus has changed and enlarged after a previous birth. The exception is women who had their first birth by caesarean section. This is due to the fact that the cervix does not stretch, as the baby does not pass through it.

Women who are already mothers during new pregnancy pay attention to the severity of prenatal symptoms. They closely follow physiological state before childbirth. Signs (in multiparous women) of approaching childbirth and their severity differ in the course of some processes:

Cork has larger size.
False contractions start earlier.
Belly drops more late term.
There may be profuse vaginal discharge.

When to go to the hospital

So, what condition before childbirth requires immediate hospitalization? First of all, it should be said that all pregnant women in the last weeks of pregnancy should be ready for an emergency trip to the hospital. Therefore, it is necessary to collect in advance the “alarm suitcase”, documents and carry out the necessary hygiene procedures(shave hair and remove nail polish).

Emergencies that require the immediate call of an ambulance are as follows:

outflow of water (especially against the background of the absence of other signs of the onset of labor);
the appearance of bleeding;
pressure jump;
the appearance of a sharp pain in the lower abdomen;
strong headache, flickering flies, clouding in the eyes;
absence of fetal movements for six hours;
the beginning of regular labor activity (two or three contractions in ten minutes).

What week is the due date

There is a concept that the baby should be born at the fortieth week of pregnancy. But only three percent of children are born on a precisely specified date. Usually a woman gives birth earlier or a little later due date.

It is considered normal if the pregnancy lasts 280-282 days. Premature is considered each additional week increases the chance of a baby being born healthy.

Full-term babies successfully adapt to new living conditions. Therefore, if there is a threat of termination of pregnancy, it is urgent to contact the clinic and go to hospital.

There are cases when a woman "walks" pregnancy, that is, gives birth after the due date. In this case, the pregnancy is called post-term or prolonged. In the first case, the baby after birth shows signs of postmaturity. With prolonged pregnancy, such signs are absent in the newborn, the baby is born healthy.

It is not at all necessary that every pregnant woman will have all of the above symptoms before the onset of childbirth. Moreover, you should not wait for their simultaneous appearance. The intensity of precursors and the state before childbirth depend on the body's response to ongoing hormonal changes and on the number of previous births.

IDEAL BIRTH - PRACTICAL RECOMMENDATIONS

There is enough information about childbirth on the Internet. Many books have been published on this subject. Parenting magazines regularly publish articles on relevant topics. But no literature can be compared in effectiveness with attending courses for future parents. Only in the conditions of live human communication can you get rid of your fears, train specific breathing skills, master all kinds of exercises under the guidance of an experienced instructor. If you have the opportunity to sign up for courses, do not neglect it. If not, I will try to tell you in general terms about what they teach there.

★★★ Let's start with the signs of an approaching birth. These are the so-called "harbingers" ★ ★ ★

Two weeks before the birth (maybe later, but not earlier), the expectant mother's stomach drops. The baby's head comes down and the woman breathes easier because the baby is no longer propping up the diaphragm and lungs. Sometimes lowering occurs already at the beginning of childbirth, after the appearance of the first contractions. This is also considered normal.

A couple of days before giving birth, a pregnant woman may notice a discharge in the form of thick mucus possibly streaked with clotted blood. Sometimes it looks like abundantly pouring water. This means that the mucous plug that closes the cervix is coming off. However, in some cases, the cork also leaves during childbirth.

With the approach of the cherished term, Braxton-Hicks spasms become more and more tangible. These are "training" contractions that prepare the uterus for the job of pushing the baby out. They are felt as periodic irregular tensions in the abdomen: the uterus, as it were, "stiffens" for a few seconds, and then relaxes again. Unlike real contractions, Braxton-Hicks spasms are painless because they do not dilate the cervix.

As a harbinger, the "nesting instinct" is often called. This term is not well understood, so it is often misunderstood. The desire to equip a "nest", to prepare things and a crib for the baby, to update your home comes much earlier, around the middle of pregnancy, and has nothing to do with the "nesting instinct". A sign of a close delivery is considered to be the appearance of a woman's desire to hide from prying eyes, to hide in a cozy corner of a sofa or chair, where she feels as comfortable as possible. By analogy with the animal world, where the female is looking for a quiet and safe place for the birth of offspring.

Another fairly clear harbinger may be a decrease in the weight of a pregnant woman by about a kilogram. This usually happens in the last week of pregnancy.

As you can see, all the harbingers can only indirectly indicate the approach of childbirth. No one can say exactly when they will start.

It is this uncertainty that often scares a woman. She is afraid that she will not be able to get through to her husband, will not have time to get to the hospital, will be confused, and will not know what to do. If you are one of those who constantly need "safety net" in the form of the presence of medical staff, it may be more comfortable for you to go to the hospital in advance. If the sight of the hospital walls makes you despondent, you are an active person and at the same time you have no medical indications for early hospitalization, stay at home until you feel comfortable.

★ ★ ★ How does labor begin? ★ ★ ★

There are two options: either contractions begin first, or amniotic fluid departs.

If the waters began to break, then even in the absence of contractions, the woman needs to go to the hospital. The discharge of water means that the fetal bladder is damaged and no longer protects the child from infection. Long anhydrous period(more than 12 hours) threatens the health of the child also because a pressure difference is created and the presenting part (usually the head) experiences an increased rush of blood, which can subsequently lead to problems on the side nervous system.

A clear or whitish color of amniotic fluid is considered normal. Yellow Waters occur occasionally in Rh-conflict of the mother and fetus. Green color water shows that meconium (original feces) has entered them, which may be a sign of a post-term pregnancy or oxygen starvation fetus. If the waters are pinkish, then the woman should be immediately taken to the hospital. This color is given to the waters by the blood that got there as a result of the separation of the placenta. And this means that the child does not receive enough oxygen, and emergency measures must be taken to save him.

Another, calmer scenario for the onset of labor is the appearance of contractions before the water breaks. If the fetal bladder is intact, the woman in labor can be at home during the entire first phase of labor, provided that she feels confident and ready to go to the hospital at any time.

★ ★ ★ Let's dwell on the phases of childbirth ★ ★ ★

The first phase is latent, or hidden. It can last 6-8 hours or even longer. Many women do not feel this phase at all, because the contractions are still weak and allow the pregnant woman to calmly go about her usual activities. In the beginning, the contractions last about 30 seconds with an interval of 20-30 minutes.

During this phase, a woman should conserve her strength. It is advisable to be distracted by household chores, if the birth began at night - try to sleep.

In order for the baby to be born, the cervix must open 10-12 centimeters. The process of opening is slow (with the exception of rapid, second and subsequent births), and is sometimes accompanied by nausea. If you feel like the latency phase is dragging on, try speeding up the process. The opening goes faster if you do not lie down and do not sit, but walk. It is categorically impossible to lie on your back: in this case, the uterus presses on the vena cava with its weight, as a result of which the child does not receive enough oxygen.

The pain is easier to bear if at the time of the fight you try to relax and not think about it. You can check again if everything is collected for the trip to the hospital. Then you should take a bath or shower (water relaxes well), shave (with the help of your husband or someone from your family) and make an enema (1.5-2 liters warm water with the addition of a tablespoon apple cider vinegar or juice of half a lemon). Enema is also a good labor stimulant. All these hygiene procedures are more convenient and pleasant to do at home at the very beginning of childbirth. Otherwise, you will have to endure them in the hospital, when the contractions are already quite noticeable.

After the onset of childbirth, a woman should not eat, so as not to burden the stomach. You can drink little by little, but it is better to rinse your mouth with water. As a rule, in maternity hospitals they do not give water to drink - this is not a mockery, but insurance in case of an emergency operation. In this case, a full stomach can lead to life-threatening complications.

Gradually contractions become more frequent and more painful. At this stage, it is already possible to begin to apply anesthetic breathing. It looks like this. Inhale through the nose: 1-2-3-4 - exhale through the mouth: 1-2-3-4-5-6, that is, the exhalation is longer than the inhalation. This system is called slow deep breathing. At the same time, the baby receives more oxygen, and the mother relaxes and distracts from the pain, focusing on breathing.

At the end of the hidden phase, when the duration of the contractions is 1 minute, and the interval between them reaches 5-7 minutes, it's time to go to the hospital. The opening of the neck is 3-4 cm.

Calculate the travel time in advance so as not to rush and not be nervous. It's better to ride on all fours back seat, breathing deeply on the bout. Between contractions, you can lie on your side. If you ride while sitting, you can cause trouble for the child by jumping up and down on the bumps in the road.

It is advisable to entrust the registration procedure at the maternity hospital to one of the accompanying persons (husband, mother, girlfriend), since it will be difficult for you to answer questions during labor.

With a prolonged first phase, sharply painful contractions and a slow opening of the cervix in the maternity hospital, anesthesia can be performed or medication sleep can be prescribed. During sleep, labor activity does not stop, and the woman gains strength for the next phase of childbirth.

Pain relief can be in the form of obstetric anesthesia (injection into a vein), epidural anesthesia or nitrous oxide (inhalation through a mask), as well as with the help of reflexology or physiotherapy. Pain relief should not be complete, a woman should feel contractions, otherwise the process of childbirth itself is inhibited.

★ ★ ★ The latent phase is followed by the active phase of labor, during which the cervix opens from 4 to 8-10 cm. The contractions in this phase are longer, up to 60 seconds, with an interval of 2 to 4 minutes. Duration active phase about 3-5 hours. ★ ★ ★

This phase is the most painful. The strength and intensity of contractions gradually increases. It is important for a woman in labor to save strength and not lose heart. Set yourself up for an active position in relation to the process. Say to yourself: “I can do it”, “Not long left”, “Hold on, my baby, we will meet soon.” It is important to achieve muscle relaxation, as tension inhibits childbirth. Engage all channels of information: eyes, ears, mouth. Concentrate your eyes on something: look at beautiful photos, albums, if possible. Talk to your husband, sing.

Postures with emphasis on the hands and forward bending help to relieve pain. This relaxes the abdominal muscles. This can be a position on all fours, or standing with emphasis on the couch or on the back of a chair. Try swinging to the beat of your breath. Some help circular motions pelvis. For effective pain relief of contractions, it is important not to lose your breath.

After half opening, when the contractions intensify and slow deep breathing no longer provides sufficient pain relief, you can switch to rapid breathing at the peak of the contraction. At the beginning of the contraction, use slow deep breathing, and when it becomes painful, switch to breathing with the upper part of the lungs "dog-like", open mouth: hee-ha-hee-ha (for each syllable, both inhalation and exhalation, that is, the inhalation is almost inaudible). At the end of the contraction, return to slow, deep breathing again.

Massage pain points: on the sacrum and inside from the crests of the pelvic bones.

The role of the husband at this stage of childbirth is difficult to overestimate. During contractions, he can massage his wife's lower back, or stroke her back. Some help stroking and scratching the abdomen. In the interval between contractions, the task of the spouse is to distract the woman in labor. You need to talk to her, you can turn on the music. It is important that a woman relax and gain strength before a new fight.

But relaxation during the fight is no less important. If a woman suppresses the pain, fetters, then the opening is slower, and her suffering will last longer. It is also possible that labor will slow down, and doctors will be forced to use drug stimulation. Therefore, it is important to think that with each contraction the child is moving forward, and that he also has a hard time. Try to relax your muscles pelvic floor, this will help the disclosure. There are poses that help to relax these muscles. These are: a squatting position with knees apart; sitting on the floor (or on the bed) on wide apart knees; sitting on the edge of a chair facing the back, leaning on her elbows. It is only impossible to sit on the buttocks in this phase, so as not to press the head of the child. Postures with “hanging” on the crossbar, on the door frame, on the husband’s neck are also effective. In this case, gravity helps you.

Try to visualize your body as an opening flower. This will help you to move forward with the natural process of childbirth. If the husband feels that his wife's strength is running out, or she is not in control of the situation, he should try to inspire her with confidence, cheer her up, suggest changing her position. Support and good words loved one give her new strength.

However, before deciding on the presence of a husband at childbirth, calculate your overall capabilities. Some women find it unpleasant that their husband does not see them in the best condition, and therefore, during childbirth, they cannot relax. Some men also turn out to be unprepared for the spectacle and cause unnecessary trouble for doctors - they have to be dragged and pumped out. Therefore, in many hospitals, doctors are skeptical about the presence of a husband at childbirth. If you want dad to immediately take the newborn in his arms, he must go to classes with you, and after attending them, decide on the presence at the birth. And of course, do not break into the delivery room in street shoes.

★ ★ ★ The active phase is followed by a transition phase. ★ ★ ★

Many women don't have it at all. This is the time before the start of attempts, when the head has already dropped and the baby is ready to be born, but the cervix is late and has not yet fully opened. Most often, this situation accompanies the first birth. This is the most difficult period, since the contractions are very strong and painful, but the woman still cannot push to avoid breaks. To anesthetize this phase, the pose on all fours with a raised pelvis helps. In this position, the head puts less pressure on the cervix. But if you feel strong in yourself, you can use downward pressure postures, such as squatting with knees wide apart, to speed up the transition phase.

★ ★ ★ The next phase - the culmination of childbirth - the phase of exile. Now the woman needs maximum effort to push the child out. ★ ★ ★

With the beginning of the fight, you need to take in air, push only into the perineum and exhale the air to the end. Attempts are repeated three times per fight. It is very important not to push your head. In this case, all efforts are wasted and will appear in the form of burst vessels in the eyes and on the face. Pushing efforts can be controlled. Practice in advance: sit on the floor, leaning back on an upturned chair, press your chin to your chest, grab your knees with your hands. Take in more air and try to push. In this case, the air must be held by the glottis, with an open mouth. This will help you direct your efforts where you need them.

When the head was born, you need to stop pushing and breathe "like a dog", only with your mouth. At this time, the midwife will turn the baby so that the shoulders and the whole body can come out more easily. At the next attempt, the baby will be born entirely. It is important to listen to the midwife and follow her commands. In between, relax, breathe deeply.

★ ★ ★ The last phase is the birth of the placenta. ★ ★ ★

It separates within half an hour after the baby is born. This is completely painless. At the command of the midwife, you only need to push slightly. Immediately after childbirth, a heating pad with ice is placed on the stomach.

★ It is very important to attach the newborn to the breast as early as possible. This is extremely important not only for him, but also for his mother. As soon as he begins to suck, the uterus begins to actively contract. This is an excellent prevention of postpartum complications. And the child gets a set of vitamins he needs, protective antibodies and nutrients, which will help him survive this terrible stress - the birth from a warm dark water, where his mother is always there, in an aggressive, cold, loud, bright environment. Do not worry that there is no milk yet - the mammary gland secretes as much colostrum as the newborn needs during this period.

★ Early postpartum period lasts 2 hours. During this time, the woman is usually left on a gurney, covered with a blanket, so that in case of bleeding or other complications, she is immediately taken to the operating room.

After 2 hours, the woman is transferred to the ward. After another two hours, she might be allowed to get up.

★ The late postpartum period lasts 6-8 weeks. During this time, the uterus returns to its original state. The cervix closes already 3 days after birth, and after 3-4 weeks it returns to its original state. Since that time, Western obstetricians have allowed the resumption of sexual activity. Russian doctors recommend waiting until complete cessation lochia (discharge), that is, 6-8 weeks.

It is necessary to protect yourself immediately, not hoping that the secretion of milk is a guarantee of contraception. The most best contraception for a young mother - a condom. But a spiral is also possible, and hormonal pills(you need to choose them after consulting a doctor).

If after a few days the discharge suddenly stops, this is an occasion for immediate medical attention, because. infection may begin. Good preventive measure against the stagnation of blood is the movement. If a woman does not lie, but walks, recovery is faster. However, the load should be increased gradually. It is also advisable to find time for daily exercise.

IN postpartum period it is important to take precautions. To avoid complications (bleeding, uterine prolapse), a woman should not lift weights. Usually, doctors do not recommend lifting any objects heavier than her child. Hypothermia should be avoided.

★ It is very important to clearly obey the doctor and midwife during childbirth! In this situation, they know better both in the literal and figurative sense of the word. I would like to add that only 20% of complications in childbirth are due to physical condition women in labor, and 80% - from the wrong psychological mood and inability to control one's own body. Draw your own conclusions.

Good luck and easy delivery!

There are different opinions about what you can eat before childbirth. All of them are quite contradictory. How to do the right thing? The most important thing is to listen to your needs and common sense. And if you want something "forbidden", then just do not forget about the measure. Each organism is individual, and even in childbirth, which are regulated by identical natural fluctuations hormonal background, a woman may experience dissimilar, individual food needs.

If you want, then eat to your health! In this case, it would be more correct to ask which foods can be eaten before childbirth, and which ones are better to refuse.

Nutrition before childbirth in a few weeks

It is reasonable to recommend switching to a plant-milk diet 3-4 weeks before childbirth. Yoghurts, fruits, cottage cheese, cereals, salads, soups allow you to get enough and at the same time not overload the intestines and pancreas. Starting at 36 weeks, a baby can be born at any time. Therefore, such a diet contributes normal course Total birth process, whenever it starts, and preparing the body for childbirth.

Why not sweet and savory? First, there are extra calories. Secondly, during the digestion of these products, fermentation processes predominate in the intestines, which contributes to gas formation. Plus, these same foods contribute to or aggravate constipation. You also need to consider the likelihood of the appearance or exacerbation of hemorrhoids.

What to pay attention to?

Enough important product before childbirth is vegetable oil. This powerful protection from interruptions in childbirth. Under its influence, elasticity blood vessels and tissues of the birth canal increases. If you have gastronomic preferences in this matter, then you can use any: olive, sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, walnut, etc. Use oil for salad dressings, which is more comfortable, or drink one spoonful in pure form daily.

Should I eat during labor and labor?

The physiology of childbirth is such that in a hungry woman slows down, labor activity stops. The reason for this is the increase in the level of adrenaline. With the advent of contractions, if there is a desire, it makes sense to eat. If you don't want to eat, then don't.

The female body can independently replenish energy costs from own stocks. Judging by the feelings of the majority of women in labor, there is no desire to eat during childbirth, and there is no time. This is especially true for fast (rapid) births. The food in them is irrelevant, inappropriate. But in protracted labor, it is advised to eat ... Chocolate.

Why do you need chocolate during childbirth?

Chocolate is used to induce labor. But definitely black (bitter). In some maternity hospitals, a bar of dark chocolate is on the list of obligatory things in the maternity hospital. It is believed that the substances contained in bitter chocolate have a stimulating effect on the cervix - it opens faster and lowers the pain threshold. Reduced sensitivity to pain is due to the content of serotonin, which stimulates the release of endorphins - hormones of "happiness". But you need to be careful - opening the neck is often accompanied by nausea and the urge to vomit.

The use of chocolate to induce labor has positive and negative feedback. Therefore, it is up to you and the doctor to decide whether to eat chocolate before childbirth. Just get ready to take him to the hospital. And in childbirth, you decide for yourself whether you need it specifically or not. If you decide, then, most importantly, do not eat the whole tile at once. Choose the freshest and highest quality chocolate for childbirth, with the maximum cocoa butter content. White and milk tiles - do not have a pronounced stimulating effect on the cervix.

When using dark chocolate to stimulate childbirth, it is worth remembering its sensitizing effect - the ability to cause allergies. An allergen can affect not only the mother's body, but also the baby being born.

5 rules for eating before childbirth

If you want to eat, do it. The presence of psychological discomfort caused by hunger prolongs labor. In the absence of appetite, you should not eat by force.

Eat cooked food in small portions.

The best foods before childbirth are a boiled egg, dried fruits, bread rolls, baked fruits, biscuits.

Most likely, after eating the above foods, you will want to drink. Take water with you or pre-prepared herbal collection, tea in half-liter bottles with "sport" lids. As practice shows, it is more convenient to drink from them without spilling. It is a generally accepted fact that the best drink during childbirth is pure water. A large volume of liquid in the stomach stretches the walls and slows down digestion. Thus causing the urge to vomit. You need to drink in small portions.

Make your own hot chocolate.

Eating before childbirth does not affect their duration and frequency surgical interventions. Operative delivery – C-section– possibly after a meal. Previously, general anesthesia was used for anesthesia. This was the reason for the ban on food before childbirth. Nowadays, epidural anesthesia is widely used. Therefore, the food taken is not a hindrance to the operation.

There is an opinion that it is impossible to eat before childbirth in order to prevent involuntary defecation in the laborious period. For the same reason, an enema is recommended before childbirth. Physiologically, the body is conceived very wisely and at the beginning of labor, the intestines are emptied on their own. So this argument is not a reason to torture yourself with hunger in childbirth.

Conclusion

Eating before childbirth should not cause discomfort. Small portions of allowed foods will help you rejuvenate and cheer up. What you can eat before childbirth - you already know. For the rest, rely on your body, just listen to it.

3-4 weeks before childbirth may appear discomfort V . This is due to the fact that the baby reads with his head, thereby helping himself to go down.

From about the 38th week of pregnancy, the uterus begins to prepare for childbirth. It softens and can gradually open up by 1-1.5 cm. Thus, during a doctor's examination, a finger can pass into the uterus.

If the mucous plug comes off, it can be predicted in 3-4 days. Throughout pregnancy, the cork closed the uterus from bacteria and infections. The mucus that comes out can be clear or brownish.

When harbingers appear, you should inform the obstetrician, collect the bag to the hospital and be ready to go to the hospital at any time.

Reasons for the onset of labor

By the beginning of childbirth, a lot of complex processes take place in the body of a pregnant woman, which, being in close relationship, provide the beginning of such a reflex act as labor activity.

The main reason for the onset of labor is the readiness of the uterus for the birth of the unborn child and the maturity of the fetus.

Ready for childbirth uterus:

gaining sufficient weight and size;
her neuromuscular apparatus is ready for contractile activity;
fully mature placenta.

2 or 3 weeks before the onset of labor, the uterus is released from the excess of part of the nerve fibers. This provides a reduction in pain during childbirth and increases the contractility of the walls of the uterus.

Several factors influence the onset of labor:

neuro-reflex - as a result of a decrease in the excitability of the brain, an increase in the excitability of the spinal cord and an increase in the sensitivity of the muscle fibers of the uterus to oxytocin, an increased contractile activity of the uterus is produced;
hormonal- at the end pregnancy the production of progesterone decreases and the production of a complex of estrogens increases, which stimulate the onset of labor;
neurohumoral - at the end of pregnancy in the body of a woman, the synthesis of oxytocin, prostaglandins, serotonin and other bioactive substances increases, which increase the sensitivity of the uterus to substances that cause active contraction of its muscles;
bioenergy - in the mother's body accumulates a sufficient amount of substances (glycogen, ATP, phosphorus compounds, electrolytes and trace elements), which make the uterus capable of increased contractile activity;
mechanical - the ripened uterus loses its ability to stretch, and in response to motor activity fetus and an increase in the level of hormones of oxytocin-like action, begins to actively decrease;
trophic and metabolic - the accumulation in the body of a ripe fetus of some waste products leads to its active movement, and degenerative processes in the mature placenta and the full maturation of the muscle fibers of the uterus contribute to the onset of labor.

The state of the nervous system of the woman in labor is of primary importance in the formation of all mechanisms for the onset of labor, since it is she who ensures the readiness of the uterus for natural childbirth.

All of the above factors, being in close relationship, contribute to the appearance of contractions, which are replaced by attempts and end with the expulsion of the fetus from the uterine cavity and the birth of the placenta.

Harbingers of the onset of labor

Harbingers of childbirth are called a set of signs that indicate early start active labor activity. There are many harbingers of the onset of childbirth, but for each woman their totality is individual and depends on the characteristics of the body of the expectant mother.

Harbingers of childbirth:

Dropping of the abdomen.
Such a change, which is determined externally by a slight downward displacement of the abdomen, is individual for each pregnant woman, and may not always be noticed on its own. In nulliparous women, this harbinger may appear 2-4 weeks before the day of delivery, and in multiparous women, a few days or immediately before childbirth.

Gait changes.
The nature of the gait changes after the prolapse of the abdomen. The woman begins to walk "waddling" due to the pressure of the baby's head on the pelvic bones and the bottom of the uterus.

Changes in the nature of urination and defecation.
A prolapse of the abdomen can cause more frequent urination or urinary incontinence as the uterus puts more pressure on the bladder. The mechanical impact of the pregnant uterus on the intestinal wall can provoke constipation, and in some cases diarrhea, a few weeks or days before delivery.

Change in the nature of secretions from the genital tract.
Vaginal discharge under influence hormonal changes become more abundant and liquid. In some cases, to exclude the discharge of amniotic fluid, a special test is performed by an obstetrician.

Removal of the mucous plug.
This harbinger of labor can occur 2 weeks before the onset of labor, and a few hours before it begins. In some cases, the mucous plug does not come off entirely, but in small portions. In practice, this sign looks like a departure vaginal discharge(sometimes with an admixture of a small amount of blood). A pregnant woman should inform her obstetrician-gynecologist about the discharge of the mucous plug.

Decrease in the body weight of the expectant mother.
A few days before giving birth, a pregnant woman may notice that she weighs 1-2 kg less. This weight loss can be explained by the removal of excess fluid from the body under the influence of changes in the hormonal background.

Reducing the number of fetal movements.
The fetus, a few weeks before birth, moves less frequently. This is explained by his rapid growth. The future baby becomes crowded in the uterine cavity, and its movements are difficult.

Training bouts.
Closer to the date of birth, the uterus begins to increasingly come to increased tone, which is expressed in the feeling of training bouts. They differ from labor pains in a number of features: short duration, irregularity, weak painful sensations(reminiscent of pain during menstruation), spontaneous disappearance after a change in body position or rest.

The manifestation of the instinct of "nesting".
Many women in last days and even the hours before childbirth begin to prepare the home for the forthcoming birth of the child. These actions can be expressed in the fact that a woman begins to diligently clean, wash, and even start repairs.

Changes in the cervix.
Only an obstetrician-gynecologist can notice such a harbinger of an approaching birth when examining a woman on a gynecological chair. Under the influence of estrogen hormones, the cervix shortens and becomes more elastic by the 38th week. The external os of the cervix begins to open before the onset of labor pains.

Harbingers of childbirth in primiparous and multiparous women have their own characteristics.

Harbingers of the onset of labor - video

Signs of the onset of labor

Reliable signs of the onset of labor are:
1. contractions;
2. Outflow of amniotic fluid.

These two signs always indicate the onset of labor and every pregnant woman should know how they proceed.

Contractions

True, or labor pains are called contractions of the muscle fibers of the uterus, which occur at regular intervals, and which a woman cannot control. It is this sign that indicates the moment of the onset of childbirth.

The first true contractions are accompanied by minor pain, which most women compare with pain during menstruation. The pain is tolerable and can be given to the lower back or localized in the lower abdomen. Most women in labor begin to feel contractions at night. Some women note that during labor pain the uterus “hardens”, i.e. if during the contraction the woman in labor puts her hand on her stomach, then she can feel a hard, tense uterus.

You can determine the truth of contractions using a stopwatch. Their periodicity and constant occurrence, which is not eliminated by changing the position of the body, taking warm bath or rest, indicates the onset of labor.

At first, contractions occur at intervals of half an hour (in some cases more often). With each contraction, the woman in labor begins to feel not only soreness, but also rhythmic contractions of the muscles of the uterus. Gradually, contractions become more noticeable, and their frequency, duration and intensity increase. At every fight amniotic sac and the head of the fetus presses on the fundus of the uterus, causing a gradual opening of the cervix.

Outflow of amniotic fluid

In the classical course of childbirth, the outflow of amniotic fluid occurs after the opening of the cervix to 3-7 cm. Under the pressure of the fetus, the amniotic membrane is torn, and part of the amniotic fluid is poured out.

A woman in labor, with a classic outpouring of water, may seem to have involuntarily urinated. In some cases, water is poured out gradually, in small portions. In this case, a woman may notice the appearance wet spots on the bottom or bed linen and experience sensations such as vaginal discharge or menses.

Sometimes the rupture of amniotic fluid can occur before the onset of regular contractions and dilatation of the cervix, or much later than the full opening of the os of the uterus. These conditions do not always mean that there will be a pathology of childbirth or the fetus, but usually gynecologists use various special tactics for the further conduct of such labor to prevent possible complications.

Signs of the onset of labor - video

Contractions at the beginning of labor

Obstetrician-gynecologists distinguish three phases of labor pains:

Initial (hidden) phase:

the duration of the fight is 20 seconds;
the frequency of contractions is 15-30 minutes;
opening of the cervix - 0 or up to 3 cm.

The duration of the initial phase is from 7 to 8 hours.

Active phase:

the duration of the fight is 20-60 seconds;
the frequency of contractions is 2-4 minutes;
opening of the pharynx of the uterus - 3-7 cm.

The duration of the active phase is from 3 to 5 hours. Usually it is in this phase that the amniotic fluid is poured out.

Transitional (transient) phase:

the duration of the fight is 60 seconds;
the frequency of contractions is 2-3 minutes;
opening of the pharynx of the uterus - 7-10 cm.

The duration of the transition phase is from half an hour to an hour and a half.

Labor pains occur in the first stage of labor (the period of disclosure).

Beginning of labor in primiparas

Probable harbingers of childbirth in primiparas have their own characteristics. As a rule, they have a more pronounced time difference between the day of birth and the date of the appearance of precursors. Some expectant mothers are overly emotional and take any slight ailment for the harbingers of childbirth. If they do not know about this or that sign, they may not notice them.