Woman goes into labor

Emergency delivery: What to do when the baby’s coming – right now | Your Pregnancy Matters

Every year, nearly 9,000 women in the U.S. go into labor and, unable to make it to the hospital, have an unplanned or unattended birth at home or in the car on the way to the hospital. Some of those women later make it to UT Southwestern.

My colleagues and I typically recommend that women head to the hospital to deliver when their water breaks or when contractions become regular, meaning four or five minutes apart for more than an hour. But sometimes, neither of these signs of labor occur.

That’s exactly what happened to Jenea Jones, a labor and delivery nurse who used to work at Parkland Hospital here in Dallas and had to deliver her own baby in her vehicle. Jenea shares her story below, along with some tips for what to do if you find yourself in a similar situation, either as a delivering mom or as a bystander.

I used to work as an overnight labor and delivery nurse at Parkland Hospital. I’ve seen my share of amazing birth stories, but I never expected to star in my own!

I was about a week past my due date with my fourth baby, and I was patiently waiting to go into labor. I went about my shift, working with laboring moms and training emergency responders in labor and delivery techniques. Toward the end of my shift, I noticed that my contractions were getting a little closer together – some more frequently than those of my patients!

With my previous baby, I didn’t make it home after my shift. I went into labor at work and was admitted to the hospital right away. This time, I really wanted to go home first, then head back to the hospital when labor began. My contractions weren’t regular or intense yet, so I clocked out at the end of my shift and headed home.

Related reading: Hungry during labor? Women may now get more than ice chips

Once I got home, I ate some cereal, watched a little TV, dozed off for a bit, then took a shower. The contractions got stronger and more intense, but they were irregular and my water hadn’t broken. I decided it was time to go to the hospital when the contractions started to get a little more painful. In the car, everything was very annoying to me: the radio, the sound of my husband at the time talking on the phone, just everything. I remember thinking that was weird because I’d been coping with my contractions pretty well to that point. Then the situation got hairy.

Most women will notice a definitive change in how pre-labor or false labor contractions feel compared to real labor contractions. The real thing typically feels more intense, more painful, and might move into the cervix, back, or another part of the body, and the change might occur too quickly to get to the hospital in time. As we drove down I-30, I began to feel rectal pressure, which usually is an indication that the baby’s head is entering the birth canal and it’s time to push. That’s when I knew we weren’t going to make it to the hospital.

We were about 20 minutes away from Parkland when I said, “We need to pull over right now – the baby’s coming. ” I refused to panic, but I couldn’t help thinking how this is the kind of thing that happens on sitcoms, or to a friend of a friend, not to a labor and delivery nurse!

We pulled over along I-30 in the grass in front of a hotel and called 911. The next thing I knew, several men’s faces were peering through the windows of our vehicle. The emergency responders were there, ready to help me deliver. I started to push, and the baby – Carys – arrived soon thereafter, but she was in trouble. The umbilical cord was wrapped twice around her neck, membranes covered her face, and she was pale and limp.

I switched from “laboring woman” mode to “nurse” in an instant. Labor and delivery nurses are taught with neonatal resuscitation to warm up the baby with a warm towel. All I had was my undergarments, so i used them to rub her back and stimulate her skin. But Carys still wasn’t responding.

I asked one of the emergency responders for an Ambu bag, which is a device that produces positive-pressure ventilation by forcing air into the chest to get the lungs working. Thankfully they had the bag and a pediatric mask. As I worked to resuscitate Carys, one of the paramedics started to cut the umbilical cord, and I stopped him – that was her only steady source of oxygen.

After several minutes, Carys began to perk up. The emergency responders cut the cord and escorted us to a waiting ambulance for the 20-minute ride to Parkland. In the rush after delivery, all of my senses were totally heightened. I remember looking up at the EMT and saying, “It’s such a gorgeous day today, isn’t it?” He looked at me like I must have been in shock, but I think I was just flying high on endorphins.

Looking back on the delivery, I have to laugh at myself. I had planned to deliver Carys naturally, with no pain medication. I kept that to myself, though, because I didn’t want to let myself down if my birth plan changed at the hospital. As luck would have it, I got my wish – but in a very unexpected way!

Signs of labor: 6 clues baby is on the way

The signs of labor can differ from one woman to another, and even for the same woman they may change from one pregnancy to the next. Although there's no way to predict how a woman's labor will progress or how long it will last, there are a few common signs of labor. What initiates labor, however, is less clear. 

"We don't really know what mechanisms bring on labor," said Leslie Ludka, a certified nurse midwife and the director of midwifery at Cambridge Health Alliance in Cambridge, Mass. "Science hasn't figured this out yet."

Labor is likely initiated when certain hormones are produced by the fetus, according to the journal Molecular Endocrinology . Below is more information on the physical signs of labor. 

This article has been medically reviewed by

This article has been medically reviewed by

Yasmine S. Ali, MD, MSCI, FACC, FACP, is an award-winning physician writer who has published across multiple genres and media. She is President of LastSky Writing, LLC, and has 25 years of experience in medical writing, editing, and reviewing, across a broad range of health topics and medical conditions.

Signs of labor

One sign that labor may be approaching in a matter of days is when some women experience a "nesting" instinct, according to the International Journal of Childbirth Education . Although tired at this late stage of pregnancy, some women may feel a sudden burst of energy, and the desire to cook, clean and get the house organized before the baby arrives.

A 2013 study by Canadian researchers in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior found that nesting behaviors peak during a woman's third trimester of pregnancy. Similar to its role in the animal kingdom of preparing a safe environment for the new arrival, nesting in women may also serve a protective function, the authors wrote. 

The body can give off other clues that a woman might be going into labor. Below are six common signs of labor. 

1. The baby drops

Another sign of labor is known as "lightening." According to the Cleveland Clinic , this occurs anywhere from a few hours to a few weeks before labor begins in first-time pregnancies, and  a woman may look and feel as though the baby has dropped into a lower position in her pelvis. This means the baby is getting into a head-down position in preparation for birth. In women who have previously given birth, lightening may not occur until right before labor begins.

When the baby settles into a lower position, this eases pressure on a woman's diaphragm, making it easier for her to breathe, according to The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. But it also puts more pressure on her pelvis and bladder, resulting in frequent bathroom visits. In addition, a woman's belly may appear lower and more protruding, and she may walk with a waddle.

2. Regular contractions

Contractions may also be a sign of labor. A woman's uterus contracts during her entire pregnancy, Ludka said. "It's a muscle, and it has to practice for this Olympic event that is going to happen," she explained. 

Near the end of pregnancy, uterine contractions start to move the baby down into a lower position in the birth canal, and ultimately having contractions will help to push the baby out into the world. 

True labor involves regular, rhythmic, intense contractions that become closer than five minutes apart for more than an hour or two, Ludka said. The contractions usually start in a woman's back and then come around to the front, she said. 

"The abdomen gets hard, hard, hard like a basketball and then it relaxes," Ludka explained. "Real contractions feel like that." 

False labor contractions vs. real labor contractions

Distinguishing between false contractions and real ones can be tricky, according to the journal Social Science and Medicine . If a pregnant woman is having more than six contractions every hour, and they become stronger and rhythmic (meaning they occur at regular intervals), then pay attention, because the baby is on its way, Ludka said. True labor contractions don't go away even if a woman changes position, such as moving around or laying down.

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Ludka said that people don't often know how to time contractions correctly. It's done by timing from the beginning of one contraction to the start of the next one, including the rest time in between them.

False labor contractions, called Braxton Hicks contractions, often occur at irregular time intervals, they do not get closer together over time, and they'll eventually subside, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists .

Unlike true labor, false contractions are usually felt in the front of the body in the lower abdomen, are typically weak, and may stop when a woman walks, rests or otherwise changes her position.

3. Water breaks

The fetus has been growing and developing in a woman's uterus surrounded by amniotic fluid. When this protective sac of fluid ruptures (a process also called "rupture of membranes"), some women experience a gush of liquid, while for others it's a slow trickle, according to the Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research .

A pregnant woman's water can break days before labor starts, during labor or not at all (in which case an obstetrician or midwife will break it during the delivery), Ludka said. She advised mothers-to-be to call their obstetrician or midwife when their water breaks and describe the fluid's color and odor. This can help a health professional determine whether an expectant woman is leaking urine, which is a common symptom during pregnancy, or amniotic fluid. 

Once a woman's water breaks, the baby is no longer surrounded by the protective sac and could be at risk of developing an infection, according to the U. K.’s National Health Service (NHS) . This is why doctors and midwives will want to deliver the baby within a day or two of the water breaking. 

4. Lower back pain & cramping

During labor, a woman might feel increasing pressure or cramping in her pelvic and rectal areas. She may also feel a dull ache in her lower back. 

According to a study published in the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology , most people feel pain in the abdominal area. For some, back pain can be felt during contractions, while for others there is continuous low-back pain.

The study found that about 33% of women experience continuous lower back pain during labor.

5. Bloody show

As labor begins, or several days before it does, a woman may notice an increase in vaginal discharge that's pink, brown or slightly bloody. Called a "bloody show," this discharge is caused by the release of a mucus plug that blocks the cervix (the opening to the uterus) during pregnancy, according to the Cleveland Clinic . The mucus plug loosens up as the cervix begins to dilate, or open up, during the first stage of labor.

6. Diarrhea or nausea

Some women have frequent loose stools at the beginning of labor, or they may start vomiting for reasons that aren't clear, Ludka said. It's also often unknown which started first; for example, whether the diarrhea occurred and then labor began, or if labor started and this caused diarrhea, she explained.

Ways to promote labor

There are several old wives' tales and cultural beliefs about what might get labor started. Some of these labor-induction methods may actually work, while others are ineffective. 

In one study of 200 women who had just given birth, more than half of the women surveyed said they had tried at least one method to bring on labor during their final weeks of pregnancy, Live Science previously reported. Of those women, 85% reported that they had tried walking, 45% tried having sex, 22% ate spicy food and 15% tried stimulating their nipples.  

According to Ludka, a woman won't bring on labor by eating spicy foods , driving down a bumpy road, or taking long walks — three popular old wives' tales. However, two techniques that may get the process started are having sex and stimulating the nipples, Ludka told Live Science. 

Having sex might not be comfortable at this point in pregnancy, but sperm contain prostaglandins, a hormone-like compound that can soften up the cervix and help get labor underway, Ludka explained. 

She also said that stimulating the nipple by hand can help bring on labor for a woman who is at her due date and is having a normal, healthy pregnancy. This method may help release oxytocin , a hormone that can cause uterine contractions. 

A woman can try nipple stimulation by rolling one nipple between her fingers until a contraction occurs, Ludka advised. Once the contraction takes place, she should stop rolling and wait a full 5 minutes before doing it again. This method can be done for an hour or two. Ludka recommended that women never roll both nipples at the same time because this can create too many uterine contractions, or ones that are too strong. 

Additional resources

Learn what happens during each stage of labor and birth in this article by NHS U.K. To know more about the position of a baby during labor, read the Cleveland Clinic’s page: Fetal Positions for Birth . 

Editor's Note: If you'd like more information on this topic, we recommend the following book:

What To Expect When You're Expecting

$18.52

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Bibliography

"Evidence of a nesting psychology during human pregnancy". Evolution and Human Behavior (2013). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1090513813000706

"How to Tell When Labor Begins". The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/womens-health/faqs/how-to-tell-when-labor-begins

"Minireview: Fetal-Maternal Hormonal Signaling in Pregnancy and Labor". Molecular Endocrinology (2009). https://academic.oup.com/mend/article/23/7/947/2683942?login=true

"A Basic Revisited: Teaching About the Onset of Labor". International Journal of Childbirth Education (1993). https://www.proquest.com/openview/12a70e647c3295b5e932ef4668ee6af1/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=32235

"Recognizing active labor: A test of a decision-making guide for pregnant women". Social Science and Medicine (1982). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0277953682900624

"A comparative study of different concentrations of Hyoscine Butyl bromide in labor ". Journal of Advanced Medical and Dental Sciences Research (2019). http://jamdsr.com/uploadfiles/31HyoscineButylbromideinLaborvol7issue6p117-120.20190713051708.pdf

"Low-back pain during labor". American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology (1987). https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/0002937887903498

Ashley P. Taylor is a writer based in Brooklyn, New York. As a science writer, she focuses on molecular biology and health, though she enjoys learning about experiments of all kinds. Ashley's work has appeared in Live Science, The New York Times blogs, The Scientist, Yale Medicine and PopularMechanics.com. Ashley studied biology at Oberlin College, worked in several labs and earned a master's degree in science journalism from New York University's Science, Health and Environmental Reporting Program. 

Harbingers - childbirth is coming soon!

Wrestler Maria Vladimirovna

Obstetrician-gynecologist

MD GROUP Clinical Hospital, Mother and Child Clinic Savelovskaya

False contractions

They may appear after the 38th week of pregnancy. False contractions are similar to Braxton-Hicks contractions, which a woman could already feel starting from the second trimester of pregnancy (the uterus seems to stiffen for a few seconds - a couple of minutes, then the tension in it subsides). False contractions train the uterus before childbirth, they are irregular and painless, the intervals between them are not reduced. Real labor pains, on the contrary, are regular, their strength gradually increases, they become longer and more painful, and the intervals between them are reduced. That's when you can already say that the birth began for real. In the meantime, false contractions are going on, it is not necessary to go to the maternity hospital - you can easily survive them at home.

Abdominal prolapse

Approximately two to three weeks before birth, the baby, in preparation for birth, presses the presenting part (usually the head) against the lower part of the uterus and pulls it down. As a result, the uterus moves lower into the pelvic region, its upper part ceases to put pressure on the internal organs of the chest and abdominal cavity. In the people it is called - the stomach dropped. As soon as the stomach drops, the expectant mother notices that it has become easier for her to breathe, but, on the contrary, it becomes more difficult to sit and walk. Heartburn and belching also disappear (after all, the uterus no longer presses on the diaphragm and stomach). But, having dropped down, the uterus begins to put pressure on the bladder - naturally, urination becomes more frequent.

For some, uterine prolapse causes a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and even slight pain in the area of ​​the inguinal ligaments. These sensations arise due to the fact that the child's head, moving down, irritates the nerve endings of the pelvic organs.

During the second and subsequent births, the belly drops later - right before the birth. It happens that this harbinger of childbirth is not at all.

Removal of the mucous plug

This is one of the main and obvious harbingers of childbirth. During pregnancy, the glands in the cervix produce a secret (it looks like a thick jelly and forms the so-called cork), which prevents various microorganisms from entering the uterine cavity. Before childbirth, under the influence of estrogens, the cervix softens, the cervical canal opens slightly and the cork can come out - the woman will see that there are mucus clots on the linen that look like jelly. Cork can be of different colors - white, transparent, yellowish-brown or pink-red. Often it is stained with blood - this is completely normal and may indicate that childbirth will occur within the next day. The mucus plug can come out all at once (at once) or come out piecemeal throughout the day.

Weight loss

Approximately two weeks before delivery, weight loss may occur, usually by 0.5–2 kg. This happens because excess fluid is removed from the body and swelling decreases. If earlier during pregnancy, under the influence of the hormone progesterone, fluid in the body of a pregnant woman accumulated, now, before childbirth, the effect of progesterone decreases, but other female sex hormones - estrogens - begin to work hard, they remove excess fluid from the body of the expectant mother.

In addition, the expectant mother often notices that at the end of pregnancy it became easier for her to put on rings, gloves, shoes - this means that swelling on the hands and feet has decreased.

Change of stool

Right before childbirth, hormones often act on the intestines - they relax its muscles, as a result, stool disorder begins. Sometimes such frequent (up to 2-3 times a day) and even loose stools are mistaken for an intestinal infection. But if there is no nausea, vomiting, discoloration and smell of feces, or any other symptoms of intoxication, you should not worry: this is one of the harbingers of the upcoming birth.

And on the eve of childbirth, you often don't feel like eating at all. All this is also the preparation of the body for natural childbirth.

Mood changes

Many women experience mood changes a few days before giving birth. The expectant mother gets tired quickly, she wants to have more rest, sleep, even some kind of apathy appears. This state is quite understandable - you need to gather strength to prepare for childbirth. Often, just before giving birth, a woman wants to retire, looking for a secluded place where you can hide and focus on yourself and your experiences.

What should I do if there are any signs of childbirth? Usually you don’t need to do anything, because the harbingers are completely natural, they just say that the body is rebuilding and preparing for the birth of a child. Therefore, you should not worry and go to the hospital as soon as, for example, training contractions have begun or the mucous plug has come off. We must wait for real labor pains or outpouring of water.

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Harbingers of childbirth - How to understand that it is time to go to the hospital?

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Every pregnant woman with excitement and joy awaits the upcoming birth. The closer the cherished date, the more attentively the expectant mother listens to the changes taking place in her body and in the behavior of the baby. Of course, the expectant mother wants to know by what signs it is possible to understand that childbirth is just around the corner.

It is customary to call the harbingers of childbirth external, really tangible changes in the body, which are direct preparation for the onset of labor. The tissues of the birth canal - the cervix, vagina, vulva, perineum - become quite elastic, extensible, but at the same time - very strong and resistant to tearing. The cervix is ​​located in the center of the vaginal vault, shortens by almost half its normal length and softens significantly. The cervical canal - the lumen of the cervix connecting the uterine cavity with the vagina - opens slightly, as a result, the diameter of the cervical canal is approximately 2-2. 5 cm. Of course, such a significant "perestroika" takes more than one day.

Female sex hormones are responsible for preparing for childbirth. During the nine months of pregnancy, progesterone "reigns" in the body of the expectant mother. It ensures the normal tone of the uterus (relaxed state of the muscles), the production of cervical mucus - a mucous plug in the cervix that protects the fetus from infection. The amount of progesterone during pregnancy largely determines the normal development and growth of the fetus, the necessary concentration of nutrients and oxygen in the mother's blood, as well as their timely and uninterrupted delivery to the baby.

Shortly before childbirth, the production of progesterone decreases markedly, it is replaced by estrogens - female sex hormones. The increase in estrogen in the blood is caused by the need to prepare the body for the upcoming birth. It is these hormones that are responsible for the elasticity and patency of the birth canal. The rate of cervical dilatation in the first stage of labor depends on them. In the second period, when the cervix is ​​fully opened and the fetus passes through the birth canal, it is also very important how elastic and extensible the walls of the vagina are - this will largely determine the duration of the straining period. Finally, the onset of labor itself depends on the level of estrogen: contractions occur as a result of a nerve impulse that is caused by a certain level (“peak”) of estrogen accumulation.

These changes are normal and do not require an unscheduled visit to the doctor or hospitalization. Harbingers of childbirth are manifestations of a planned restructuring in the body of a future mother, the “finishing touches” of preparation for the upcoming joyful event.

The absence of clearly perceptible changes on the eve of the expected date of birth is also not a pathology. Not all expectant mothers note those changes in well-being that are commonly called harbingers. However, this does not mean that there is no preparation. In some cases, the “final preparations” go unnoticed by the pregnant woman. Therefore, do not worry or urgently contact a specialist.

The appearance of any of the "harbingers" indicates the likelihood of the development of regular labor activity over the next two hours - two weeks. None of the sensations described gives a 100% guarantee that a woman will become a mother within the next 24 hours. Hormonal changes before childbirth begin approximately two weeks before the expected birth. Theoretically, during these two weeks, at any time, a pregnant woman can notice certain changes in her state of health. Consequently, the absence of labor activity an hour, a day, or even a week after the first noted changes is not a pathology and does not require special medical advice.

• Scarlet discharge from the genital tract in any amount.
• Severe abdominal pain.
• Increased blood pressure (above 130/80 mmHg).
• An increase in body temperature to 37.5 ° C and above.
• Increased heart rate (more than 100 beats per minute).
• Severe headache, vomiting, blurred vision.
• Significant increase in edema.
• Absence, sharp decrease, sharp increase in fetal movements.
• Suspicion of amniotic fluid leakage.

Weight loss . Shortly before the expected date of delivery, the expectant mother may notice some “weight loss”. Weight loss during this period is associated with the removal of excess fluid from the body, that is, a general decrease in edema. The more pronounced the fluid retention during pregnancy, the more mass the pregnant woman will “lose” on the eve of childbirth. During pregnancy, water is retained in the body of all expectant mothers to a greater or lesser extent. The reason is progesterone - a hormone whose main function is to support the processes of pregnancy. Before childbirth, progesterone is replaced by estrogen. It is estrogen that removes excess fluid from the body. The first results are visible on the hands, feet and legs. Depending on the severity of edema, weight loss before childbirth varies from 0.5 to 2.5 kg.

Change of stool. Increased frequency and change in the consistency of physiological functions on the eve of childbirth is also associated with an increase in estrogen levels and the removal of fluid from the body of the expectant mother. Similar changes in the body of a non-pregnant woman are observed during menstruation. The chair can become more frequent up to 2-3 times a day, at the same time there may be some liquefaction of the feces. More frequent urge to defecate, a sharp change in the color and smell of feces, combined with nausea and vomiting, is a reason for consulting a doctor - food poisoning can be masked under such "harbingers".

Fundal prolapse. Shortly before delivery, the baby presses the presenting part (most often the head) against the lower segment of the uterus and pulls it down, pressing against the entrance to the small pelvis. The fetus "groups", taking the most advantageous position for itself at the time of the onset of contractions. As a result of such "preparations" from the side of the fetus, the uterus "sags", and its upper part - the bottom - ceases to exert pressure on the internal organs. After lowering the bottom of the uterus, the pregnant woman has no shortness of breath (it becomes easier to breathe, there is a feeling of a full breath). If in the last month the expectant mother had belching, heartburn, a feeling of heaviness in the stomach after eating, these phenomena disappear when the bottom of the uterus descends. However, lowering down to the pelvic area, the uterus will put more pressure on the internal organs located there. The pelvic organs, in particular, include the bladder. It is located directly in front of the uterus, in its lower part. Behind the uterus, at a distance of several centimeters, there is an ampulla of the rectum - the output section of the intestine. It is not difficult to guess what the result of pressure on the bladder and rectum will be: the urge to go to the toilet before childbirth can become noticeably more frequent.

Isolation of the mucous plug. During pregnancy, the glands of the mucous membrane of the cervical canal (the lumen of the cervix) secrete a special secret. It is a thick, sticky, jelly-like mass that forms a kind of cork. The mucous plug completely fills the cervical canal, preventing the penetration of bacterial flora from the vagina into the uterine cavity. Thus, cervical mucus, or the mucous plug of the cervix, protects the fetus from ascending infection. Before childbirth, when the cervix begins to soften under the influence of estrogen, the cervical canal opens slightly and the cervical mucus contained in it can be released. In this case, the expectant mother may find small clots of yellowish-brownish mucus, transparent, jelly-like, odorless. The mucous plug can stand out at once or depart in parts during the day. In the latter case, slight discomfort is sometimes noted in the form of "sipping" in the lower abdomen, reminiscent of sensations before or during menstruation. However, most often, the release of the mucous plug is not accompanied by tangible changes in the well-being of the expectant mother. After the discharge of the mucous plug, it is not recommended to visit the pool, swim in the reservoirs and in the bath. When immersed in water, it fills the vagina; thus, in the absence of a mucous plug, the risk of infection of the fetus and membranes through the ajar cervix increases.

Training contractions. Training or false contractions are called such contractions that appear shortly before childbirth and are not actually labor activity, since they do not lead to the opening of the cervix. A contraction is essentially a single contraction of the uterine wall; this contraction usually lasts a few seconds. At the time of the contraction, the expectant mother feels a gradually increasing and then gradually decreasing tension in the abdomen. If at this moment you put your hand on your stomach, you can notice that the stomach becomes very hard, but after the contraction it completely relaxes and becomes soft again. In addition to involuntary tension of the uterus, other changes in the well-being of the expectant mother during false contractions are usually not noted. It is not difficult to distinguish training fights from real ones. In most cases, false contractions are weak, painless, irregular or alternating at a significant interval (30 minutes or more). Labor pains, on the contrary, are distinguished by regularity and a gradual increase in intensity. Unlike false contractions, real contractions lead to a visible result - the opening of the cervix. In doubtful cases, a simple obstetric examination will be enough to make an accurate diagnosis. In other cases, training contractions, like all harbingers of childbirth, do not require a visit to a doctor or hospitalization. False contractions may recur for several hours and then stop. Most often, they disturb a pregnant woman in the evening and morning hours for several days.

Discomfort. In the last weeks before giving birth, many pregnant women report discomfort in the lower abdomen and in the area of ​​the sacrum (the area slightly below the waist). Such changes in

the well-being of the expectant mother is caused by sprain of the pelvic ligaments and increased blood flow to the pelvic organs. Usually these minor sensations, described as a feeling of "light languor" in the lower abdomen, are comparable to similar phenomena in the period before or during menstruation. Discomfort, like training contractions, more often disturbs the expectant mother in the morning and evening hours. The level of discomfort is minimal, it should not worry the expectant mother and does not require medical intervention.

All harbingers of childbirth can appear during the last two weeks before childbirth, their presence, as well as their absence, is the norm and does not require a visit to a doctor.

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