I don't know if this would be something you'd want to sticky. It's information I got from my lamaze class 5 yrs ago and have used it with all 3 as time got closer to the big day
Feel free to print out and keep handy
Signs of Labor
General Feelings
1. May have flu-like symptoms -- nausea, diarrhea, abdominal cramping. This alone is not a sign of labor and must be accompanied by more positive signs of labor.
2. Or you may feel "great" and have a "burst of energy"
3. Or you may feel no different than you have been feeling.
Contractions
1. Time contractions from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction to determine how far apart they are. Also time from the beginning of one contraction to the end of that contraction to determine how long they last.
2.True Labor contractions can
usually be distinguished from false labor contractions by the following:
- Most often felt as radiating from the small of the back to the lower abdomen; or from the front to teh back; or just along the lower abdomen or upper thighs.
- Have wavelike pattern -- onset, peak, decent
- Should establish a regular pattern that does not change with a change in activity
- Should increase in frequency, intensity, and duration
- Should be sufficiently hard that breathing patterns are neccessary
- Should last at least 30 seconds
Rupture of Membranes
1. May begin by a slow leak, or
2. May have a sudden gush of warm liquid
3. You will not be able to control the flow and the fluid will probably continue to leak until your baby is born, especially with contraction and position change
4. Notify your doctor if your membranes rupture, even if you are not in labor
5. The fluid should be clear and odor free
6. Do not make any vaginal entry after your membranes rupture, such as tub bath or intercourse, It is OK to take a shower
What to do if you think you may be in labor:
1.
RELAX!! Do not begin any breathing until you are no longer comfortable just relaxing with contractions
2. May eat lightly if you are not nauseated
3. Don't engage in any strenuous activity or exercise that will make you tired
Notify your doctor and go to the hospital if any of the following occur:
1. Bloody discharge from the vagina that is of the amount liek you are starting your menstrual period (as distinguished from a pinkish, reddish, or brownish mucous discharge)
2. You pass any clots
3. If your membranes rupture and the fluid is green or brown or had a foul odor to it.
PreLabor Symptoms
The physical changes of prelabor can precede real labor
by a full month or more -
or by only an hour or so (taken from What to Expect When Your Expecting pg 269)
1.
Lightening and Engagement: Usually somewhere between 2 and 4 wks before the onset of labor in first-time mothers, the fetus begins to descend into the pelvis. This milestone is rarely reached in second or later births until labor has actually commenced.
2.
Sensations of Increasing Pressure in the Pelvis and Rectum: Crampiness adn groin pain are particularly common in second and later pregnancies. Persistant low backache may also be present.
3.
Loss of Weight or Cessation of Weight Gain: In general, weight gain slows in teh ninth month; as labor approaches some women lose up to 2 or 3 lbs
4.
A change in Energy Levels: Some ninth-monthers find that they are increasingly fatigued. Others experience energy spurts. An uncontrollable urge to scrub floors and wash woodwork has been related to the "nesting instinct" - in which the female of the species prepares the nest for the impending arrival.
5.
A Change in Vaginal Discharge: You may find that your discharge increases and thickens
6.
Loss of Mucous Plug: As the cervix begins to thin and open, the "cork" of mucus that seals the opening of the uterus becomes dislodged. This gelatinous chunk of mucus can be passed through the vagina a week or 2 before the first real contractions or just as labor begins
7.
Pink or Bloody Show: As the cervix effaces and dilates, capillaries frequently rupture tinting the mucus pink or streaking it with blood. This "show" usually means labor will start in 24 hours - but could be as much as several days away
8.
Intensification of Braxtion Hicks Contractions: These practice contractions may become more frequent and stronger even painful
9.
Diarrhea: Some women experience loose bowl movements just prior to the onset of labor
False Labor Signs
Real labor probably has not begun if:- Contractions are not at all regular and don't increase in frequency or severity.
- Contractions subside if you walk around or change your position.
- Show, if any, is brownish. (This kind of discharge is often the result of an internal exam or intercourse within the past forty-eight hours.) Bright red blood requires immediate consultation with your practitioner.
- Fetal movements intensify briefly with contractions. (Let your practitioner know immediately if activity becomes frantic.) (What to Expect, page 335)
Braxton Hicks Contractions
Practice, practice, practice. You may be experiencing Braxton Hicks Contractions, which usually begin to rehearse the pregnant uterus for labor sometime after the 20th week of pregnancy. These contractions are typically felt earlier adn are more intense in women who have had a previous pregnancy. In effect, your uterus is flexing its muscles, warming up in preparation for the real contractions, which will normally push your baby out at term. At first, you'll feel these practice contractions as a painless (but possibly uncomfortable) tightening of your uterus, beginning at the top and gradually spreading downward before relaxing. They usually last about fifteen to thirty seconds, but may last as long as two minutes or more.
As pregnancy draws to a close in the ninth month, Braxton Hicks contractions may become more frequent, intense, and sometimes even painful. Though they're not efficient enough to deliver your baby, Braxton Hicks contractions may get the prebirth processes of effacement and early dilation of the cervix started, thereby giving you a leg up on labor before it even begins.
To relieve any discomfort you may feel during these contractions, try changing your position - lying down and relaxing if you've been on your feet, or getting up and walking around if you've been sitting. You can also use this labor rehearsal to practice your breathing exercises and the various other childbirth techniques you've learned, which can make it easier to deal with the real contractions when they do arrive.
Though Braxton Hicks contractions are not true labor, they may be difficult for you to distinguish from the real thing (see above). They may also be difficult to differentiate from the kind of preterm uterine activity that precedes premature labor. So be sure to describe the contractions to you practitioner at your next visit. Report them immediately if they are very frequent (more than four per hour) and/or are accompanied by pain (back, abdominal, or pelvic) or by any kind of unusual vaginal discharge, or if you are at high risk for premature labor. (What to Expect page 287-287)
Signs of Labor
