During the second pregnancy, most women feel much stronger and more confident. But it is important to know that since the birth of the first-born, your body has undergone many changes: vitamin depletion of the body, a load on the reproductive system, weight fluctuation, frequent back pain and others. Moreover, the signs of childbirth in multiparous mothers are completely different.
So the second pregnancy can be radically different from the first. Therefore, it will be very useful to prepare yourself for this difference and once again go the "hard way". Fortunately, there are many steps you can take to ensure that everything goes well and soon you see the smile of your second baby.
How to prepare yourself for the birth of the next child?
It will seem to you that the second pregnancy is much faster, because you will constantly be busy with household chores and raising the first-born. It will be difficult for you to find the time to take care of yourself. But there are pluses: the shopping list of children's things will be much shorter, and you will not worry about how to care for your child in the early days.
Of course, your health remains an important issue. Again, you need to remember a few "rules" of pregnancy. Namely:
- every day (up to 12-15 weeks of pregnancy) take 400 micrograms of folic acid, which will help protect the child from problems with the nervous system and diseases of the spine,
- eat healthy foods (vegetables, fruits, fish, milk, cottage cheese, meat, nuts, cereals, whole grain bread) to make sure that you and your baby get enough nutrients,
- limit your caffeine intake to 200 mg per day - two cups of green tea or 2 cups of instant coffee,
- do physical exercises every day, after coordinating them with your doctor, they will help you to be energetic and stay in good shape,
- take time to get close to your child: stroke your tummy, listen to classical music, talk to him.
Changes in the body
Of course, your second pregnancy will be a little different than the first. Here are some examples:
- You will feel the fetal movements much faster, but these sensations will also be magical.
- Joints may hurt more. Consult a specialist on how to relieve tension in the back and pelvis.
- If during the first pregnancy you did not experience nausea, then most likely you can avoid these unpleasant sensations this time too. Conversely, if you have suffered from vomiting, then you will not get away from them again.
- Problems such as varicose veins, hemorrhoids, or frequent urination can recur. But this time you will already know how to deal with them.
- Unfortunately, if you have suffered from diseases such as gestational diabetes, obstetric cholestasis or preeclampsia, then they may appear this time.
The main plus of the second pregnancy is your awareness and experience. That is, in the event of any disease, you will know what medicines to take and how to behave so as not to harm the child. In any case, do not forget to consult your gynecologist.
Second pregnancy: first signs of childbirth
When your second pregnancy comes to an end, you, of course, will recall the first birth. This is absolutely natural, and besides, it is very interesting to know whether this will be the same this time.
The signs of childbirth during the second pregnancy can radically differ from those associated with your first experience. For example, you may feel that this time the stomach is lowering more slowly. However, contractions can occur more strongly, and the cervix will open faster.
If you have not had a cesarean section, then it will be easier for the child to go through the birth canal. The fact is that the muscles of the pelvic floor and the walls of your vagina were already strained earlier. The active period of labor (when the cervix opens from 4 to 10 cm, and the intervals between contractions become less and less) will last no more than 5 hours. This is less compared to the first time this phase takes 8 hours. And the process of giving birth to a baby does not take more than two hours this time.
Let's take a closer look at the signs of childbirth during the second pregnancy.
Belly lowering
It should be noted that not all pregnant women feel this before giving birth. However, if this happens, you will feel much better: you will breathe easier, shortness of breath will go away and even heartburn will no longer bother.
But sleep, unfortunately, will become a little worse: it will be difficult for you to find a comfortable sleeping position. Remember that in multiparous women, the abdomen drops just a few days before the birth.
How does a mucus plug go?
In fact, the so-called mucous plug may not come off at all, or it will do so directly 2 to 3 days before the actual start of labor. Nevertheless, due to the fact that women who are pregnant a second time, the cervix opens much faster, they will begin to give birth within a few hours after the cork of mucus has passed.
A mucus plug is a jelly-like clot, transparent or brown, that comes directly from the vagina. Sometimes it contains particles of blood. It is important to remember that he does not always leave before childbirth: this can happen in the process of the birth of the baby. So a woman may not even realize that the cork has come out.
Acute abdominal pain
When you become a mom a second time, it will be easier for you to distinguish true contractions from training (Braxton Hicks) that occur only once during the day, without any change in frequency. Usually they appear at the 26th week of pregnancy, but may occur later. Such criteria as the intensity of contractions will help to recognize them.
You can be absolutely sure that you will start giving birth when contractions become regular and frequent, and the intervals between them are reduced.
Child behavior
There are still signs of childbirth during the second pregnancy - this is the condition and movement of the fetus. As a rule, a few days before birth, the baby’s activity is significantly reduced, and he sends the mother only some “lazy” signals.
And very soon, this lull will be replaced by excessively fast movements of the child, informing the mother that her baby no longer wants to "sit in his stomach."
Weight loss
During pregnancy, of course, all women closely monitor their weight. But on the eve of the baby’s birth, you can notice a real loss of several kilograms. Unpleasant edema can go away with them.
In addition, the expectant mother may have a disturbed appetite and digestive upset. Do not be alarmed by aching pain in the lumbar region.
This unpleasant symptom also sometimes disturbs a multiparous woman. In addition, she can notice a sharp breakdown in normal stools: as a rule, expectant mothers often run to the toilet. And that means only one thing, that the birth is about to begin.
In addition to severe diarrhea, nausea and vomiting may occur.
Surge of activity
Sometimes before birth it is not clear why a pregnant woman with a huge belly feels an extraordinary surge of vitality in herself. She begins to quickly solve unfinished business: carry out spring cleaning, move furniture herself, and prepare a nursery.
Expectant mother seems to soar with happiness! And there are really many reasons for this, because soon everything will begin.
Active labor
As a rule, the contractions in most women begin with the discharge of water, that is, with the spontaneous rupture of the amniotic membranes.
Watch the frequency of contractions. Initially, you can experience contractions after 10 - 15 minutes. But over time, this period will be reduced to 2 to 3 minutes.
Urination may occur more often due to increased fetal pressure on the bladder.
When the above signs of childbirth are noted in multiparous, the cervix undergoes structural and functional changes. If it opens up to 10 cm, it means that you are ready to give birth.
Obstetrician help
A nurse who will be with you all the time will be able to determine how the cork is moving and how much your cervix has expanded. Your obstetrician will tell you what stage you are at: first - the cervix will open 1 - 3 cm, the second - from 4 to 7 cm, the third - 8 - 10 cm.
The specialist on call will also be able to tell you how your baby is located and where his head is. Water, contractions, sensations - all this you can and should discuss with your doctor.
Cesarean section
If your first-born appeared by Caesarean section, then this time you will have a chance to give birth on your own. An obstetrician-gynecologist will help you determine if you have similar symptoms (for example, preeclampsia) that may become an indication for surgery.
While your pregnancy is going well, a specialist will set you up for vaginal delivery. According to statistics, three out of four women do not have a cesarean section for the second time.
Premature birth
If during the first pregnancy your baby was born prematurely, this does not mean that this time everything will go the same. There are four out of five chances that the fetus will be full-term. However, changes may occur, and they will be related to your condition.
Scientists have proven that early birth can happen again if:
- the first time the baby was born between 20 and 31 weeks,
- you prematurely gave birth more than two times.
If the contractions during the second pregnancy really begin ahead of schedule, you will already know what to do. The main thing is to get to the hospital on time.
Signs of the onset of labor: false contractions, prolapse of the abdomen and other changes in the body
The most common questions that future mothers ask themselves and their already-born acquaintances are: “How do I know that childbirth has begun? I will not miss the beginning of childbirth? Are there any signs that the birth is about to begin? ” Of course, it is difficult to accurately predict the date of birth, but still there are some signs by which it can be determined that a baby may soon be born.
Usually childbirth does not happen suddenly, our body cannot change overnight - it does not happen that an hour ago nothing showed the beginning of childbirth, and suddenly they began abruptly. Childbirth is always preceded by some changes in the body. What should a future mother pay attention to?
There are so-called precursors of childbirth - tangible external changes in the body, which indicate preparation for the onset of labor. The reason for their appearance is a sharp increase in the amount of estrogen before childbirth. The activity of these hormones affects both the well-being and behavior of a woman. For some, the precursors appear 2 weeks before the upcoming birth, and for someone, only a few hours before them. In some, the precursors of childbirth are expressed intensively, for some they go unnoticed. There are several harbingers of childbirth, but one or two of them are enough to understand that childbirth will begin soon.
Baby weight
There is an opinion that the second children are born much larger than the first. But this is not always the case. However, if your first-born was born with a weight of 4.5 kg or more, then most likely this time you will have a hero.
To get information about the size and weight of your unborn baby, the gynecologist will constantly measure your stomach, as well as prescribe an ultrasound. This procedure will help you get an accurate picture of the fetus.
Now we can conclude: the signs of childbirth during the second pregnancy, of course, can significantly differ from those that were during the first. But in most cases they are repeated. Therefore, you will already know what to prepare for. And your obstetrician will help to identify violations in time, prevent them and take care of the safety of the baby and mother. Therefore, do not be afraid to give birth a second time. After all, every woman wants to again feel the joy of motherhood and see the first smile of her baby.
How long does a second birth take?
The society is firmly rooted in the opinion that the second and subsequent births occur earlier than the first. Naturally, such a scenario is quite likely (especially since the fetus, by its gravity, is no longer held by the cervix as firmly as for the first time), but is not at all necessary! The number of pregnancies in the past or their absence does not have a significant impact on the period of gestation.
Your second baby may be born when it is ready for this. But it is also possible that he will linger in the womb: there are many cases when the second birth took place after 40 weeks, and through stimulation. So do not configure yourself to give birth in advance at 37 weeks. However, as you know, this may very well work: often the birth occurs on the very date for which the mother “programmed” herself: on her husband’s vacation, after the parents arrived, on his father’s birthday or on New Year’s.
It is perfectly normal to give birth to a second child on time or with a difference of a few days from the expected date of delivery. So it is imperative that premature second birth is a pure myth!
How long does the second birth last?
Doctors say that the second birth is faster and easier. The birth of the first child takes an average of 11-12 hours, the second - only 7-8. In the second birth, time is reduced at all stages: the cervix during repeated birth is softer, more elastic, easier to stretch, which means it will open earlier, because during repeated birth it shortens and opens at the same time, the second stage - attempts - is much more energetic, so how the body “remembers” the previous birth and easily enters the phase of expulsion of the fetus. The multiparous woman breathes and pushes more competently, and can “push out” the baby in just a few minutes.
At the same time, doctors say: each birth is unique and individual, no matter what they are. Moms themselves agree with this opinion: many of them gave birth for a second time much longer than the first. Therefore, each birth is treated with all responsibility, carefully prepared and, of course, worried.
The beginning of labor - how to understand that labor has begun
It does not take long to guess one of the biggest fears of pregnant women. Of course, this is the process of childbirth, or rather, labor and the period of attempts. Moreover, every expectant mother is looking forward to this moment with great impatience. How to understand that childbirth begins and those feelings that worry the pregnant woman are contractions. Should I be afraid or have special relaxation methods? In our publication you will find all the answers.
How to find out that the birth process has begun?
There are a number of first signs that indicate the onset of labor:
Regular contractions of the uterus. You will feel them as pulling or sharp pain in the abdomen and (or) lower back. Usually the pain begins to ache and the stomach sips a little, and after a few hours it becomes more intense. In the interval between contractions, nothing usually hurts. Each woman has her own individual descriptions of this process, but there is one clear sign that these are labor pains: regularity and a reduction in the interval between “attacks”.
Anya: During the first birth, my stomach did not hurt during contractions at all, but instead of the abdomen my lower back ached.
Katya: I generally realized that I was giving birth when I was pushing on a chair. She came to the gynecologist for examination, and she saw the opening of 6 fingers. I was immediately at the maternity hospital, and while things brought, I gave birth.
Sveta: I was twisted very much: the pain was sharp at every fight and somehow quickly began to catch my breath. There was no period of pulling and preparatory sensations.
Olya: In the first pregnancy, I experienced pain, as with menstruation. It all started at night and I immediately realized that this is it. You just lie and notice: it got slightly sick, the stomach became stone, it let go completely, it takes about 20 minutes and again in a new way. Fights with the second child began at 36 weeks, they were training and very intense. Therefore, when they nevertheless passed to the family, I did not notice. She gave birth in 4 hours - a bubble puncture, she seemed to groan and push forward on a chair.
Sometimes the liquid begins to drain a little, even drop by drop (how to determine the leakage of amniotic fluid), in other cases - a continuous stream. You cannot find out in advance what exactly will happen in your case. But you should know that if water leaves, you need to urgently go to the hospital. Ideally, amniotic fluid pours out when the cervix is fully open. If the discovery has already happened, but the water has not departed - they make a puncture of the fetal bladder - the procedure is absolutely painless.
This symptom does not always indicate that you will give birth during the day. In most cases, the mucous plug that closes the cervix leaves within 2-3 days, or even several weeks before delivery. Выглядит пробка, как сгусток с жилками крови.
Это обычно сопутствующие признаки начала родовой деятельности. Благодаря гормонам, которые провоцируют родовые схватки и раскрытие шейки матки, у женщины начинается тошнота, рвота и иногда жидкий стул. При этом многие роженицы отмечают, что тошнота была очень легкая или они ее вообще не испытывали. Therefore, this symptom should be considered only in combination with others and to exclude food poisoning of the future mother.
These first signs are usually observed in the first stage of labor, which lasts an average of about 12 hours.
The first and second births of the same woman may vary. Experienced mothers say that during the second pregnancy they felt more intense contractions and the birth process went faster. In addition to the ready birth canal, the mood of the re-giving birth woman also contributes to this. She knows what to expect and tries to relax as much as possible, and this leads to the rapid opening of the cervix.
After the first period, the second begins, when the child is already driven out with the help of attempts. In our club you can learn how to push hard during childbirth.
What week does labor begin and at what time of day
As soon as you find out about your situation, it’s worthwhile to have your own pregnancy calendar, where you can regularly monitor what your week is and how much time is left until the significant DA (expected date of birth). But to know exactly what date and month you will see your baby is impossible in advance. One can only assume a certain period - from 38 to 42 weeks, when the child is considered full-term and childbirth usually occurs.
There are many prejudices that most often childbirth begins at night. This is nothing more than fiction. The likelihood that labor will begin at night is 50%, as is the likelihood of a daytime start of labor.
If you think that the birth will begin soon, what should I do?
First you need to calm down and try to count the contractions. Record the start of each bout, its duration and the interval between them. This lesson will allow you to calm down a bit and pull yourself together, and you will need its results upon arrival at the hospital. If the interval between contractions is reduced and systematicity is clearly visible, call an ambulance crew or go to the hospital by taxi.
If your water has flowed off, immediately call an ambulance or your gynecologist.
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The first signs of labor before labor
First birth - a real test for a young woman. Throughout pregnancy, the body and body changed, giving the expectant mother considerable discomfort. And day after day, the cherished moment is approaching - childbirth. How to understand that the process has started? In order not to miss the moment and consult a doctor in time, you need to know first signs of labor before labor. It happens that women confuse them with false contractions, which periodically appear in the last month of pregnancy, so on the day itselfX"Once again accept real signals as false. So how do you recognize real contractions?
Signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy
Any pregnant woman is worried about the upcoming birth, even if the pregnancy passes without complications and she feels good. But women who give birth for the first time, worry about this much more. How to find out that childbirth has begun? When is the time to go to the hospital? Signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy - this is what any future mother should know in order not to risk harming the baby or herself.
Many women are fully confident in the date of birth prescribed by the doctor. One way or another, due to many factors, childbirth begins later or earlier than the date determined by the doctor. It is important to carefully listen to yourself and your body, monitor yourself and your feelings, track changes in your condition in order to understand when the birth will begin. After all, delaying pregnancy can be dangerous as well as premature birth. If the pregnancy lasts 37 weeks, the precursors of childbirth may be: the abdomen drops, weight loss, false contractions, mood changes, cork detachment, unusual sensations.
The main sign of an approaching event is a prolapse of the abdomen, and if the pregnancy is normal and the birth is successful, this usually happens at 36-37 weeks. The child needs to go down, “prepare” for his birth. Some women find it easier to breathe, as the child stops pressing on the diaphragm, and symptoms of prolapse are usually swelling and frequent urination. This is due to the fact that the child, falling down, begins to put pressure on the kidneys and bladder. No need to be upset or scared of swollen legs or arms - tune in to a happy event - the baby is born.
Also, do not be afraid of weight loss, which is associated with the absorption of amniotic fluid. If you just got better during your whole pregnancy, and by the end of your term 2-3 kg are drastically dropped - it means that soon the baby will be born. In order not to miss this symptom, it is worth controlling your weight, regularly measuring it and recording it in the diary of the future mother.
Another sign of a close birth can be a change in appetite. Do not be afraid if your term is already on the way, and you suddenly turned from a diligent eater into a fussy. And vice versa, if you did not want to eat throughout your pregnancy, and then your appetite has increased sharply - get ready for childbirth.
Just a few days before the baby is born, a pregnant woman begins to feel heaviness or pulling pain in the pubic area. If earlier your back and lower back ached, now these “pleasant” sensations will go to the area of the pubic bone. This happens due to the fact that the body is preparing for the upcoming birth, the bones become slightly softer to facilitate the process, and this causes aching dull pain.
The signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy are not limited to physiological changes and sensations. Changing the mood of a woman, character. She is alternately able to cry and laugh, rejoice and be sad. If during the whole pregnancy this happened gradually, then before the birth such jumps in mood increase. A woman often cannot fall asleep, is worried and upset by trifles and trifles, falls into apathy or becomes irritable. We noticed this in the last weeks of pregnancy - start going to the hospital.
What to do when the first signs of childbirth appear?
Noticing the first signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy, and with subsequent ones too, you need to listen to your body. If the symptoms worsen, this means that the baby will be born in the coming week. A woman should carefully monitor herself, do not lift weights, relax more often, take care of herself. However, a light little physical exertion will not hurt in any way, otherwise the child can be transferred, and a postponed pregnancy is also dangerous.
The best activities in the last days of pregnancy will be walks in the fresh air, simple household chores. Wipe off the dust, wash the dishes, cook delicious dishes, and leave the purchase of products, mopping and hand washing to your loved ones.
The most important thing for a future mother is a good mood and positive emotions, the absence of negativity, quarrels and unrest. It is important to maintain your good mood and condition before such an important event as the appearance of the child.
All of the above signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy give an opportunity to understand the expectant mother that soon the baby will be born. You need to be ready for a trip to the hospital, to collect the necessary things for the hospital. But the closer the important event, the more the woman experiences, how can she understand that the birth itself has already begun.
The most obvious signs of labor that has begun are:
- Wet palms and growing excitement. This is due to the release of a large amount of adrenaline.
- It turns out the mucous plug that protects the baby throughout pregnancy. This is easy to notice by a small amount of fluid from the uterus, sometimes with bloody discharge. Please note that in some cases, the cork may come out a couple of days before delivery.
- Fights begin. The very first contractions are almost imperceptible, not very painful sensations, moving from the lower abdomen to the lower back. Often a woman may not immediately notice these contractions. This is not scary. The first birth can last a long time, sometimes up to 13-15 hours, so there will still be time to call a doctor when the contractions become more noticeable. Over time, the contractions will become longer and stronger, prenatal contractions go through the interval of 5-6 minutes and become more frequent. You will feel when the uterus begins to contract, in addition, before this, the water departs.
Water discharge is the beginning of labor. If the child’s head blocks their path, the water will drain slowly. If the waters diverted quickly - it is necessary to carry out the delivery very quickly, since any delay can be critical for the baby - it can be damaged or suffocate. If the water did not flow away in the presence of a doctor, you should remember what color they were, how they looked and what they had a smell in order to then transfer this information to the gynecologist and obstetrician as accurately as possible, who will receive the woman’s birth.
The main thing is not to worry beyond measure and not to panic, try to remain calm. Even if the water has already departed and there are still no fights, you need to urgently call an ambulance or a husband or a friend who will take you to the hospital. It’s better to go reclining in the car, and have a bottle of water without gas or black tea with lemon with you. As a rule, women pre-pack a bag with necessary things and documents in the maternity hospital in advance, so it is better to put a bottle of water right there so as not to suffer from thirst during and after childbirth.
How to recognize premature birth?
The normal term for childbirth is considered to be 40 weeks. If childbirth began before the fortieth week, they are considered premature. In this case, a woman should know the signs of premature birth in order to be ready for any situation and be able to consult a doctor on time.
Signs of preterm birth:
- Fights with a repetition rate of 10 minutes or less
- Cramps in the lower abdomen that look a bit like menstrual cramps
- Stomach cramps
- Aching dull pain in the lower back, often temporary
- Pelvic pressure, often temporary
If a pregnant woman has noticed that she has several of these symptoms, in order to avoid premature birth, she should immediately seek qualified medical help.
How to bring labor closer and cause contractions?
As mentioned above, pregnancy overriding is just as dangerous as premature birth. If your gestational age has exceeded 41 weeks, and signs of childbirth during the first pregnancy did not appear, you can independently cause contractions and help the child to finally be born without harm to his health.
First of all, foods that contain a lot of fiber will help to cause contractions. It is also worth less to drink water and drinks, try not to overeat - all this stimulates the intestines.
You can try to lie less, walk more and even dance at home. Then, under the weight of the amniotic fluid, the baby begins to move, the uterus begins to contract, and there it is already close to the first contractions and, as a result, to the birth itself.
You can also do breast nipple massage. The fact is that in this way a greater amount of the hormone oxytocin is produced in the body of a woman, and it affects the contraction of the uterus. In addition, this hormone is useful for breast skin, preparing it for future breastfeeding.
Often, I advise the expectant mother to stroke the belly more often, talk more with the baby, call him and tell him about her feelings for him. It is this kind of contact between the mother and the child that most likely pushes the baby to be born.
False contractions
False contractions may appear after the 38th week of pregnancy. False contractions are more intense than Braxton-Hicks contractions (training contractions), which a woman could already feel from the second trimester of pregnancy. False contractions, like Braxton-Hicks contractions, train the uterus before the upcoming birth, they are irregular and painless, the intervals between them do not decrease. True labor pains, on the contrary, are regular, their strength is gradually increasing, they are becoming longer and more painful, and the gaps between them are shrinking. Then it’s already possible to say that the birth began for real. And while there are false contractions, 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, preparing for the birth, is pressed by the precursor (usually the head) to the lower segment of the uterus and pulls it down. The uterus, which was previously in the abdominal cavity, moves to the pelvic region, the upper part of the uterus (bottom), descending, stops pressing on the internal organs of the chest and abdominal cavity. As soon as the belly goes down, the future mother notes that it has become easier for her to breathe, although it becomes, on the contrary, 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 sank down, the uterus begins to put pressure on the bladder - naturally, urination becomes more frequent.
For someone, a prolapse of the uterus causes a feeling of heaviness in the lower abdomen and even slight pain in the area of the inguinal ligaments. Someone’s legs and lower backs sometimes seem to run electric discharges. All these sensations also arise due to the fact that the precursor of the fetus moves downward and is “inserted” into the entrance of the woman’s small pelvis, while irritating its nerve endings.
In the second and subsequent births, the abdomen descends later - right before the birth. It happens that this harbinger of childbirth is not at all.
Weight loss
About two weeks before birth, weight may decrease, usually it decreases 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, the 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 intensely. They remove excess fluid from the body of the future mother. Very often, the expectant mother notices that at the end of pregnancy it became easier for her to put on rings, gloves, shoes - this caused swelling on the hands and feet.
Chair change
In addition, hormones also relax the muscles of the intestines, which can lead to upset stools. Sometimes such an increase in stool (up to 2-3 times a day) with liquefaction of feces, women take for intestinal infection. However, if there is no nausea, vomiting, discoloration and smell of feces, any other symptoms of intoxication, you should not worry: this is one of the harbingers of the upcoming birth.
Emotional state change
It is noticed that many women have a mood change several days before giving birth. Usually the expectant mother feels tired, she wants to relax more, sleep, apathy appears. This condition is quite understandable - you need to gather strength to prepare for childbirth. Often, before the very birth, a woman seeks to retire, looking for a secluded place where you can hide and concentrate on yourself and your feelings.
Changing a child’s behavior
The baby in the last days before birth also calms down. His motor activity is reduced, while according to CTG, ultrasound and other studies, he is completely healthy. It’s just that the child has already gained sufficient weight and height, and often he simply has nowhere to turn around in the uterus. In addition, the baby is also gaining strength before a long job.
Discomfort
A few days before giving birth, many expectant mothers have any uncomfortable sensations in the lower abdomen and in the sacral region. Most often they are similar to those that occur on the eve or during menstruation - the stomach or lower back periodically pulls, sometimes it is mild aching pain. They appear during the discharge of the mucous plug or before. Such uncomfortable sensations arise due to stretching of the pelvic ligaments, an increase in blood flow to the uterus, or as a result of lowering the bottom of the uterus.
Cork mucus discharge
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 a so-called cork), which prevents various microorganisms from penetrating the uterine cavity. Before giving birth, under the influence of estrogen, the cervix softens, the cervical canal opens and the cork may go out - the woman will see that clots of mucus of a jelly-like consistency remain on the linen. 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 mucous plug can stand out immediately (simultaneously) or come out in parts during the day. Usually, cork discharge does not affect the well-being of the expectant mother, but sometimes at the moment of its release, there are felt pulls in the lower abdomen (as before menstruation).
The mucous plug can go away two weeks before giving birth, and can stay inside almost until the birth of the baby. If the traffic jam has come out, but there are no contractions, you should not immediately go to the hospital: just call a doctor and consult. Однако если пробка отошла раньше, чем за две недели до предполагаемого срока родов, или в ней много ярко-красной крови, следует сразу обратиться в роддом.
Обычно у будущей мамы наблюдается два-три признака приближающихся родов. Но случается, что предвестников нет совсем. Это не значит, что организм не готовится к родам: вполне возможно, что женщина просто не замечает предвестников или они появятся непосредственно перед родами.
What to do if there are any precursors of childbirth? Usually, you don’t need to do anything, because the precursors are completely natural, they just say that the body is rebuilding and preparing for the birth of a child. Therefore, do not worry and go to the hospital as soon as, for example, training fights have begun or the mucous plug has come off.
The psychological aspect of the second birth
At first glance, no nuances can arise here. The second pregnancy is conscious, which means that the woman is psychologically ready for the upcoming birth. But it's not always the case. Even the second and subsequent pregnancies, like the first, are planned or “accidental”. And in that, and in another case, the woman will again face the process of childbirth, which in any case is quite painful. Sometimes a woman is not ready to give birth to a second child precisely because of fear from the birth itself. This usually happens if the first birth was difficult enough. But even those women who gave birth to the first baby easily and quickly are afraid of subsequent ones.
Statistics nevertheless claims that from a psychological point of view, a woman is more ready for the second birth, and during the delivery process she behaves confidently and calmly under any circumstances.
But how to force yourself to overcome the fear of an impending birth? First of all, you need to get rid of all bad thoughts about previous births, erase them from your memory and not discuss the difficult births of friends and acquaintances. It is easy for a multiparous woman to switch, because she has so many worries with her firstborn. Indeed, you do not need to be afraid of childbirth, but to prepare the first child for the appearance of a brother or sister in the house. Well, and then, you clearly realize that no one can give birth to you, and you probably remember how the first time it was your ignorance that prevented you from breathing and pushing properly: what will happen next? Now you are no longer a beginner, which means that you will be more experienced in childbirth. Believe me, at the right moment easily figure out what and how.
How is the second birth? Physiological aspect
Nothing new will happen here. Like the first, second births have three stages: opening the cervix (contractions), the period of expulsion of the fetus and the birth of the placenta:
- Contractions. After the first fight, the body itself will remember how painful and painful it is. In this condition, a woman may require pain relief during childbirth, but you just need to calm down and switch to experiencing the contractions correctly, thanks to which you will give birth to your baby. We'll have to remember about comfortable poses, just now a husband with an effective massage can come in handy. During the fight you need to relax, taking deep breaths and exhalations.
- Attempts. Listen to the advice of obstetricians and gynecologists and fully trust them. In order for the attempts to be as effective as possible, it is important to be able to hold your breath and properly release air through the tension of the abdominal muscles. Practice shows that during the second birth, most women push properly and efficiently, so be calm for yourself.
- The birth of the placenta. If at the first birth a woman felt discomfort at the birth of the placenta, then at the second, usually no attention is paid to this procedure. All emotions are directed to the baby, who reflexively searches for maternal breasts with her lips, while mom herself, joyful and tired, mentally prepares for the postpartum period, for returning home, where she can fully feel her true maternal happiness, being next to both babies.
All this awaits you with the normal course of childbirth. However, unpredictable situations may arise, for which it is not always possible to prepare in advance. In any case, you should calm down and rely on specialists. Only in this way can you help yourself and your baby.
There are also situations when the course of the second birth can be predicted, focusing on the state of health of the woman, the course of previous birth and many other factors.
