Contractions during childbirth

The fact that the birth is a difficult, painful process, women learn in childhood: mothers and grandmothers, aunts and older sisters often manage to convey to the younger generation all the unattractiveness of the process of the birth of a person. This information settles in the young heads, and over time, the birth begins to be associated with something terrifying. And most of all future mothers are afraid of labor during childbirth - because they cause unbearable pain.

Periodicity of labor during labor

Contractions during labor are periodically recurring contractions of the uterus. Their goal is to open the cervix of the uterus, to ensure the baby "going out into the light." In the normal state of the uterus, the uterus is tightly closed by the cervical muscular ring, and in the delivery it opens up to 10-12 cm to pass the baby's head. After labor, the uterus will contract to its original, "pre-pregnancy" size.

Of course, the intensive work of the uterus muscles in childbirth can not go unnoticed: a woman feels pain, which, like a wave rolls and recedes. As a rule, bouts begin gradually. Initially, they can be taken as a normal ache in the lower back or dull pain in the abdomen, as in the case of digestive disorders. However, over time, painful sensations intensify, pauses between them contract, fights are more like periodic pains during menstruation.

Doctors advise future mothers to note the duration of fights and the intervals between them. If the frequency of labor at birth is 10-12 per hour (that is, every 5-7 minutes), then it's time to gather in the hospital.

In primiparous women, the period of contractions is about 12 hours. If this is the second and subsequent delivery, the bouts last 6-8 hours. And the more the cervix opens, the higher the frequency of labor during childbirth: by the end of the period the bouts are repeated every 2 minutes.

How to facilitate contractions during childbirth?

Many women have heard amazing stories about almost painless births and often ask the question: "Are there births without labor?" Of course, there are no, because contractions are a natural and necessary part of childbirth. The absence of labor during childbirth indicates that something went wrong and the situation requires immediate medical intervention.

However, some women contractions during childbirth bring real suffering. The cause may be low pain threshold, fear and misconduct. You can correct the situation if you prepare for the birth in advance: attend the school of expectant mothers, collect as much information about birth as possible, learn methods of anesthesia and relaxation, and master the technique of breathing during labor and childbirth.

It is impossible to control fights, and this is what scares future mothers who first enter the sacrament of childbirth. However, it is possible to alleviate the condition of the parturient woman by the following methods:

  1. At the very beginning of labor, when the fights are still weak, try to sleep or at least lie down, completely relaxed. This allows you to save strength and calm down.
  2. In tangible fights, it is better to move: walk around the room, swing the pelvis. Disclosure of the cervix in this case is accelerated.
  3. Find a convenient position in which the fight is most easily tolerated: stand on all fours, hang around your husband's neck (if he is with you), lie on your side or sit on a chair facing back.
  4. If the waters have not yet drained, take a warm bath or shower.
  5. Massage the sacral area.
  6. Try to relax on the peak of the fight.
  7. Breathe right: the fight begins and ends with a deep breath-exhalation, at the peak of the fight, take a deep breath and make a few short exhalations. In difficult-to-control bouts, surface and frequent breathing will help.
  8. If the pain becomes intolerable, ask the doctor to give you an anesthetic.

And, perhaps, the main advice: do not be afraid! Childbirth is not torture, but the great work of a woman, the fulfillment of her mission on Earth, is the birth of a new life. And the reward for this work will be the first cry of your baby and with nothing incomparable feeling of love and happiness - you are Mom.