Chances are, yes. Still get it checked out. Not in labor just yet There are a few natural tricks that may help induce labor that you can try at home yourself, including walking, sex, spicy food and acupuncture. That said, there's not a lot of research to back any of these methods up, and you should always talk to your doctor first before trying anything intended to expedite baby's birthday.
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Getty Images. Here are some labor symptoms to watch out for. Back to Top. In This Article. An epidural involves medicine given by an anesthesiologist through a thin, tube-like catheter that's inserted in the woman's lower back. The amount of medicine can be increased or decreased according to a woman's needs.
Very little medicine reaches the baby, so usually there are no effects on the baby from this method of pain relief. Epidurals do have some drawbacks — they can cause a woman's blood pressure to drop and can make it difficult to pee.
They can also cause itching, nausea, and headaches in the mother. The risks to the baby are minimal, but include problems caused by low blood pressure in the mother. These drugs don't relieve pain, but they may help to calm and relax women who are very anxious. Sometimes they are used along with analgesics. These drugs can have effects on both the mother and baby, and are not often used. They also can make it difficult for women to remember the details of the birth. Discuss the risks of tranquilizers with your doctor.
Some women choose to give birth using no medicine at all, relying instead on relaxation techniques and controlled breathing for pain. If you'd like to experience childbirth without pain medicine, discuss this with your health care provider.
You'll want to review your pain control options with the person who'll be delivering your baby. Find out what's available, how effective they're likely to be, and when it's best not to use some medicines. If you want to use pain-control methods other than medicine, make sure your health care provider and the hospital staff know. Some people say that contractions feel like intense menstrual cramps while others describe lots of pressure and back pain.
Personally, I describe a contraction in active labor 6cm and beyond as an all-encompassing kind of pain. There's the tell-tale belly tightening, but then the sensation is something that is hard to describe other than to say it was so intense, my whole body felt it. There's no way to fully "escape" what's happening, so you just succumb and use your best coping skills.
And when a contraction is over, the pain relief is immediate and complete! Overall, the experience for me was intense but manageable. I could handle it as long as I was free to move and do what I needed to cope. When I was unable to move around, the pain felt more than intense and very much unmanageable. For example, the car ride to the hospital was not ok. But don't take just my word for it. Below, you'll find out how nine other people describe a contraction. When I was in labor for my first child, I remember finally deciding to get the epidural and when the medicine started to work, it only worked for half of my body.
One side was bearable while the other side felt like it was being squeezed and twisted as far as it would go. I couldn't believe the difference. I would have preferred to have all or nothing! Also, having had three kids now, I will say that the difference between contractions with and without Pitocin is night and day.
I know they say they start in your back, but I felt like mine started everywhere at the same time. With my first, they were the textbook example of a contraction. The pain started at my sides and worked it's way to the middle of my stomach. They started out like pretty mild menstrual cramps and then became completely unbearable. With my second labor, I suffered from pubic symphysis dysfunction and all of my contractions started in my lower back and moved to the front of my lower abdomen and into my pubic bone.
They were really severe very quickly after my water broke. And with every single one I felt the urge to push. Find out more about the stages of labour and what you can do at home during the latent phase. When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains.
You may have had contractions during your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are usually painless. Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger and more frequent as your labour progresses.
During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you'll feel it getting harder; when the muscles relax, the pain fades and you will feel the hardness ease.
The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening the entrance to your womb the cervix , ready for your baby to go through. Call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance when your contractions are in a regular pattern and:. Read more information on when to go to hospital. During pregnancy, there's a plug of mucus in your cervix.
This mucus comes away just before labour starts, or when in early labour, and it may pass out of your vagina. This sticky, jelly-like pink mucus is called a show.
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