Preparing for childbirth

It is wise for an expectant mother, after 36 or 37 weeks of her pregnancy, to mentally prepare herself for the delivery of her child.

How will the expectant mother understand when it is time for delivery? Slight pain in the lower abdomen, contraction of the uterus is common during this period. But it is important for the mothers to understand labour pains and symptoms. If not, it can cause a delay in reaching hospital in time.

Symptoms of normal delivery:

• Pain in the lower abdomen and contraction of uterus

• Bloody discharge

• Cervix opens

• Water sac created

During the last stage of the pregnancy, especially before 1-2 weeks, the expectant mother may have false labour pains. And 16 weeks after conception the uterus contracts. This is known as Braxton Hicks contraction. It does not cause pain.

Real labour pain has certain symptoms. The pains occur at regular intervals along with contraction of the uterus leading to a hardened abdomen. The severity and duration of the pain will increase. The pain will come and go. The pain originates from the back and moves to the front, passing through the thighs. It isn’t relieved with pain killers or sleeping pills.

The severity of the false labour pain is nominal and is limited to lower abdomen and the groin. At this time uterus contraction doesn’t take place and the pain is cured with medication. To protect the baby from external infection, the mouth of the uterus is covered by mucus, a gummy substance. At the time of delivery the mouth of the uterus or the cervix opens up, water breaks causing bloody discharge. This is the major symptom, indicating the arrival of delivery time.

However, if the above mentioned symptoms appear, the expectant mother must be transferred to hospital as early as possible, without any delay. The infant may be born at any moment.

*Shamima Yasmin is with the department of gynecology and obstetrics, BSMMU. This piece appeared in the print version of Prothom Alo has been rewritten in English by Faria Islam.