Contractions usually become much more intense after your water breaks, and the labor goes faster. Your physician or midwife should evaluate you and your baby as soon as possible after your water breaks. That's because the baby is at risk of developing an infection in the uterus once the protective fluid is gone. Doctors also advise that women not have sex after their water breaks to avoid introducing any bacteria into the uterus.
Your practitioner will want you to have your baby within a day or two after your water breaks. If you are close to your due date, your water breaks, and you don't go into labor on your own within a relatively short period of time, you will need to have labor induced. If your labor doesn't begin within a specific time period, your physician may want to bring on induce labor. How long your health practitioner is comfortable waiting before inducing will depend on your individual situation.
Be sure to tell your health care team if your "water" isn't clear. If your amniotic fluid is greenish in color or smells bad, it could signal either an infection or meconium essentially baby feces , either of which could cause problems for your baby.
Also, if you're leaking liquid but aren't sure whether it's amniotic fluid or urine some pregnant women leak urine at the tail end of their pregnancies , you should have it checked by your health practitioner so you know what you're dealing with. Contractions are strong, rhythmic, regular cramps that feel like a bad backache or extreme menstrual pain. These little doozies, if they're the real thing, are the most reliable of all the signs and officially mark the onset of labor.
A contraction occurs when your uterus tightens and then relaxes. Real contractions usually start in the back of your body and move toward the front. These movements open the cervix and help push the baby into the birth canal. True contractions come closer and closer together in a predictable pattern and last around 30 to 70 seconds each. They get steadily stronger and keep coming, regardless of what you do. You and your health practitioner should come up with a game plan ahead of time about when you should call and what you should do if you suspect you're in labor.
Most practitioners will probably tell you to call when you have contractions that last for around one minute and occur every five minutes for about an hour, but this could vary greatly depending on your health history and past pregnancy record.
Women who have given birth before may have a quicker labor the second or third time around, so it's important not to wait too long to call if you think things might go quickly. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor or midwife. To time the frequency of contractions, start at the beginning of one and count until the beginning of the next one.
When in doubt, call your practitioner. Even if you're not sure if your signs add up to the beginning of labor, it doesn't hurt to check in. Your doctor or midwife can give you concrete advice and help you determine if this is the moment you've been waiting for. American Pregnancy Association. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances. Signs of Labor. Best Things to Bring to the Hospital.
Getting Pregnant. Popular links under Pregnancy First Trimester. Popular links under Baby Baby Month by Month. Popular links under Toddler Toddler Month by Month. An image of vagina on a colorful background. Credit: Getty Images. Art: Jillian Sellers. Thoroughly wash your hands. You can also trim your nails to help avoid any internal cuts.
Remember: A cervical exam can introduce bacteria into your vaginal canal, increasing your risk of infection. Assume the position. Squatting with both legs wide open might help you reach best, or you could try sitting or standing with one leg elevated. You may want to recruit a support person to help keep you steady. Insert your index and middle finger and push your fingers deep inside as far as you can to reach your cervix. You'll want to be as gentle as possible so as not to cause any bruising or complications.
Check dilation. You're considered 1 centimeter dilated if one fingertip fits through your cervix, 2 centimeters if you can fit two fingers, and then you can measure how far apart your fingers can spread and measure from there. It's not easy and not super dependable, so it might be one DIY worth skipping. Be the first to comment! No comments yet. Close this dialog window Add a comment.
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