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RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS OF TRUE LABOR
One of a pregnant woman's greatest concerns is "How will I know if I am in labor?" This is especially true in first pregnancies. There are several signs of labor or pregnancy emergencies that should cause you to phone your physician or head for the hospital.
What is true labor?
The first sign of labor is uterine contractions. Uterine contractions are often described by women as tightening of their uterus or "balling up of the baby." These contractions should be of significant strength to cause you to stop a conversation and take several deep breaths. When contractions are 5 minutes apart--from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction--contact your physician.
The second sign of labor is when your water breaks. Some women notice a large gush of fluid, and some women notice a constant leaking of small amounts of fluid. In either case, contact your physician.
The third sign to watch for is vaginal bleeding. If at any point you have bright red bleeding similar in volume to a period, you should contact your physician immediately or go to the hospital. This is a medical emergency and may be a sign that your placenta is separating from your uterus. If you have a small amount of bleeding mixed with mucus, this is probably your mucus plug. You can lose the mucus plug at many points during pregnancy, but this is not a signal of impending labor.
Finally, if your baby is not moving normally, contact your physician. At a minimum you should notice at least 10 movements a day, and many people feel that you should notice at least 10 movements in 2 hours.
What is false labor?
False labor is identified by contractions are not regular and do not increase in frequency or severity. Also, the contractions will subside if you walk around or change position. Known as Braxton-Hicks contractions, these contractions usually start sometime after the 20th week of pregnancy. In essence, they are a warm up for true labor. The uterus tightens and hardens for 30 seconds to 2 minutes, then relaxes. Fetal movements usually intensify briefly. If fetal movements seem frantic, go to the emergency room since this could be a sign of fetal distress.
Another way to distinguish false labor from true labor is the location of pain. False labor causes pain in the lower abdomen rather than in the lower back.
Finally, vaginal bleeding or "show" is brownish and often the result of an internal exam or intercourse within the past 48 hours.
Indu S. Anand, MD
Dr. Anand is a former Assistant Professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center, in Memphis, Tennessee. She now is in private practice in Atlanta, GA.
Date Published: 2000-09-21
7800 Wolf Trail Cove, Germantown, TN 38138
Phone: (901) 682-9222; Fax: (901) 682-9505