In the last month of pregnancy you should be observant towards certain changes in your body which indicate that you are in labour. You should also be able to differentiate between true and false labor pains. Read on to find what symptoms appear in your body when you are in labor.
Signs Of Onset Of Labor
1. True Labor Pains
When labour starts, you will start experiencing intermittent pains in the abdomen. These pains are felt more often in the front of the abdomen and usually radiate towards the thighs. True pains must be differentiated from the false labor pains.
Difference between true and false labor pains
False pains are more often found in the women who are pregnant for the first time. Such pains may appear 1 or 2 weeks before the onset of true labor pains. Pain and discomfort is felt in the abdomen and may be confused with the true labor pains. However, false pains have these features, which differentiate them from the true pains:
False Labor Pains | True Labor Pains | |
1. | Dull and continuous pain and discomfort | Intermittent pains |
2. | Felt in lower abdomen and groin | Felt in front of abdomen and radiates towards the thighs |
3. | Usually relieved by sedatives | Not relieved |
2. Discharge of mucus mixed with blood ('Show')
With the onset of labor, there is expulsion of cervical mucus plug mixed with few drops of blood. This is called 'Show'. Slight blood oozes out from the ruptured blood vessels as the membranes start separating from the uterine wall with the onset of labor.
Please Note:
1. Being continuously in touch with your gynecologist/obstetrician and regular visits to the clinic is absolutely necessary during pregnancy.
2. Report every change or symptom to your doctor.
3. This post is only informative in nature and best judgment of your condition can be made only by your doctor after examining you.
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