Childbirth is imminent, what are the signs?

Childbirth is a long and tiring process. Before entering that stage, you will experience signs of labor. TNot all women experience the same signs of labor. But to prepare yourself and be prepared for labor, you can pay attention to some signs of childbirth that may occur physically and emotionally. Usually, these signs occur a few weeks or days before labor. Physically, you may feel changes in your body such as:

• Feeling back pain, abdominal pain or cramps like premenstrual period.
• It is hard to sleep.
• Increased frequency of urination. A few weeks or hours before labor, the baby will descend into the mother's pelvic bone. This condition makes the uterus lean on the bladder more often so that the frequency of urination becomes even more increased than usual.
• Thick mucus mixed with blood comes out of the vagina. During pregnancy, your cervix is covered by thick mucus. But as labor approaches, your cervix will dilate and make way for the mucus to escape through the vagina. The color can be clear, pink, or slightly bloody. But mucus mixed with blood is not always the first sign that you are in labor. This mucus can also come out when you are having sex while pregnant or do
• Feeling false contractions. These contractions are called Braxton Hicks or abdominal tightening that comes and goes. However, the tightening is not as strong as a real contraction during labor. Usually these contractions last 30 to 120 seconds. Unlike real contractions, Braxton Hicks contractions can disappear when Mommy changes position or relaxes. You will feel these contractions before experiencing real contractions. Another difference between these contractions and real contractions is that Braxton Hicks contractions are only felt in the abdomen or pelvic area, while real contractions are usually felt in the lower back and then move to the front of the abdomen.
• Changes in the cervix. The tissue in your cervix will soften or become elastic. If you have already given birth, your cervix will be easier to dilate about one or two centimeters before labor begins. However, if it is your first time experiencing this period, opening the cervix by one centimeter cannot be a guarantee that you will give birth soon.
• Water breaking. The most common sign of childbirth that most people know is the rupture of the membranes. Most women feel contractions first before the water breaks, but some start with the rupture of membranes. When this happens, labor usually follows immediately. But the danger is, if the amniotic fluid has broken, but you don't also have contractions, then your baby will be more susceptible to infection. This is because the liquid that always protects the baby from germs while in the womb has run out. If this happens, the induction process will be carried out for the safety of the baby. If you have experienced rupture of membranes, rush to the hospital. Usually, labor will occur about 24 hours after the rupture of membranes.

Emotionally, you may feel irritable or moody just like the premenstrual period. Tips for Approaching Childbirth Generally, childbirth occurs at the age of 9 months or 40 weeks pregnant. At that age, the baby is physically ready to live life outside the womb. However, not all women give birth in that time range. If you have entered the 9th month of pregnancy, you should have prepared all the equipment needed during labor. So if the amniotic fluid has broken or contractions occur, you can immediately bring the equipment and rush to the hospital. The equipment that you need to bring includes:

• A bag containing clothes and toiletries.
• Baby supplies.
• Light meals.
• Books, magazines or anything that can keep you company while you wait for labor.
• Comfy pillows and blankets.
• If you want to capture this happy moment, you can also prepare a video camera with a fully charged battery and charger.

Keep these items in one place that is easily accessible during emergencies. In addition to the equipment, you also have to make sure who will accompany you during the delivery. You can choose your husband, parents, siblings, or friends. Make sure they are ready to accompany you when labor begins. Knowing the signs of childbirth is very important for mothers, especially those who plan to give birth normally. It is different if you plan to give birth with the help of a cesarean section, where you can give birth to your baby at any time as long as it is physically fit to be born. By knowing the signs of childbirth, mothers will also be better prepared for labor.