Premonitory Signs of Labor

Categories: Obstetrics or Midwifery

Premonitory signs of labor, usually observed
from one to two weeks before the onset of the labor pains, is a sinking

down of the womb in the abdomen, whereby some of the unpleasant features

of pregnancy are relieved, and the so-called "lightening" takes place. The

waist line becomes small, the breathing is easier and the general

well-being of the woman is better, so that her friends are attracted by

her feeling of relief. But as a result of the womb descent and the

consequent pressure, irritation of the bladder and rectum may occur, and

she may have frequent calls to empty these organs. The vagina secretes

more actively, the veins enlarge, some dropsy may appear in the

extremities, and the womb contractions of pregnancy, which have been

painless, begin to cause more and more discomfort.



These false pains recur at regular intervals of hours or even days, and

generally at night, last for a varying period and usually disappear in the

morning. They often deceive the woman and lead her to the belief that the

labor has already begun; but examination of the cervix will reveal that

this is not so. It is well to bear in mind that the true labor pains

usually begin in the back, extend down to the thighs and often around to

the front and they recur at regular intervals, and with increasing

intensity.



The beginning of labor is characterized by recurring pains at regular

intervals and of increasing severity. There is also a discharge from the

vagina of mucus, and this is sometimes tinged with blood, "the show." If

an examination is now made, it will be found that the cervix (neck of the

womb) is shortened, and that the mouth of the womb is beginning to dilate.

At the beginning, the pains are usually in the back and spread to the

abdomen and down the thighs; but they may be felt first in the abdomen.

They return every half hour or twenty minutes, but as labor goes on the

interval is shortened, so that toward the end of the second stage when the

child is being born, they appear to be continuous, and the patient feels

as if she is encircled by a belt of pain; however, with all this, she will

bear the suffering easier and better for she knows that progress is being

made, and that she will soon be over the pains and the child born. A pain

rarely lasts more than one minute.