What does it feel like when you go into labor ??

Answer 1

OUCH!!!

A woman is considered to be in labour when she begins experiencing regular, strong uterine contractions, accompanied by changes of her cervix — primarily effacement and dilation. While childbirth is widely experienced as painful, some women do report painless labours. When the baby is born its birth weight is determined.

First stage: contractions

A typical human childbirth will begin with the onset of contractions of the uterus. The frequency and duration of these contractions varies with the individual. The onset of labour may be sudden or gradual, and is defined as regular uterine activity in the presence of cervical dilatation.

During a contraction the long muscles of the uterus contract, starting at the top of the uterus and working their way down to the bottom. At the end of the contraction, the muscles relax to a state shorter than at the beginning of the contraction. This draws the cervix up over the baby's head. Each contraction dilates the cervix until it becomes completely dilated, often referred to as 10+ cm (4") in diameter.

A gradual onset with slow cervical change towards 3 cm (just over 1 inch) dilation is referred to as the "latent phase". A woman is said to be in "active labour" when contractions have become regular in frequency (3-4 in 10 minutes) and about 60 seconds in duration. The now powerful contractions are accompanied by cervical effacement and dilation greater than 3 cm. The labour may begin with a rupture of the amniotic sac, the paired amnion and chorion ("breaking of the water"). The contractions will accelerate in frequency and strengthen. In the "transition phase" from 8 cm–10 cm (3 or 4 inches) of dilation, the contractions often come every two minutes are typically lasting 70–90 seconds. Transition is often regarded as the most challenging and intense for the mother. It is also the shortest phase.

During this stage, the expectant mother typically goes through several emotional phases. At first, the mother may be excited and nervous. Then, as the contractions become stronger, demanding more energy from the mother, mothers generally become more serious and focused. However, as the cervix finishes its dilation, some mothers experience confusion or bouts of self-doubt or giving up.

The duration of labour varies widely, but averages some 13 hours for women giving birth to their first child ("primiparae") and 8 hours for women who have already given birth.

If there is a significant medical risk to continuing the pregnancy, induction may be necessary. As this carries some risk, it is only done if the child or the mother are in danger from prolonged pregnancy. Forty-two weeks' gestation without spontaneous labour is often said to be an indication for induction although evidence does not show improved outcomes when labour is induced for post-term pregnancies. Inducing labour increases the risk of cesarean section and uterine rupture in mothers that have had a previous cesarean section.
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Second stage

In the second stage of labour, the baby is expelled from the womb through the vagina by both the uterine contractions and by the additional maternal efforts of "bearing down," which many women describe as similar in sensation to straining to expel a large bowel movement. The imminence of this stage can be evaluated by the Malinas score. The Lamaze Method is used about 95% of the time in the United States for a normal childbirth, followed by the Read Method and LeBoyer Method.

The baby is most commonly born head-first. In some cases the baby is "breech" meaning either the feet or buttocks are descending first. Babies in the breech position can be delivered vaginally by a midwife, though in some areas finding an experienced willing attendant can be difficult.

There are several types of breech presentations, but the most common is where the baby's buttocks are delivered first and the legs are folded onto the baby's body with the knees bent and feet near the buttocks (full or breech). Others include frank breech, much like full breech but the babies legs are extended toward his ears, and footling or incomplete breech, in which one or both legs are extended and the foot or feet are the presenting part. Another rare presentation is a transverse lie. This is where the baby is sideways in the womb and a hand or elbow has entered the birth canal first. While babies who present transverse will often move to a different position, this is not always the case and a cesarean birth then becomes necessary.
A newborn baby with umbilical cord ready to be clamped
Enlarge
A newborn baby with umbilical cord ready to be clamped

The length of the second stage varies and is affected by whether a woman has given birth before, the position she is in and mobility. The length of the second stage should be guided by the condition of the fetus and health of the mother. Problems may be encountered at this stage due to reasons such as maternal exhaustion, the front of the baby's head facing forwards instead of backwards (posterior baby), or extremely rarely, because the baby's head does not fit properly into the mother's pelvis (Cephalo-Pelvic Disproportion (CPD)). True CPD is typically seen in women with rickets and bone deforming illnesses or injuries, as well as arbitrary time limits placed on second stage by caregivers or medical facilities.

Immediately after birth, the child undergoes extensive physiological modifications as it acclimatizes to independent breathing. Several cardiovascular structures start regressing soon after birth, such as the ductus arteriosus and the foramen ovale. In some cultures, the father cuts the umbilical cord and the infant is given a lukewarm bath to remove blood and some of the vernix on its skin before being handed back to its parents.

The practice of leaving the umbilical cord to detach naturally is known as a Lotus Birth.

The medical condition of the child is assessed with the Apgar score, based on five parameters: heart rate, respiration, muscle tone, skin color, and response to stimuli. Apgar scores are typically assessed at both 1 and 5 minutes after birth.
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Third stage: placenta
Breastfeeding during and after the third stage
Breastfeeding during and after the third stage

In this stage, the uterus expels the placenta (afterbirth). Breastfeeding the baby will help to cause this. The mother normally loses less than 500 mL of blood. Blood loss will be greater if the umbilical cord is used to tug on the placenta. It is essential that the placenta be examined to ensure that it was expelled whole. Remaining parts can cause postpartum bleeding or infection.
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After the birth

Medical professionals typically recommend breastfeeding of the first milk, colostrum, to reduce postpartum bleeding/hemorrhage in the mother, and to pass immunities and other benefits to the baby.

Parents usually assign the infant its given names soon after birth.

Often people visit and bring a gift for the baby.

Many cultures feature initiation rites for newborns, such as naming ceremonies, baptism, and others.

Mothers are often allowed a babymoon period where they are relieved of their normal duties to recover from childbirth and establish breastfeeding with their babies. Length of this period varies. In China this is 30 days and is referred to as "doing the month" (see Postpartum period).

A birth story may be written, detailing the events of the birth. The story may be posted to a blog or web forum.

Answer 2

There are a lot of variations. Some people get cramps that feel like menstrual cramps, other people get back pain, some don't even know they're in labor until active labor hits, because they don't get a pattern or anything. Mine would come from the back and radiate to the front, and the whole belly would get hard as a rock. Then they would come stronger and closer together, and finally I was pushing. There was a long break between dialating and pushing with all of my kids, but that doesn't happen with everyone.

Answer 3

I had my labor induced for my first two children... so it was completely different than most. However, with my third (and last) baby, I didn't really know I was in labor. I just didn't feel well. Was hungry, but couldn't eat more than a bite or two... had the worst backache ever, but not lower back like many women had told me about. I simply felt like crap! And no, my water didn't break first. The membrane ruptured AFTER I was at the hospital.

So, don't think that your water must break as a precursor to labor! If you think you are in labor..............

GO TO THE HOSPITAL!!!!

By the way, I was at the hospital less than 3 hours when I delivered him. The horrific pain I was waiting for never happened! Don't wait! Get to the hospital.

Answer 4

Sometimes, like for me, my water broke an hour before any contractions, so it didn't feel like much. Sometimes water doesn't break till right before birth, so you could have conctractions way before your water breaks.
You can tell the difference between real and false labor by timing your contractions. If the pain gets worse, and the "cramping" gets closer together, it is labor. If pains gets bad and then better off and on, and it isn't at all rythmic (ie. 2 minutes apart, 10 minutes apart, 4 minutes apart, etc), it's false labor.

Answer 5

Some serious cramping that kinda wraps all around you and your water doesn't always break when you go into labor contrary to what the lady said a few posts up.

Answer 6

It feels like Hell, so I've been told. I'm almost there, I have a few more weeks until I deliver so then I'll know for sure. But some people's babies just slip right out in a matter of minutes, no pain, no warning, no nothing. I hope I'm fortunate enough like that because her head is so far down already, she doesn't really have to drop any further. I already have pain though. My thighs and butt feel like they're being poked with metal rods daily. I think my joints and ligaments are stretching to make room for her exit.

Answer 7

first of all your water does not have to break for you to be in labor. second it's different for every women. mine was alot of back labor. for about 12 hours it was really light then i went to the hostpital were my water was broke by the doctor then the back labor and contractions got worse. I can't explain the feeling but it's so bad that i didn't want to hear anyone talk. it had to be quiet. thats how painfull it is.

Answer 8

For me it always started with cramps low in my abdomen. As the labor progressed though, I had a pain in my back that kinda wrapped around my belly and felt like a hard knot just above my navel.

Answer 9

It depends...Your water could break, you can loose your mucus plug and start to spot blood or it can start as menstrual cramps. I was in labor for 24 hours with my 1st and only child and it started out as mild cramps and as the night went on the cramps got worse. I went to L & D twice for them to send me home because I wasn't dialated enough. I suggest you go to the hospital and get examined to see if your in labor.

Answer 10

don't let anyone fool you. the hard labor hurts the worse. first it feels like period cramps and then the cramps get real bad, that you feel your insides are going to come out. you keep saying never again never again, but when they put that bundle of joy in your arms, you forget the pain, and you go and do it again when you both decided to have another child

Answer 11

If you're thinking that you might be going into labor, yourself, then I suggest the best thing to do is just go to the hospital. They'll send you home if you're really far away from giving birth, but it's always safer than having your baby at home.