Labor is a series of continuous, progressive contractions of the uterus that help the cervix dilate and efface (thin out). This lets the fetus move through the birth canal. Labor usually starts two weeks before or after the estimated date of delivery and advised pregnant women not waste time when their time to deliver is due.
Speaking on Plan B Fm’s family, relationship, and lifestyle show dubbed NYANSAPO FIE, hosted by Rev. Dr. Michael Asenso on the topic “LABOR” with Madam Letitia Addo a midwifery officer and Madam Sylvia Acheampong a senior midwifery officer from Tema Polyclinic have explained that Labor is a process whereby the fetus and the placenta leave the uterus. Delivery can occur in two ways, vaginally (through the birth canal) or by a cesarean (surgical) deliver
Letitia Addo a midwifery officer said, the first stage of labor is the slow opening of your cervix, The second stage is the birth of your baby and the third stage is the separation and birth of the placenta, The fourth stage is the first two hours after birth.
Madam Sylvia Acheampong a senior midwifery officer also stressed that labor means activities involving effort or exertion. Work may imply the activity of the body, of the mind, of a machine, or a natural force. labor applies to physical or intellectual work involving great and often strenuous exertion. travail is bookish for labor involving pain or suffering.
She said there are six signs that a woman may experience when the labor is near include, Dropping or lightening
, Pink mucus “show”, Changes in baby movement, Water breaking
Diarrhea, Nesting.
Dropping or lightening occurs when the head of the baby “drops” into the pelvis.
The belly seems to appear lower and women can breathe with ease as the baby does not cause pressure on the mother’s lungs. However, frequent urination is possible as the baby presses the bladder.
For women who are about to deliver their first child, lightning occurs a couple of weeks before the baby is born. For second-time mothers, lightning occurs once labor has started.
When the baby pushes the stomach upward, it causes the acids present in the stomach to move into the windpipe, creating heartburn. When the baby is dropped in the pelvis, these symptoms may improve.
She continued that, the cervix begins to open up and the mucus becomes visible during labor. The mucus plug is a sticky, jelly-like substance that protects the opening of the cervix by preventing the entry of bacteria into the uterus.
The mucus plug passes through the vagina in a small amount, termed as “show,” either in one shot or in multiple pieces. As the mucus plug is blood-stained, it shows a pink color. At the onset of labor, the cervix will open. The contractions of the muscles in the uterus begin at regular intervals. The uterus will relax between successive contractions. The baby will keep moving until the labor begins, and this movement will continue during the early labor.
However, the movement pattern may change. Instead of kicking the womb, the baby may squirm or shuffle.
Again when a woman’s water breaks, the amniotic sac breaks, and the fluid passes through the vagina. The fluid may come out as a gush or sometimes as a trickle. In many cases, contractions begin within 24 hours of the water breaking. It is advised to let the physician know about water breaking, even if contractions have not begun.
Madam Letitia Addo said In some women, there is an urge to empty the bowels during labor. If this occurs and the stools are loose as compared to normal stool, these symptoms indicate that the woman is beginning to go into labor.
The hormones causing the uterus to contract can sometimes result in diarrhea. Increasing fluid intake and avoiding sugary drinks and milk can help improve the condition. Most women get a sudden urge to clean and organize; this is known as nesting. It is generally believed that nesting is an instinct for women preparing for the birth of their baby.
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