What happens when labor begins?

The article was professionally consulted by Specialist Doctor Obstetrician and Gynecologist - Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology - Vinmec Hai Phong International General Hospital. The doctor has many years of experience in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.

Labor pain occurs when a pregnant woman feels abdominal pain coming from the uterus, at first it is only a mild sign of pain, then the pain increases gradually and steadily. However, when you see signs of cramping in the uterus, it is not necessarily true labor pain. So how to distinguish signs of labor requiring hospitalization?

When labor pains begin, the cervix dilates and the muscles of the uterus begin to contract (uterus contractions appear). The abdomen becomes stiff every time a contraction occurs. Between contractions is when the uterus relaxes and becomes softer. The baby in the womb continues to move from the onset of labor pain and throughout the first period of labor.
Besides uterine contractions, some of the symptoms listed in the following table can also signal that labor is starting. You may not notice these symptoms before the onset of labor requiring hospitalization :

In fact, noticing the appearance of uterine contractions is not necessarily a sign of labor pain that requires hospitalization. Your uterus may contract and dilate several times before "real" labor begins. These irregular contractions are called false labor, physiological contractions, or Braxton Hicks contractions. This is a normal sign in a pregnant woman but can sometimes cause a lot of pain, causing mothers to worry and think it is a sign of labor that requires hospitalization. False labor is more common at the end of the day.

In most cases, the frequency of false labor pain is less and less severe than true labor. In some cases of labor pain, the only way to tell the difference is to see a doctor for a vaginal exam, to identify changes in the cervix, the presence of signs of labor requiring hospitalization. .
The time between contractions is an important factor in determining whether labor pain is real or fake. Note that this time is counted from the time the woman begins to feel pain until the time when the next pain begins. Record these results within one hour. For mild pain, this time period can be difficult to pinpoint. Some of the differences between true labor and false labor are listed in the following table:

Most pregnant women, when they are pregnant until the last trimester, wonder, "How long does labor pain after delivery?". In fact, labor pain is the first signal that the mother's time to give birth is near. During labor, the uterine muscles contract continuously so that the cervix is ​​dilated, allowing the baby to pass through during birth. The process of cervical dilation is accompanied by a series of pain due to uterine contractions and is divided into 2 phases:
Latent phase (time required before the size of the cervix dilates to 6cm) Phase pole (the length of time the cervix dilates from 6cm up to a maximum size of about 10cm). 4.1. Latent Phase The duration of the latent phase is often unpredictable. How long it takes to give birth depends on the location of each pregnant woman, previous pregnancy history and other related factors. For pregnant women giving birth for the first time, the average time falls from a few hours to a few days. As for pregnant women who have been pregnant before, the latent phase will usually be shorter. The doctor will guide the pregnant mother to know when signs of labor pain need to be hospitalized. If you notice that your water breaks or your vagina is bleeding abnormally, you need to go to the hospital immediately.
4.2. Positive phase This is when pregnant women need to be hospitalized for monitoring as soon as possible. The labor pains are getting worse and worse, occurring more often. Pregnant women may feel leg cramps and a feeling of nausea. During this phase, pregnant women will quickly break water and feel increasingly heavy pressure on the back. Your doctor and midwives will be with you throughout this process. You may need pain relievers or sedatives if you can't stand the pain of contractions. This phase usually lasts from 4 to 8 hours. On average, every hour, the cervix will dilate 1cm, until the pregnant woman can really push.

For all pregnant women, going through a long pregnancy and a series of painful labor pains in the last months of pregnancy is an unforgettable feeling. However, try to overcome the pains of labor because soon after that, the happiness is broken when you see your baby fully born.
At Vinmec International General Hospital, women can experience "painless delivery" thanks to the technique of back anesthesia (also known as epidural anesthesia) to relieve pain during labor. This technique is performed when the uterine contractions become stronger and the mother has no abnormalities in the test results. This method allows labor to take place in the most ideal conditions. After an epidural is performed, the woman will lose pain sensation from the abdomen to the legs but still be awake to recognize when there is a uterine contraction and especially still be able to push. Thanks to an epidural, the labor process turns a new page: You can deliver your baby without pain at all! Cases of prolonged labor are rare and the risk of an epidural to mother and baby is negligible.
The role of anesthesiologist is very important and requires a high level of expertise. At Vinmec, there is a team of experienced and professional anesthesiologists who will help pregnant women experience the safest, painless delivery.

Reference source: Acog.org