For future new mothers, the moment of childbirth generates a great amount of doubts, fears and fears. Something totally normal since it is a completely new and unknown situation. The first thing one wonders is if she will know how to recognize the moment of childbirth. Much is said about contractions and even, are compared to period pains.
The first thing you should know is that childbirth can be very different depending on the woman who tells you about it. Some say that it is fast, that in a short time they were dilated and that her birth was hardly traumatic. Others, on the other hand, suffer the pain of contractions for many hours. and labor. Either version is real, so don't expect anything or have too many expectations.
What are the first contractions like?
Those first contractions that may indicate that the moment of delivery is near are generally not very painful. You may perceive the first contractions as period pains, because it really is a similar sensation. For women who have very painful periods It is a very common way of comparing childbirth with menstruation, although in one case they stop and in the other they trigger a delivery.
Contractions occur as a natural mechanism of the uterus against the release of oxytocin, the birth hormone. This hormone is what causes the uterus to contract and relax, giving rise to the path that the baby needs to reach the world. When labor contractions start the body goes through several phases until it is fully ready so that the baby can be born.
First the cervix begins to efface, which actually means that the cervix shortens to make the birth canal wider for the baby. Then it begins to expand until it reaches 10 centimeters, which is what is needed to fit the baby's head and body. For this to happen, the body itself releases substances and hormones such as oxytocin, which They are what cause contractions of the uterus..
Different types and different sensations
Contractions occur throughout the pregnancy, what happens is that they are usually not detected or perceived until childbirth is near. Different types of contractions also occurBraxton Hicks contractions begin midway through pregnancy. More than a pain, what you will notice is that the belly tightens and hardens, they can bother you a little but they are not painful. They disappear in a few minutes and are not constant.
Then the real contractions will come, the ones that take your body to the most magical moment in the world. The body is a perfectly designed machine to bring new beings into the world. Your own body knows what to do and therefore, when the time comes, it releases the hormones that trigger childbirth. With those contractions that may seem normal at first, your body is incredibly preparing and transforming for your baby to come into the world.
These contractions become more intense, appear every few minutes and last for several seconds or minutes. As labor approaches, they are more painful., because the expansion of the pelvis is incredibly spectacular. Soon your body will be ready for your baby to arrive. Later, when you already have your baby in your arms, the last contractions will come.
They are what are known as labor prodromes. these contractions occur after childbirth so that the uterus contracts and returns to its normal state before pregnancy. They can last two or three days and although they are quite uncomfortable they are not as painful as labor contractions. In any case, contractions are something natural that all women are prepared to manage. If you are scared at the moment of giving birth, do not worry, it is something totally normal, but rest assured that when the day comes, you will be fully prepared to bring your child into the world.