Labour Pain

How to Know When to Go to the Hospital for Labour Pains.

Your due date gives you a general idea of when your newest family member will arrive, but you can’t predict exactly when your body will begin true labour. Even when the contractions start you won’t necessarily rush straight to the hospital. If you head to the hospital too soon, you run the chances of getting sent home until your labour progresses further. Wait too long and you risk giving birth before you arrive or having to deliver without pain medications if your labour is too far along. Learn the signs of true labour to determine when to go.

Step 1

Discuss when to go to the hospital with your nurse or obstetrician before you go into labour. Ask her if you should call her first or go straight to the hospital. Determine how close she wants your contractions and other prerequisites for heading to the hospital or calling her.

 

Step 2

Drive the route to the hospital from your home to time the trip. If the trip is long, keep in mind you’ll want to leave for the hospital sooner to ensure you arrive in plenty of time.

 

Step 3

Time the length and spacing between contractions once they start, recording the times to determine if they are regular and closely spaced. Look for contractions that come consistently and get closer together, with each contraction lasting around a minute to identify true labour. Many prenatal care providers recommend calling when contractions are consistently about five minutes apart.

 

Step 4

Note the intensity of the contractions along with the timing. Strong contractions that increase in intensity are likely real contractions. As it nears time to head to the hospital, you may have more difficulty breathing through the pain.

 

Step 5

Watch for any vaginal discharge that indicates true labour is underway. Look for a slightly bloody discharge or a thick mucus discharge. Clear liquid either in a small stream or a larger gush indicates ruptured membranes. Head to the hospital or call your doctor right away if you suspect your membranes ruptured.

 

Step 6

Seek medical care immediately if you notice a decrease in your baby’s movements or if you bleed heavily with or without contractions.

 

** Tips

Seek medical care immediately if you notice a decrease in your baby’s movements or if you bleed heavily with or without contractions.

 

Understanding The Stages Of Normal Labour

The stages of labour are commonly broken down into three main phases. This is misleading, however, in that the first stage is comprised of three sub-phases and is what most people identify as labour. Stage I consists of early labour, active labour and transition. Stage II is the pushing stage and Stage III is the birth of the placenta.

 

STAGE I

EARLY

Early labour takes up the majority of the birthing experience. It is characterized by contractions that are regular but may not be very close together or last very long. The contractions may be 10 minutes apart and last only 30-45 seconds. This is the most comfortable of the stages of labour, easing the body into the process. In this phase, dilation is to a maximum of 4 centimeters.

ACTIVE

Active labor is more intense with longer, stronger, more intense contractions that may be 3-5 minutes apart and last up to 60 seconds. This is the beginning of the serious phase, where relaxation comes into play and the birth companion’s role becomes more prominent. Dilation is usually from 5-7 centimeters.

TRANSITION

Transition is by far the most challenging, although the shortest, phase of birthing. This can cause overwhelming sensations which might falter your focus. This is the phase usually depicted in mainstream media. These contractions are stronger and longer and finish dilating the cervix. They usually last 90-120 seconds with breaks of about a minute or two in between.Generally this phase only last for 30 minutes to 2 hours. A time distortion may also be experienced in this phase that makes it seem to pass more quickly and may make this period difficult to remember clearly after the birth. Experiencing grogginess or a mental fog are also common. Nausea can also set in as well as involuntary painless shaking from the intensity. Women are especially vulnerable to suggestion at this time, which can be used to enhance or to hinder the birth.

STAGE II- PUSHING

The pushing stage, the second phase of labor, begins once 10 centimeters has been reached. This will end with the much-anticipated birth of the baby. This stage can last a few minutes or several hours. In a natural birth, the pushing phase is typically much shorter than in a medicated one. Women commonly report this as the most empowering part of the birth experience and as the most motivating and comfortable.

Pushing is usually much more manageable than transition. The pushing contractions are of a different variety than those previously experienced. The body will push independently of intentional effort. This is the purpose of the uterine contraction, to first fully dilate and efface the cervix, and then to expel the baby from the uterus. True “pushing” is rarely required. The most effective course of action is to let your body guide your efforts by not pushing until an overwhelming urge is felt. Reaching 10 centimeters dilation alone does not necessarily mean the body is ready to push. The baby may not yet be in the best position or the tissues may not yet have had enough time to gently stretch on their own. Pushing too soon wastes energy and can lead to complications such as fetal distress, malpositioning, pulled ligaments, perineal tearing and forceps or vacuum extraction. If a lull in contractions is experienced, simply letting the baby drift down on its own is advisable. This preserves energy for you and the baby. It also makes for a slow, controlled delivery with less chance of tearing and can eliminate the sometimes-reported “ring of fire” when perineal tissues stretch rapidly to accommodate the baby’s head as it crowns.

STAGE III – THE PLACENTA DELIVERY

When the baby reaches your arms, the final of the stages of labor, the placenta delivery, often receives little attention. It begins with the birth of the baby and ends with the arrival of the placenta. On average, it takes roughly 20 minutes for the placenta to detach from the uterine wall, although it can safely be longer.

The placenta will detach from the uterine wall and then be expelled through the birth canal. The care provider will determine when the placenta is ready to detach by a small gush of blood or a lengthening of the cord

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Vaidehi Women's & Children Hospital in Ahmedabad is fully equipped with modern medical machines and exclusive services for Gynecology-Maternity, Fertility & IVF, Vaccination Clinic, NICU, Pathology, Sonography, 24 Hours Pharmacy, Exclusive Health Checkup, Round The Clock Emergency Service. Our doctors and staff are always committed to listen to your complaints and answering your each and every question to your utmost satisfaction. We give all kind of preventive as well as curative treatment. Our services for women and children are set in with trained and seasoned nurse who ensure that you and your baby are well taken care of. Vaidehi Women's & Children Hospital is staffed with experienced consultants to offer professional care in Obstetrics, Gynaecology, Neonatology, Pediatrics and other specialities and subspecialties for you and your baby.

• 24-hr consultant-led emergency and specialty services including perinatal services

• All pediatric and allied services for children

• Sophisticated maternal care

• State-of-the-art labour rooms

• Committed team of professionals 24x7

 

VAIDEHI WOMEN'S & CHILDREN HOSPITAL

Dr. Nirav Patel (M.S. Gynec)

Dr. Manisha Patel (M.B.B.S., D.C.H.)

Dr. Chintan Patel (M.D., DNB Medicine)

105 to 112, 1^st Floor, Shashwat Mahadev-1 Complex, RTO Road,

Opp. Suryam Greens, Vastral, Ahmedabad - 382418.

Call for Appointment: +91 76230 40999

Source :  by VAIDEHI WOMEN'S & CHILDREN HOSPITAL, Vastral, Ahmedabad.

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