Here Comes Baby! Signs of Labor

Darren Salinger, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist at Homestead Hospital, explains the signs and symptoms of labor in pregnant women.

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[Transcript]

[Here Comes Baby! Signs of Labor]
Speaker 2:
The process during pregnancy, when you go into labor, usually it's gradual over the last couple of weeks of pregnancy, or sometimes early, you may have a sudden pain which starts contractions, but more commonly it's just a gradual change and you may have some cramping every couple of hours, and all of a sudden it's several times an hour. Then all of a sudden it's every five minutes for an hour, taking your breath away.
[Signs of Labor: Gradual change]
[Signs of Labor: Contraction every 5 minutes for an hour, taking your breath away]
Speaker 2:
People describe that. They describe bleeding, more than a day of their period. They may have their waters break, which can be like the movies, a big gush. And then they may have other symptoms that they just can't even describe, and they just have to be aware if they're not sure to check it out with their practitioner.
[Nurse interacting with patient in labor]
Speaker 2:
So the purpose of Braxton Hicks contractions are to prepare the system for the labor and delivery process. Some people say they're not as strong as labor contractions, but other people say they are. They are real and they're almost as practice contractions. And they are certainly real. If you're pregnant and you start having contractions every five minutes, which take your breath away, that is usually the best way to know you're in true labor.
[Baptist Health South Florida]

[End Transcript]

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