Labour Symptoms-Signs of neer labour

The fallowing clinical manifestations may occur in the last weeks of pregnancy.

• Shelfing:

It is falling forwards of the uterine fundus making the upper abdomen looks like a shelf during standing position.This is due to engagement of the head which brings the fetus perpendicular to the pelvic inlet in the direction of pelvic axis.

• Lightening:

It is the relief of upper abdominal pressure symptoms as dyspnea,dyspepsia and palpitation due to:
-descendent in the fundal level after engagement of the head
-shelfing uterus

• Pelvic pressure symptom:

With engagement of the presenting part the fallowing symptoms may occur:
-frecvency of micturition
-difficulty in walking
-rectal tenesmus

• Increased vaginal discharge
• Fals labour pain:

This are different from true labour pain as fallow:
The true labour pain is:
-regular
-increase progressively in frequency,duration and intensity
-pain is felt in the abdomen and radiating to the back
-progressive dilatation and effacement of the cervix
-membranes are bulging during contractions
False Labour pain is:
-irregular
-do not increases progressiely
-pain is felt mainly in the abdomen
-no effect on the cervix

• Onst of labour:

It is caracterized by:
-true labour pain
-"the show"= it is an expelled cervical mucus plug tinged with blood from ruptured small vessels as a result of separation of the membranes from the lower uterine segment.Labour starts usually hours to few days after "show".
-dilatation of the cervix: a closed cervix is a reliable sign that labour has not began
-formation of the bag of fore-waters: which hulges through the cervix and becomes tense during uterine contractions.

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Delivery