What Are The Signs Of Labor?

Loose Joints

One of the more unusual signs of labor that's rarely talked about is a loosening of the joints. Before a woman's body begins to deliver the baby, she'll notice a relaxing and loosening of her joints. This is because of a hormonal reaction happening in the body. A substance called relaxin softens the ligaments, which allows the pelvis to open and be ready for the birth of a baby. Without this effect, birth would be a lot more painful and borderline impossible. Relaxin is produced in combination by the placenta and ovaries. It only appears during pregnancy and has vital effects on the reproductive system. As women get ready to have a baby, relaxin will soften and widen their cervix as well as relax their pelvic ligaments. Relaxin is secreted throughout the pregnancy, not just at the end of it. In fact, the hormone tends to reach its peak during the first trimester. As women get closer to labor, the hormone will help the membranes surrounding the baby to rupture.

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Diarrhea

Another sign of labor that isn't often talked about, in part because it tends to be unpleasant, is diarrhea. Many women experience diarrhea and loose stools shortly before their labor begins in earnest. When this is the case, the cause of the intestinal upset is the release of prostaglandins. These hormones may enter the body shortly before labor begins, often in the twenty-four to forty-eight-hour period before their water breaks. In addition to being a side effect of prostaglandin release, diarrhea might also be an evolutionary mechanism to protect the mother and her baby. It's a way of emptying the bowels before real labor. The less matter a woman has in her body, the easier it will be for her uterus to go through efficient contractions. Prostaglandins are responsible for dealing with illness and injury. They are typically created at places where there's noticeable tissue damage or infection. The substances will control inflammation levels, the formation of clots in the body, and blood flow. They also control the induction of labor.

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