My lower abdomen is swollen when the due date comes. Does this mean I am about to give birth?

When the due date arrives, pregnant women will have a variety of reactions. Generally speaking, these reactions are relatively normal physiological phenomena, such as pain and distension in the lower abdomen, which indicate that the baby is about to come. Sometimes, a few days before the due date, the expectant mother feels that the baby is about to fall out. In addition, some brown secretions will appear on the underwear, which often causes abdominal pain and back pain.

1. Signs a few days before the due date

I feel like the baby is going to fall out.

When a pregnant mother feels that the baby is about to fall out, it is actually a sign that the fetal head has entered the pelvis. Before the baby is delivered, the fetal head must enter the pelvis. This shows that the baby's head is proportional to the pelvis, that vaginal delivery is possible, and that the first step of delivery - connection - has been completed. Most first-time mothers have the procedure 1 to 2 weeks before their due date, while mothers with childbirth experience usually have the procedure after labor begins.

In addition, pregnant mothers will feel the upper abdomen becomes comfortable, eat more, breathe lighter, urinate more frequently and other signs of labor. This is because the baby's presenting part descends into the pelvis and the bottom of the uterus lowers, so pregnant mothers will feel the upper abdomen more comfortable, breathe lighter, eat more, and the fetal movement is less than before.

However, since the descent of the presenting part will compress the pregnant mother's pelvic bladder, rectum and other tissues, the pregnant mother will also feel lower abdominal distension, frequent urination, back pain, etc.

2. There is brown or light red discharge on the underwear

If pregnant mothers find brown or light red secretions on their underwear a few days before delivery, they need to be alert. This is usually spotting, which is a relatively reliable sign that delivery is about to begin, and they should be prepared to be admitted to the hospital for delivery.

24 to 48 hours before delivery, some mucus mixed with blood will flow out of the pregnant mother's vagina, which is called bloody show. This is because the fetal membrane near the internal os of the cervix separates from the uterine wall, causing the capillaries to rupture and a small amount of blood to be discharged from the vagina.

Pregnant mothers should be reminded that if the amount of vaginal bleeding is heavy and exceeds the amount of menstruation, it should not be considered as labor and delivery, but may be other abnormal conditions. Therefore, pregnant mothers must carefully identify it.

3. Tightness in the abdomen

If a pregnant mother experiences intermittent abdominal tightening a few days before the due date, which then relaxes after a while, and this happens many times a day and more frequently at night, with no regular pattern, the editor would like to remind pregnant mothers that this is "false labor" and the baby is not ready to be born at this time.

4. False labor vs. labor labor

False labor: inconsistent frequency and irregular duration; long and irregular intervals; no increase in intensity, more frequent at night than during the day; labor can only cause mild distension and pain in the lower abdomen.

Labor contractions: Uterine contractions are regular, with intervals of 5 to 6 minutes, lasting more than 30 seconds, and gradually increasing over time.

5. Involuntary discharge of small amounts of urine

In the first few days of pregnancy and delivery, if the pregnant mother finds that she has a small amount of "urination" from time to time, she needs to lie down flat, raise her hips, be alert to water breaking, and then consider the frequent urination caused by the uterus pressing on the bladder.

6. Normal amniotic fluid is colorless and odorless, looks similar to urine, and is very clear.

Pregnant mothers need to be reminded that no matter when they feel their water breaking, they must go to the hospital for a check-up to confirm whether it is water breaking; after discovering signs of water breaking, pregnant mothers must lie down to rest and slightly raise their hips to avoid excessive loss of amniotic fluid or umbilical cord prolapse. Remember not to stand still, mistake amniotic fluid breaking for frequent urination, or take a shower before going to the hospital.