Girls, do their breasts fill up before giving birth? Breast changes before childbirth

Pain before childbirth is a harbinger of the onset of labor. It is believed that pain during childbirth is an inevitability that accompanies every appearance of a new inhabitant of the planet. However, just as pregnancy is a fairly common physiological state of millions of women, and not a disease, pain before childbirth is rather a psychological attitude and fear of the process itself on the part of the expectant mother.

The idea of childbirth for many pregnant women is formed from the stories of “eyewitnesses,” that is, women who gave birth, and emotional reviews from relatives or friends. Often this information is subjective, since each representative of the fair sex has her own pain threshold, and anatomical features are also individual. And objectivity is as follows:

From a physiological point of view, a healthy woman is capable of normal labor without intense pain, deformation and rupture of the genital organs. Nature itself provides that the body of the expectant mother is prepared for the birth of the baby; it is no coincidence that the fetus is gestated for as long as 9 months. During this period, the tissues of the birth canal become more elastic and stretchable, so as not to create a risk of injury for the baby moving along it.
Of course, Homo sapiens, Homo sapiens, are higher in development than representatives of the fauna, but they also strive to continue their species by giving birth to babies. Note that not a single animal in the world suffers terrible pain during childbirth, because it perceives labor as a natural, normal part of existence.
Everyone knows that there are still corners of the planet that are far from the notorious benefits of civilization. It is there that the lucky women live, who, in principle, are devoid of knowledge about prenatal pain; of course, we are talking about healthy women who do not have pathologies. Perhaps that is why, despite all the wild living conditions from the point of view of modern man, these peoples do not die out.
Physiologists more than 200 years ago established that pain is mainly accompanied by pathological processes associated with dangerous diseases, severe stress or fear. It is obvious that neither pregnancy nor childbirth itself is a pathology, therefore, there should be no reason for pain other than fear and tension.

Summarizing the arguments, it should be noted that the following factors influence pain before childbirth:

Age and health status of the mother in labor.
Anatomical features of the structure of the pelvis, hormonal, muscular systems and other parameters of the female body.
Presence of menstrual irregularities preceding pregnancy.
A special feature of labor is premature birth.
Position of the fetus, its size.
Individual psycho-emotional characteristics of the woman in labor, level of pain threshold.
Preparation for childbirth, both psycho-emotional and physiological.

An important factor influencing pain before childbirth is the woman’s psychological mood, the ability to cope with fear and stress, since pain before childbirth is usually not intense and is associated with the preparation of the cervix, the uterus itself, for the birth of the baby.

Causes of pain before childbirth

The first typical cause of pain before labor is the so-called false contractions. The process of the first contractions can be called “training”, during which the muscles of the uterus contract and become toned literally for a minute, preparing and softening the cervix for childbirth. These sensations may appear after the 20th week and usually do not cause severe pain. Every day, such muscle tensions become more noticeable, but are irregular and irregular, which distinguishes them from true contractions. In addition, false contractions are similar to pain during menstruation, that is, they are felt only in the lower abdomen and pelvis, while pain during true contractions of the uterus is rhythmic, encircling in nature and most often begins from the lower back.

The causes of pain before childbirth are labor pains, which are called expelling contractions, that is, helping the fetus to leave the mother's womb. Actually, contractions are the first stage of labor, accompanied by rhythmic contractions of the uterus (uterus) and stretching of the cervix uteri (cervix). The pain is widespread in the lower back and sacrum, is not localized in a specific place and is quite intense, growing, although intermittently.

The psycho-emotional state of a woman in labor is the third and, perhaps, the most important cause of pain during prenatal activities. .Fear causes muscle tension, which in turn provokes even greater pain. These pains are called visceral, they are explained by sprains of ligaments and muscles. The more a woman tenses, that is, interferes with the natural process of preparation for childbirth, the more intense the pain becomes.

There are other causes of pain before childbirth that have a pathological etiology, that is, they are associated with chronic diseases of the internal organs, including the pelvic organs.

Summarizing the etiological factors of prenatal pain, we can make the following list:

An individual psycho-emotional state associated with poor preparation for childbirth, lack of awareness or objective reasons (chronic diseases, family problems, etc.).
A few days (weeks) before childbirth, an increased state of anxiety develops, and a constant release of adrenaline into the bloodstream begins.
The body’s natural adaptive response to an adrenaline surge is tension, muscle contraction, and increased tone of the vascular walls.
Tension leads to muscle tension, disruption of normal circulatory activity, as a result - deterioration of the general condition, increased pain symptoms.

Symptoms of pain before childbirth

Each woman in labor feels the approach of labor in her own way, despite the existing typical signs. The main thing that symptoms of pain before childbirth show is the beginning of the first stage, that is, true labor pains. In contrast, false contractions of the uterus do not open it and do not end with the birth of a baby; they are intended to prepare the body for labor. False contractions, as a rule, do not differ in intensity and are localized in the lower abdomen. If a woman gives birth for the second time, it is likely that she will no longer feel false, “training” contractions, since the body has already learned the “lesson”. Symptoms of pain before childbirth of this nature are not difficult to distinguish; false contractions (Braxton-Hicks syndrome) are characterized by the following symptoms:

Appear 21-14 days before the expected date of birth.
The pain is localized in the lower abdomen and resembles menstrual pain.
The pain is dull, nagging in nature.
The uterus is tense and well palpated.
The uterus does not lose its tone during breaks, which can be long - up to 5-6 hours.
Contractions last no more than one minute and are irregular.
Pain can be relieved by changing posture, movements, and walking.

Symptoms of pain before childbirth, which you need to pay closer attention to so as not to miss the onset of labor:

Regular contractions of the uterus.
Rhythmic repetition of pain, break 10-20 minutes.
Steadily reducing the interval between contractions to 2-3 minutes.
In the intervals between contractions, the uterus quickly relaxes.
The pain is pressing, widespread, and encircling.

Also, the harbingers of true labor are considered to be the discharge of mucous mass (plug) and amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid).

Abdominal pain before childbirth

Periodic abdominal pain before childbirth is an inevitable phenomenon that should not be dramatized, since pain should not exceed the level of pain during the menstrual cycle. This is a completely understandable physiological process of stretching the uterus, respectively, accompanied by some displacement of nearby organs. The pain is nagging, aching in nature, but it is transient and not permanent. Also, abdominal pain before childbirth is a harbinger of the birth itself; most often, such sensations appear between 20 and 30 weeks in primiparous women. Braxton-Hicks contractions (false contractions of the uterus) are more the norm than a deviation, as they prepare the female body for the birth of a baby by stretching, softening the muscles and shortening the cervical canal of the cervix.

If pain in the abdomen before childbirth is accompanied by a pulling, girdling, growing sensation, the pain becomes regular, with decreasing breaks, this is direct evidence that the first stage of labor - contractions - has begun.

Pain in the lower abdomen before childbirth

Pain in the lower abdomen before childbirth is a typical sign of false contractions, or rather the preparatory period, when the uterus becomes toned and its cervix begins to shrink and shorten. Thus, pain in the lower abdomen is a kind of adaptation stage that helps the body prepare muscles, ligaments, and tissues for normal labor. The sensations of pain are not intense, quite tolerable, these symptoms can subside with movement, changes in body posture, even with emotional switching - watching a movie, reading a book.

Since the body structure of expectant mothers is not subject to unification, each woman may feel the approach of labor differently. For many women in labor, pain in the lower abdomen is due to the fact that in the last weeks of pregnancy the fetus can turn head down into the pelvic area, which causes quite natural nagging pain in the expectant mother. It should be noted that in some pregnant women, the onset of labor, that is, true contractions, may manifest itself atypically - not with lumbar pain, but with sharp sensations in the perineum and lower abdomen.

In such situations, it is better to play it safe and contact an obstetrician or treating gynecologist; in any case, advice, examination, consultation and observation will not hurt, but will only relieve an anxious state.

Back pain before childbirth

As a rule, back pain before childbirth is associated with the baby moving to the natural prenatal position (presentation), that is, head down. Lumbar nagging pain is caused by fetal pressure and physiological stretching of the connective tissue of the sacroiliac zone.

In addition, the back hurts during the contraction stage, and the pain intensifies when the uterus is almost ready to “release” the baby. Such muscle stretching cannot but affect the nerve endings of the lumbosacral region. At these moments, it is very important for a woman not to give in to panic or fear, that is, not to intensify tension, but, on the contrary, to help the body rest and relax during the breaks between contractions. Also, the expectant mother should know that back pain before childbirth, associated with the period of contractions, usually subsides when labor gradually moves to the second important stage - pushing.

Lower back pain before childbirth

Lumbar pain is typical during contractions, but it can also be caused by other reasons.

Hormonal dysfunctions that provoke relaxation and expansion of the pelvic joints and intervertebral ligaments.
Stretching of the abdominal muscles, compensatory increase in the load on the lumbar region.
Physiological shift of the body’s center of gravity forward (stomach), leading to compensatory tension in the back muscles.
Poor body posture, curvature of the spinal column.
Natural enlargement, stretching of the uterus, which compresses nearby nerve endings in the lumbar region.
Increasing body weight, increasing mechanical load on the spine and legs.
Uncomfortable shoes, clothes. Shoes with high heels especially increase the load on your back.
Osteochondrosis that developed before pregnancy. Symptoms may worsen due to increased load on the deformed vertebrae.

Lower back pain before childbirth increases, starting from the fifth month of pregnancy, when the process of gestation enters the third trimester. In addition, a pain symptom in the lumbar region at the end of the 9th month is direct evidence of the onset of labor, contractions, when the uterine os opens, the cervix significantly decreases, contracts to facilitate the passage of the fetus through the birth canal.

Headache before childbirth

Pregnancy is accompanied not only by joyful expectations and hopes, but also by anxieties, which are associated with headaches before childbirth. Most often, expectant mothers suffer from tension headaches, less often migraines. Feelings of pain in the head are typical for the second half of pregnancy, when the birth of the baby is already close, and the mother’s psycho-emotional state is aggravated by fears. It is extremely rare in obstetric and gynecological practice to encounter headaches before childbirth caused by cerebrovascular accidents or other brain pathologies. As a rule, these problems are diagnosed before pregnancy registration and are monitored throughout the entire period of gestation. It should be noted that headaches may indicate severe forms of gestosis, nephropathies, and hypertension. Such pathologies are supervised only in a hospital setting, as they can lead to complications during childbirth. All other manifestations of discomfort from the head are typical for the prenatal period, when a woman is simply afraid of childbirth and the pain associated with it. The higher the level of anxiety, the greater the tension in the muscular system, and the muscles of the neck-brachial region are the first to react, which leads to a natural narrowing of large and small vessels that supply the brain.

Nagging pain before childbirth

Nagging pain before childbirth is a signal that the baby will soon be born. As a rule, sensations of aching pain begin at 33-34 weeks and are caused by the stage of spraining ligaments and muscles, that is, preparation for labor. The pain can be localized in the lower abdomen, which is associated with false contractions; also a pain symptom is felt in the back, in the lumbar region, sacrum, this indicates a normal presentation of the fetus with its head down. During this period, the pelvis gradually expands and moves apart, causing nagging pain in the perineal area, this is how the pubic bones adapt to the upcoming birth. During this period, a woman more than ever needs advice from her treating gynecologist on how to prepare for an important process. Nowadays, it is not difficult to read specialized literature, attend courses for expectant mothers and women in labor, under the guidance of a trainer, or independently master breathing exercises or engage in water procedures (swimming). Such preparation will not only relieve pain symptoms, but will also help you go through the birth process relatively painlessly.

Pain in the perineum before childbirth

The causes of pain symptoms in the perineum can be both hormonal and physiological, structural changes in the body of a pregnant woman.

Pain in the perineum before childbirth is associated with the following factors:

Weight gain puts stress on the lumbosacral region, causing pain in the perineum.
The production of relaxin, a hormone that controls the elasticity of interosseous joints, increases.
The pelvic bones (pubic joints) gradually move apart, preparing for labor.
The fetus assumes a position that causes pressure on nearby nerve endings, including the sciatic nerve.
During pregnancy, there is a risk of developing varicose veins - the pelvis, the perineum, which can also cause pain in this area.

Pain in the perineum before childbirth can be associated with the approach of the fetus to the birth canal, which, obviously, will be the most positive reason, since any pain symptom is quickly forgotten, replaced by the joy of motherhood.

Chest pain before childbirth

Painful sensations in the chest are a normal phenomenon that accompanies almost the entire period of pregnancy. Moreover, for an experienced obstetrician-gynecologist, the absence of discomfort in the mammary glands of the expectant mother is a sign of hidden pathologies, diseases and a reason for prescribing additional examinations of the pregnant woman. The mammary glands undergo changes throughout the nine months, the glandular tissue begins to grow, and breast enlargement is especially noticeable after the 30th week. Chest pain before childbirth is due to the fact that the capsules of the mammary glands are greatly stretched, just like the skin. The breasts seem to swell, become denser, and the skin often itches, which indicates possible stretch marks. In addition, chest pain before childbirth is caused by the formation, growth of the milk ducts, and enlargement of the nipples. The symptoms and nature of pain in the mammary glands in women can be different: for some, the breasts hurt only in the first trimester, for some, the mammary glands begin to rapidly enlarge immediately before childbirth. This is due to the characteristics of the hormonal system and the general condition of the body. Pain in the mammary glands, as a rule, is not sharp or acute and is quite tolerable. In addition, the expectant mother should understand that chest pain before childbirth is a sign of the formation of colostrum and evidence that the body is already completing the gestation stage and is preparing for the process of nursing the baby, that is, feeding

Pelvic pain before childbirth

Pain in the pelvis before childbirth is explained by the fact that all nearby organs and systems, including the pelvic bones, are influenced by the enlarging uterus. On the other hand, the uterus also depends on the pelvis, since it is located inside the bone bed, the pelvic ring. The pelvic bed includes paired pelvic bones, which in turn consist of the pubis, ilium and ischium, fused together. Thus, together with the sacrum, the pelvic bed contains and protects not only the abdominal organs, but also the uterus, which is attached to it by specific ligaments. Pain in the pelvis before childbirth is caused by an increase in the tone of the uterine, spiral ligaments; such sensations are especially typical for pregnant women with a history of distortion of the pelvic muscles, a twisted pelvis. As a result of sacroiliac displacement, the ligaments that attach the uterus to the pelvis are stretched unevenly, causing nagging pain in the lumbar and pelvic region. In addition, pelvic pain before childbirth is associated with natural causes characteristic of the second half of pregnancy:

Lack of calcium and magnesium in the body.
Increased body weight and abdominal weight, leading to increased load on the pelvic girdle.
Enlargement of the uterus, causing sprain of the ligaments and pain in the pelvis.

Increased production of relaxin, which is responsible for elasticity, stretching of tissues and ligaments. Active production of relaxin can lead to pain in the symphysis pubis and symphysitis. Symphysiopathy is not a pathology; rather, it is a common syndrome characteristic of the third semester. Symphysitis is caused by inflammation of the symphysis pubis and pubic bone, their abnormal mobility due to hormonal changes in the body, which manifests itself as pelvic pain before childbirth.

Pain in the vagina before childbirth

Before childbirth, there should normally be no pain in the vagina, since most often pain manifests itself in the pelvic region, in the lower back, in the hips, and in the lower abdomen. If pain appears in the vagina before childbirth, this may indicate varicose veins of the vulva, perineum, which occurs in every fourth pregnant woman. Varicose veins are provoked by the compression factor of the enlarging uterus when it compresses the main vessels (iliac, inferior vena cava) in the retroperitoneal zone. Pain in the vagina before childbirth can manifest itself as increasing, bursting painful sensations, itching, and swelling of the labia. This symptom is most dangerous in terms of the development of acute varicothrombophlebitis and vein rupture. Possible spontaneous bleeding from the vagina before childbirth poses a threat of termination of pregnancy due to its intensity, and also because it is difficult to stop the bleeding - the pressure in the veins is very high, and their walls are extremely fragile. That is why, if the expectant mother feels discomfort in the vaginal area, a feeling of heaviness or fullness, she should immediately contact a gynecologist to receive timely symptomatic therapy.

Diagnosis of pain before childbirth

Ideally, the prenatal period should be controlled by the woman herself and her treating obstetrician-gynecologist. Painful sensations and diagnosis of pain before childbirth are so individual that, despite all the information awareness, the expectant mother can confuse the symptoms and aggravate her already anxious state.

Pain before childbirth has two main objective causes:
Contractile activity of the uterus, that is, visceral pain.
Pain during pushing, that is, somatic pain.

However, the most common cause of prenatal pain is anxiety, fear and understandable muscle tension of the woman in labor. As you know, a person is afraid of what he does not understand, what he does not know, so knowing the symptoms of pain, stages and options for their development means relieving unnecessary anxiety and preparing for a normal, natural birth.

Diagnosis of pain before childbirth includes the following prenatal stages, which should ideally be monitored by a doctor in a hospital setting: 1.

Prenatal stage, classic course:

Contractions, contractions of the uterus, dilation of the cervix, which are felt as intense pressure, girdle pain in the pelvic area, radiating to the rectum.
Spasmodic pain in the groin, which is typical for women who have already given birth.
Pulling pain in the lumbosacral region.
Changes in the structure and color of vaginal discharge.
It is possible that the mucus plug may be released, which is often released during false contractions. This symptom is not specific.
Increasing spasms, contractions, characterized by rhythm and a decrease in time between them.
Dyspeptic symptoms and diarrhea are possible.

Diagnosis of pain before childbirth, symptoms of false contractions:

Spasmodic pain is irregular and unrhythmic. The breaks between them can reach 5-6 hours. The nature of the painful sensations is not obvious, the pain is not intense, often passing due to a change in body posture.
The pain is localized not in the sacrum, but in the iliac region, and is not girdling in nature; rather, it is pulling, radiating down the abdomen.
During false contractions, the fetus is active and moves vigorously, while during true contractions the fetus often freezes.

Signs of the onset of labor:

Spasms intensify, especially when changing posture or movements.
The pain begins in the sacrum and spreads up, down, and often radiates to the leg(s).
Painful symptoms are accompanied by digestive tract upset and diarrhea.
Contractions intensify, become longer, and the time between them is steadily decreasing.
Vaginal discharge with blood appears.
It is possible to leak amniotic fluid (amniotic fluid), although this sign is not standard for all women, it is not specific.

How is the examination carried out in the last month of pregnancy, how is pain diagnosed before childbirth?

As a rule, the final, last weeks should be devoted to the following activities that help clearly differentiate the nature of possible prenatal pain:

Weight and blood pressure are measured.
The last time urine is given is examined for elevated sugar levels or the presence of protein.
The fetal heartbeat is checked.
The height of the uterine fundus is determined.
The general condition of the fetus is assessed - its size, presentation.
The woman’s vascular system (legs, groin, vagina) is examined for possible varicose veins.
The cervix is examined and its readiness to dilate is determined.
During contractions, including false ones, the rhythm, frequency and intensity of pain are determined.
Serious cardiac pathologies.
Intrauterine pathologies of the fetus, which depend on the tone of the mother’s muscular system, and are also dependent in the sense of oxygen starvation (hypoxia).

In other situations, treatment of pain before childbirth is the use of natural methods, methods of reducing pain, which include:

Massage of the lumbosacral region, feet, abdomen. These techniques must be studied in advance and applied independently, or with the help of a partner, nurse, or massage therapist.
Aroma oils have a relaxing effect. If a pregnant woman does not have an allergy or predisposition to it, aromatherapy can work a real miracle. There are cases confirmed by doctors where massage with aroma oil and inhalation of aroma esters almost completely relieved the pain symptom even during the middle of contractions. The aroma product should be selected carefully, since many essential oils can cause an allergic reaction. Lavender, spruce, rose, and thyme oils, which stimulate labor, are considered safe.
Breathing exercises are a classic of prenatal and labor activities. It is worth mastering proper breathing techniques not only to reduce pain during childbirth, but also to strengthen your overall health in the future. Breathing helps reduce tension and muscle tone, restores normal blood flow activity, oxygen saturation of blood vessels and tissues, and therefore prevents fetal hypoxia.
There are a lot of special exercises for the body of a woman in labor, which can be studied and practiced in advance at training courses for expectant mothers. Such physical activity helps maintain normal skin tone, helps reduce pain symptoms and significantly reduces the general anxiety of the pregnant woman. According to statistics and reviews from women in labor, certain postures during contractions and pushing reduce the severity of pain by at least 50%.

Drug treatment of pain before childbirth is used only for strict indications, when the risk of harm to the fetus is lower than the risk of threat to the life of the mother. The choice of anesthesia is the prerogative of the doctor; not a single drug, method or method will be prescribed without taking into account all the individual characteristics of the woman in labor. Antispasmodics are used extremely rarely in prenatal care, mainly when it is necessary to intensify the process of dilation of the cervix. Of course, the introduction of such medications alleviates the mother’s condition, but can cause irreparable harm to the child, since any analgesic or antispasmodic easily overcomes the placenta barrier and provokes a disturbance in the respiratory activity of the fetus. It is possible to use inhalation anesthesia if labor proceeds rapidly; local or epidural (spinal) anesthesia is also practiced, but these are used only if there are certain indications. General anesthesia is a last resort measure that does not relate to the topic of “treatment of pain before childbirth”; rather, it is a necessary action in case of serious pathologies during childbirth.

How to prevent pain before childbirth?

In order to prepare for childbirth, nature has provided a fairly long period when, for nine months, a woman can combine the pleasant expectation of a baby with useful and necessary actions that will certainly be useful to her in the future.

Prevention of pain before childbirth involves the following measures:

The first and most important thing is psychological preparation and a positive attitude, which requires information verified and recommended by doctors. As a very simple piece of advice, we can recommend reading books, for example, “Childbirth without Fear” - author Grently Dick-Reed.
Before giving birth, you need a special diet that will help the digestive system prepare for labor. Vegetable oil has a beneficial effect on the process of stretching and contracting the uterus; in addition, dishes with vegetable oils saturate the body with vitamin E, preventing possible ruptures and hemorrhoids.
It should be mandatory to attend preparatory classes, where pregnant women are taught to breathe correctly, take a comfortable, adaptive position, and perform simple but very effective exercises to reduce pain.
Prevention of pain before childbirth means regular communication with your treating gynecologist, preferably with the one who will deliver the baby. Detailed advice, advice and recommendations from a doctor will give the expectant mother confidence and reduce anxiety.

It is believed that the most effective way to prevent prenatal pain and fears is a positive attitude and the support of a loving family. Expecting a baby, in principle, should be joyful throughout the entire period of pregnancy, the end of the third semester in this sense is the most important. Therefore, prevention of pain before childbirth is multivariate, complex actions aimed at the real miracle - the birth of a child.

Breast care should begin from the first months of pregnancy so that it does not lose its beauty. Breast it is necessary to prepare it carefully so that after breastfeeding it does not sag, but remains as attractive as before pregnancy.

When a woman is pregnant, her skin, due to hormonal changes, becomes dry and requires additional hydration. During pregnancy, the breasts should be smeared with moisturizing lotions daily. If you don't do this, your skin will become dry and stretch marks may appear. Subsequently, it will lose its shape.

Breasts before childbirth - how to maintain beauty

Breasts change their size from the first months of pregnancy. Very often, a woman determines that she is pregnant due to enlargement of the mammary glands. From now on, underwear needs to be selected according to size. You should not save money and wear tight bras that will squeeze your breasts. The fabric must be natural, and the bra must be of a comfortable shape. It should support the chest well. Bras with wide straps are best. But it’s better to avoid those with plastic or metal bones for a while. They interfere with normal blood circulation in the chest. Often, during pregnancy, colostrum is released from the breast. To do this, special hygienic inserts are inserted into the bra.

Special cosmetics for breast skin will help avoid stretch marks. It is better to use creams based on natural oils. You can make your own breast moisturizer. To do this, mix:

wheat germ oil;
almond oil;
avocado oil

Massage using this cream can be done 2 times a day, after a shower. By the way, about the shower. For the chest, it is better to make it contrasting, alternating cool and warm water. This will allow blood to circulate better, which will maintain skin elasticity. Air baths also help a lot. You can walk with your chest open for 10 minutes every day to allow your skin to “breathe.”

How to prepare your breasts before birth for upcoming feedings

It is very important to prepare so that the breasts are ready for a large flow of milk and the nipples for constant sucking. Previously, breasts were prepared by rubbing them with a terry towel. Modern doctors believe that such procedures do not in any way affect the readiness of the breast for feeding. They insist that moral preparation is more important. It is very important to read specialized literature and attend courses that will tell you how a child should latch onto the breast.

It would also be a good idea to purchase ointment for cracked nipples.

Breast massage will also be useful. It can be done morning and evening.

Breast massage includes the following exercises:

Both hands need to make circular movements of the chest. Gently, without pressing. In this case, the nipples and areolas should not be touched.
Massage the breast first from above to the nipple, then from the side and below.
With your left hand you should lift your left breast, and with your right hand you should press very lightly.

These exercises need to be done 5 times each. This will help harden your chest.

Women's chest in front needs special care. And these simple rules will help you preserve its beauty.

If severe pain begins to appear in the last days of pregnancy, this indicates the imminent onset of labor. It is generally accepted that no childbirth can be completely painless and you need to prepare yourself mentally for this in advance. As a rule, women’s idea of childbirth is formed solely from the stories of friends who have already given birth or eyewitnesses of this process. You shouldn’t believe too much in what women who have given birth say, because everyone’s pain threshold is different, and anatomical features also play a fairly important role during childbirth.

If you believe the physiological point of view, then a healthy woman is quite capable of giving birth to a child without too much pain, deformation or rupture of the genital organs. In order for the body to fully prepare for the birth of a child, it has nine months, and this is not so little. This time is enough for the tissues of the birth canal to become softer, more elastic, and stretch easily so as not to injure the baby.

It is worth noting a rather interesting fact: not a single creature on the planet experiences terrible pain during childbirth, because this process is perceived as completely natural. At the same time, physiologists two centuries ago proved that pain during childbirth is caused either by the presence of pathologies, diseases, or by fear and severe stress. Accordingly, none of this should be present either during pregnancy or during childbirth.

If we talk about the reasons that can cause pain during the birth process, then they include:

the woman’s age and health status;
features of the anatomical structure of a woman’s body: the size of the pelvis, the state of the muscular, hormonal and other systems that play an important role during childbirth;
if there were disruptions in the menstrual cycle before pregnancy, this may also affect childbirth;
premature birth, when the body has not yet had time to fully prepare for this process;
fetal size and position;
the woman’s pain threshold level and her mental state.

A very important role during childbirth is played by the psychological state of the woman, as well as how much she can overcome her fear. There is no need to assume that too intense pain occurs because the cervix is preparing for the birth of a child.

Causes of pain before childbirth

The first common cause of pain before childbirth is false contractions. These contractions are training contractions; they literally tone the uterus for a minute and force it to contract. Such sensations occur after the 20th week of pregnancy and may cause slight discomfort, but not severe pain. Of course, every day these sensations may become more and more unpleasant, but the pain can only be felt in the lower abdomen. This is the main difference from real contractions, which will be regular, and the pain before childbirth will begin from the lower back. More severe pain may occur directly during contractions, when the uterus expels the fetus.

The most important cause of pain during childbirth remains the psycho-emotional state of a woman. Because of fear, a woman cannot completely relax, she begins to tighten her muscles, and this causes severe pain. The more a woman strains, the more she will interfere with the natural process and stretching of muscles and ligaments.

The causes of pain can be pathological diseases, a woman’s narrow birth canal, or a pelvis that is too narrow. In addition, the ability to relax has a very strong influence; try to learn how to do this during pregnancy and then childbirth with a minimum amount of pain is guaranteed.

Symptoms of pain before childbirth

Every woman is able to understand that childbirth is approaching. The main symptom of the onset of labor is real labor pains. Of course, initially some women may confuse them with false contractions, which do not open the cervix and ultimately do not result in the birth of a child. False contractions will be irregular and all the discomfort will be concentrated in the lower abdomen. If this is not the woman’s first birth, then most likely the body will not train, because it has remembered the previous practice. The main signs of false contractions are:

appearance 3-4 weeks before the expected date of birth;
the pain is dull and nagging;
pain occurs in the lower abdomen and may resemble that which occurs during menstruation;
the uterus is very tense and can be easily felt;
in the intervals between training contractions, the uterus does not lose its tone;
contractions are irregular and do not last more than one minute;
the pain is easily relieved when changing posture or moving.

Other symptoms may indicate the onset of labor and you need to know about them so as not to miss the beginning of this important process:

the uterus begins to contract regularly;
pain occurs rhythmically every 10-20 minutes;
in between contractions, the uterus is completely relaxed;
pain spreads to the whole body, especially to the lower back and abdomen;
the mucous plug and amniotic fluid are discharged.

Abdominal pain before childbirth

Every woman understands that it is impossible to avoid abdominal pain before childbirth by meanness. Of course, they should not exceed the woman’s pain threshold and, ideally, be the same as during menstruation. This process is completely normal and has a simple explanation: the uterus stretches and because of this, the organs begin to gradually shift. If this is a woman’s first pregnancy and childbirth, then most likely she will feel abdominal pain and discomfort between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy. Mild pain during this period is quite normal and thus actively prepares the mother’s body for the future birth process.

At this time, the muscles are stretched, the tissues become softer, and the cervical canal of the cervix becomes several times shorter than usual. During this period, you need to try to reduce the amount of physical activity and relax more, walk in the fresh air, get positive emotions and in no case be nervous.

Chest pain before childbirth

Slight breast tenderness during pregnancy and before childbirth is completely normal. It is worth emphasizing that if there is no chest pain, then this is a reason for the gynecologist to suspect the presence of a hidden pathology or other health problem. Towards the end of pregnancy, the breasts begin to noticeably increase in size, this is caused by the proliferation of glandular tissue. Soreness causes stretching of the breast skin and the capsules located inside.

Also the cause of breast pain is the formation of milk ducts and slight enlargement of the nipples. Some women have severe breast pain at the beginning of pregnancy, while others only immediately before childbirth, when there is a significant enlargement of the mammary glands. It is worth noting that breast pain is quite tolerable and should not be too intense. Also, the expectant mother should understand that if the breasts hurt, then colostrum is formed in it, and the body is intensively preparing for bearing and giving birth to a baby. If the breasts do not hurt, then this may be a sign that colostrum is not being formed and in the future the baby may not have enough milk for proper feeding.

If we talk about the reasons that can cause pain during the birth process, then they include:

the woman’s age and health status;
features of the anatomical structure of a woman’s body: the size of the pelvis, the state of the muscular, hormonal and other systems that play an important role during childbirth;
if there were disruptions in the menstrual cycle before pregnancy, this may also affect childbirth;
premature birth, when the body has not yet had time to fully prepare for this process;
fetal size and position;
the woman’s pain threshold level and her mental state.

Causes of pain before childbirth

Symptoms of pain before childbirth

appearance 3-4 weeks before the expected date of birth;
the pain is dull and nagging;
pain occurs in the lower abdomen and may resemble that which occurs during menstruation;
the uterus is very tense and can be easily felt;
in the intervals between training contractions, the uterus does not lose its tone;
contractions are irregular and do not last more than one minute;
the pain is easily relieved when changing posture or moving.

Other symptoms may indicate the onset of labor and you need to know about them so as not to miss the beginning of this important process:

the uterus begins to contract regularly;
pain occurs rhythmically every 10-20 minutes;
in between contractions, the uterus is completely relaxed;
pain spreads to the whole body, especially to the lower back and abdomen;
the mucous plug and amniotic fluid are discharged.

Abdominal pain before childbirth

Chest pain before childbirth

At the end of pregnancy, many women begin to secrete a thick, sticky, yellowish liquid from their nipples. Discharge from the breast before childbirth is nothing more than colostrum, which the newborn will eat in the first two days of life.

Why is colostrum released before childbirth?

The release of colostrum from the breasts of the expectant mother indicates that she is ready to meet her baby and give him his first irreplaceable food. Colostrum is secreted in small quantities, but it contains a large amount of proteins, fats, carbohydrates, vitamins, microelements and immunoglobulins in the dose that is necessary for a newly born baby. The production and release of colostrum before childbirth is facilitated by hormonal changes in the body of the expectant mother: an increase in the level of oxytocin and prolactin. Many pregnant women begin to experience mild chest pain before giving birth. This is due to the fact that almost all pregnant women experience swelling in their breasts before giving birth, which may be accompanied by painful sensations.

How to develop breasts before childbirth?

Before giving birth, the breasts should be prepared for feeding the baby. If colostrum begins to be released before giving birth, it is very important to keep the breast clean so that microorganisms do not enter through the small holes in the nipple, which will lead to inflammation in the mammary ducts. To do this, the mammary gland needs to be washed with baby soap twice a day. Breast massage before childbirth is carried out in order to improve lactation in the future; for this, both hands alternately stroke the right and left breasts from top to bottom. Also, light rubbing of the nipples is carried out in order to make them rougher and less sensitive, so that after the woman begins breastfeeding her baby, cracks do not form on the nipple.

Another problem that requires cooking breasts is improper nipple shape. Flat or inverted nipples make it difficult to breastfeed your baby, so if a woman has such nipples, she also needs breast massage before giving birth. The massage technique involves lightly squeezing the nipple with your thumb and forefinger and gently pulling and twisting it. You can change the shape of your nipples using special correctors, which you can start wearing a month before giving birth. In the old days, our mothers, from the beginning of pregnancy, placed hard natural fabric in their bras to prepare the nipples for future feeding.