Imagine that you are sitting by the window enjoying the warm sun one warm afternoon, and suddenly, you feel a subtle change taking place in your body – which could be a sign that you are about to usher in a new life. This change is called "entering the pot", and it is a stage that a pregnant woman must go through close to before giving birth. At this time, the fetus begins to descend and gradually enters the pelvis in preparation for birth. Many pregnant women will have obvious feelings, but what exactly is the feeling? Is this process a sign that labor is about to happen? These are questions that every expectant mother is likely to be concerned about.
The main sensation of entering the basin: the quiet change of the body
Heightened Sense of Oppression: Your Little Secret
When the head or buttocks of the fetus begin to enter the pelvic area, the most direct feeling of the pregnant woman is that the pressure in the pelvic area is significantly increased. This pressure mainly affects the bladder, and you will find yourself going to the bathroom more often than before. Not only that, but this pressure can also cause mild pain or discomfort, especially after prolonged standing or walking. This is because the fetus's position is lowered, and the pressure on the lower abdomen increases, which directly acts on the nerves and muscles of the lower body.
Breathe easily: breathe freely again
As the fetus descends, the space that was originally squeezed into the diaphragm due to uterine expansion is released. This means that you will suddenly find that breathing becomes easier. This change is undoubtedly a great relief for pregnant women who may have experienced breathing difficulties before. At this stage, many pregnant women describe being better able to take deep breaths and feel more full and satisfied with each inhale they inhale in their body.
Clumsiness of action: small changes in pace
The head of the fetus entering the pelvis causes a change in the woman's walking posture, a sensation that is sometimes described as "duck walking". You may feel heavier when you walk, and your movements are more clumsy and strenuous than before. In addition, as childbirth approaches, hormone levels in the body, especially the increase in relaxin, also make the pelvic joints more relaxed, which further exacerbates the inconvenience of mobility.
Changes in the position of the abdomen: the fall of the belly
After entering the pelvis, the most noticeable change in appearance is that the position of the pregnant woman's abdomen becomes lower. Sometimes the change is so noticeable that it can be easily observed. The drop in the abdomen not only changes the appearance of the pregnant woman, but may also bring a series of physiological changes, such as a decrease in stomach pressure, which may improve appetite, but at the same time, due to the increased pressure of the fetus on the pelvic area, it may aggravate symptoms such as leg edema.
Key physical changes during potting: It's not just about feeling different
When a pregnant mother goes through the process of entering the labour, in addition to the obvious changes in the position of the belly and the difficulty of moving, there will be some less obvious but equally important physical changes. These changes are essential for the upcoming labor process, and understanding them helps pregnant women better prepare for and cope with childbirth.
Changes in relaxin levels
During the pelvic period, the level of relaxin in the pregnant mother's body rises, and the main role of this hormone is to relax the ligaments of the body, especially in the pelvic area. This natural phenomenon is designed to accommodate and pass the baby's head during childbirth. The increased relaxin not only causes the ligaments in the pelvic area to relax, but may also cause some pregnant women to feel a little unstable or loose in their pelvis when they walk.
Occasional contractions
Contractions may become more frequent and regular in the weeks leading up to labor because the body is preparing for the actual delivery. While these contractions are usually not as strong as they are during actual labor, they may cause some discomfort. This phenomenon is sometimes referred to as "pseudocontractions," and unlike contractions that actually enter labor, false contractions are usually irregular and do not increase in intensity over time.
The effect of childbirth after entering the basin: closer to the miracle of life
Entering the pelvis is a key harbinger of the labor process and has an important impact on the prediction of the timing of labor. While each mother's specific situation is different, entering the pot provides some valuable clues that labor may not be far away.
Prediction of timing of labor
Although the insertion of the pot itself does not accurately predict the exact timing of labor, it is an important sign that the baby is ready for birth and is beginning to move towards the birth aisle. In general, first-time mothers may enter the pot a few weeks before delivery, while mothers who have had labor may not give birth until a few days or even hours before delivery.
Medical observation and preparation
Doctors will observe changes in the baby's position through regular prenatal check-ups to assess the progress of the baby's insertion. Through an ultrasound and an actual physical examination, the doctor is able to determine whether the baby has entered the pelvis and make more recommendations for delivery based on this change in position. Once it is determined that the baby is in the pelvis, the doctor and the mother should work together to develop a detailed delivery plan, including when to go to the hospital and how to respond to emergencies.