How to soften the cervix before childbirth?
How successful and easy childbirth will depend not only on the qualifications of the chosen doctor and the conditions of the maternity hospital, not only on psychological and emotional preparation, but also on how easily and quickly the cervical dilatation process goes. Its preparation should be taken care of in advance.
Why do you need it and when to start?
The cervix is a universal female organ, or rather, part of the uterus. While the woman is carrying the baby, the cervix provides tight closure so that the fetus does not leave its cavity ahead of time. When it comes time to give birth, the cervix begins to open, and when its disclosure becomes complete, the head of the fetus can leave the mother's womb and start moving along the birth canal.
Normal full-term pregnancy ends in childbirth between 38 and 42 weeks. Approximately six weeks before this, numerous preparatory processes begin to take place in the cervix.After all, the opening of the cervix is a very responsible process, which is beyond the control of the will of the woman, it occurs reflexively. In many ways, the state of the cervix depends on the hormonal levels, muscular readiness, and the characteristics of the specific pregnancy.
But all women starting from the 38th week, a gynecological examination is carried out to determine if the cervix is ready for the upcoming labor.
The cervix is a circular muscle, inside it is located the cervical canal, which connects the uterus and vagina. But nothing from the genital tract to get into the uterus during pregnancy can not, because the cervical canal is securely closed mucous plug.
A month before giving birth, the cervix during a normal pregnancy begins to shorten. From 4 original centimeters, it is reduced in length to one centimeter..
In these last weeks before birth, everything is very important - from hormonal levels to psychological state, because the fears, worries and anxieties that the expectant mother may experience strengthen muscle clamps, which not only interferes with neck preparation, but can also cause a lot of complications in the process. childbirth.
The process starts from the moment of lowering the abdomen. The fetus begins to push the head on the inner ring of the neck. Under this pressure, there is a slow and systematic opening of the internal os. The process involved hormones and enzymes.
As soon as the cervix becomes mature, it reaches shortening to 1-0.5 centimeters, it is believed that labor activity can start at any time.
For women who are waiting for the birth of their first child, the disclosure is longer, the process starts in advance, the internal pharynx gradually opens first, and the outer one begins to open at last. In giving birth again, both the inner ring and the outer one open almost simultaneously, with a small time difference, and therefore the birth during the second or third pregnancy proceeds faster. Cervical preparation also begins very shortly before delivery and proceeds much faster.
The preparation of the cervix for disclosure is carried out in the hospital, if after 38 weeks there are no signs of maturation. Evaluate this parameter in points on the Bishop scale. A cervix is considered to be mature, according to the gynecologist's estimate, from 5 to 8 points.. Anything less than these values is considered insufficiently mature or immature to the neck and requires medical intervention if the term of delivery has already reached.
If there is still 1-2 weeks ahead, there is no reason to stimulate the cervix.It is quite possible to do with methods that are passed down from the generation to the generation through the female line and are considered quite effective.
Preparation at home
It is believed that one of the most effective ways help the cervix to ripen and soften by the right time - sex without a condom. Ejaculate contains natural prostaglandins, which soften the round muscle before childbirth.
But this method is not shown to everyone: if there is a placenta previa, if a woman is pregnant with twins, if she has an obstetric pessary or other complications of pregnancy, sex is contraindicated.
Also, do not have sex after a discharge even a small part of the mucous plug from the cervical canal or when the amniotic fluid is leaking, this will increase the likelihood of the onset of labor when the cervix is not ready, which is fraught with ruptures, and the risk of infection in the uterine cavity increases.
Approximately one month before the birth, it is worth adding olive oil, sunflower oil, flaxseed oil.. They help increase the elasticity of muscle tissue. Foods that help soften the cervix - fish and dairy products, chicken breast, fresh vegetables and fruits, rich in fiber.
Raspberry leaves in the form of a decoction or as part of a cup of green tea is allowed to take from the 37th week of pregnancy. To soften the neck will help drink in the number of glasses per day, if the gestational age is 37 weeks, two glasses, if the period is 38 weeks, at 39 weeks you can take three, and at 40 weeks up to a liter of raspberry leaf decoction per day.
Home softening should always be coordinated with your doctor. In some cases, prescribed drugs - "No-Shpa" and candles "Buscopan", "Papaverine" also contribute to the preparation of muscle tissue, as they are antispasmodics.
According to reviews of pregnant women, a great effect has a massage of the external genital organs with sterilized vegetable oil. Evening primrose oil also acts, but before its use it is necessary to consult a doctor.
It is useful to move more, do domestic work, of course, reasonable and feasible. Important walks.
You need to understand that any homework should not go beyond reasonable limits, otherwise childbirth can begin earlier than the period marked for the baby.
How to cook in the hospital?
There are two types of medical preparation of the cervix for which there are indications and contraindications:
mechanical methods - kelp sticks, Foley catheter;
drug methods - hormonal preparations - tablets, suppositories, gel for applying directly on the cervix.
Stimulation of cervical ripening in the hospital is carried out at 40-41 week, if the cervix does not reach the norm according to the degree of maturity. You can soften it by inserting a Foley catheter. To soften the cervix, such a method is used less and less today, since more effective methods and less unpleasant sensations have appeared.
The catheter is a thin latex tube with a silicone coating. The lower end is equipped with a small balloon. The tube is inserted into the cervical canal and the balloon is filled with saline or water. The balloon presses the cervix, which leads to its expansion. During the day, evaluate the result. But practice shows that in about half of women with a post-term pregnancy, the Foley catheter has brought nothing but pain.
Laminaria sticks - dried seaweed about 6 centimeters in length. The width of them is different, and what chopsticks to choose, the doctor decides depending on how much the cervix of the uterus itself is ready for the birth process and how wide the cervical canal is. It is there that sticks are introduced, which, under the influence of moisture, begin to swell and expand the channel mechanically.
Algae additionally produce a certain type of prostaglandin, which also helps to soften and open the neck.After one day, the signs are evaluated and a decision is made - to go to give birth or to introduce more kelp. The effectiveness of the sticks is slightly higher than that of the Foley catheter..
Medicines (Mifepristone, Miropriston) show better resultsbecause it affects the hormones, dramatically lowering the level of progesterone. Drugs too ambiguous. In world medical practice, they are used to terminate pregnancy in the initial period (medaborta). We have to take two pills with a difference per day. Usually within 24-72 hours labor begins.
Sometimes women mistakenly call these drugs labor stimulation. "Mifepriston" does not stimulate anything, it does not affect contractions. It affects the cervix and changes hormones.
If contractions do not begin within the indicated period, stimulation with the administration of oxytocin preparations is possible, but only on condition that the remedy worked and the neck is ripe (the effectiveness of Mifepristone reaches 98%).
Useful tips
On the Internet, you can find a lot of useful tips on how to bring the day of birth closer if you can't wait, but experts do not recommend blindly following it, because even herbal and folk remedies that are advised to use for cervix ripening can be dangerous for the mother and the fetus.
Any impulse of the future mother to contribute to the mitigation and dilatation of the cervix must be coordinated with her doctor, otherwise the consequences can be very tragic. Only a doctor can accurately assess the condition of the birth canal and answer the question whether it is possible to use one or another remedy.
