Does Every Woman Get Into Labor – Truth or Myth?

When a woman thinks about having a baby, several questions arise in her mind. It is very common that couples do not know exactly how the whole pregnancy works, it is something that we learn over time, through experiences, research and also the always important consultations with the doctor.

And one of the points that generates the most controversy when it comes to having a baby, is whether every woman goes into labor . After all, is this true or a myth? Let’s talk about this more deeply and explain whether this statement is really true or false.

After all, is it true or not?

Before explaining how the entire labor process works, it is important to talk. No. It is not true that every woman goes into labor, at least technically speaking.

Every pregnant woman can be her baby in a common way, either in natural childbirth or in cesarean surgery, but many times not all symptoms of labor are felt in this process.

And that is why we can say that not every woman goes into labor. In other words, this is indeed a myth. But to better understand this statement, we need to understand what labor is.

What is Childbirth Labor?

It is a series of symptoms that indicate that the woman’s body is preparing to give birth. We can divide labor into some phases. Are they:

  • Contractions
  • Stock market rupture
  • Dilation
  • Loss of mucous plug

Let’s talk about each of these phases and how they participate in labor.

Contractions

One of the first symptoms of every woman who goes into labor is contractions. They can start up to 15 days before the baby is born, with an average interval of 3 hours for each spasm.

We can say that this first sign is “pre-labor”. It is recommended that, as soon as you feel the first contraction, notify your doctor. The interval between contractions begins to decrease over time. When this interval is 10 minutes, the woman is actually in labor.

These contractions can cause some discomfort and even severe cramps in women. Each of them usually lasts from 30 to 40 seconds and they happen in a rhythmic way. Changing positions and towels with warm water are alternatives so that the pain of contractions does not bother you so much.

Stock market rupture

The rupture of the bag happens, many times, without the woman realizing it, being often discovered when the pregnant woman goes to the bathroom. The liquid is similar to urine, but has a lighter color, and may even have whitish parts. Also, unlike urine, women cannot control this fluid.

When this happens, the woman should not panic or despair. It is recommended to clean yourself, put an absorbent to control the liquid flow and go to the maternity to have the baby.

Dilation

The dilation of the cervix is ​​a direct consequence of the contractions. The most common is that, when a woman is in labor, dilate 1 cm per hour , reaching up to 10 cm. However, this number may change slightly.

When the dilation takes too long to happen, intervention is necessary so that the delivery can continue normally. That is why many say that not every woman expands and, consequently, not every woman goes into labor.

Another important information to add is that a woman will not always notice that she is dilating, as this can often happen without pain . The dilation can only be observed by the doctor or the doula who is helping the woman at the moment through the “touch” exam.

Women who did not have dilation in the first pregnancy may have it in the second, just as women who had dilation in the first pregnancy, are more likely to have a faster dilation.

Loss of mucous plug

The mucous plug, or mucous plug, is a brownish secretion that normally contains traces of blood. It has the function of protecting the cervix and, consequently, the baby.

This loss is the first sign of cervical dilation. When this loss occurs, it means that your body is ready for the baby to be born, although it may still take a few days to happen, in some cases.

Other Myths

In addition to the myth that says that every woman goes into labor, there are several other myths that involve this universe. Let’s talk about some of them and explain why the information doesn’t work. They are:

  • The Stock Market Breaks After Women Have Contractions
  • Remedies to Induce Labor
  • Expansion Means Childbirth Necessarily

The Stock Market Breaks After Women Have Contractions

Although this is quite recurrent and common, it is not a rule. The woman’s purse does not necessarily break after the contractions start. The procedure that should be done does not change anything , just go to the maternity hospital to have your child as normal.

There are also cases of women who need to have the baby removed before the bag breaks. These are the cases in which the woman has some type of disease that prevents her blood and the baby’s blood from having contact without contaminating the baby.

Remedies to Induce Labor

The myth is not about the drugs themselves, which are used and recommended by doctors and often work to induce labor. What happens is that these remedies are not infallible and chances are they will not work. If this happens, delivery by cesarean section is necessary.

WARNING: Never try to take a medication to induce labor on your own. This can be extremely harmful to both you and the baby.

Expansion Means Childbirth Necessarily

As we have already mentioned in this article, there is a period of “pre-labor” that works as a preparation for the body. Not only the contractions, but the dilation itself can happen a few days before the labor itself takes place. Even so, it is important to state that the most common is that the dilation occurs already in the labor process.

There are several doubts when we talk about pregnancy, especially for those who are thinking about having their first child now. Knowing that not every woman goes into labor and that this is a myth, helps the woman to relax and prepare better for this moment that is so special and unique in her life.

Of course, these are not the only myths that circulate the subject of labor and it is always important to research and be aware of how this whole process works. After all, who wins is you with more knowledge and peace of mind to have your baby.

See also: Childbirth – How to Recognize the Time has Arrived

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My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.

Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

Dr. Alexis Hart

My name is Dr. Alexis Hart I am 38 years old, I am the mother of 3 beautiful children! Different ages, different phases 16 years, 12 years and 7 years. In love with motherhood since always, I found it difficult to make my dreams come true, and also some more after I was already a mother.Since I imagined myself as a mother, in my thoughts everything seemed to be much easier and simpler than it really was, I expected to get pregnant as soon as I wished, but it wasn’t that simple. The first pregnancy was smooth, but my daughter’s birth was very troubled. Joana was born in 2002 with a weight of 2930kg and 45cm, from a very peaceful cesarean delivery but she had already been born with congenital pneumonia due to a broken bag not treated with antibiotics even before delivery.

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