Patient's question:
I am now 38 weeks pregnant and experiencing symptoms such as a heavy feeling in the lower abdomen, the baby half-engaged in the pelvis, difficulty urinating, and others, which have persisted for some time. Getting up every day is also quite difficult. I am quite anxious now and don’t know exactly when I will go into labor. So, I would like to ask, what are the signs of labor? What specific differences will I feel compared to before?Knowing more will help me prepare mentally better and reduce my anxiety.
Doctor's answer:
Lower abdominal heaviness and distension. Pregnant women often experience lower abdominal heaviness and distension, frequent urination, and lower back pain due to the descent of the fetal presenting part compressing pelvic organs such as the bladder and rectum.Abdominal relief. For first-time mothers, 1–2 weeks before labor, as the fetal presenting part descends into the pelvis and the uterus lowers, the upper abdomen often feels more comfortable, breathing becomes easier, and appetite increases.