Birth pains

Labor pains are a concept that has existed in medicine for many years; it is a natural process through which a child comes into life. Essentially, these are intense contractions of the muscles of the uterus, the purpose of which is to bring the baby closer to the exit.

Labor pains occur due to hormonal changes in a woman’s body. As labor approaches, progesterone and estrogen levels drop and relaxin (a muscle relaxant) levels rise. All this leads to the feeling of precursors of labor - such as the discharge of mucus from the vagina or abnormal stool.