Even parents who’ve been through it before can’t always tell when labor is approaching. That’s because many of the early signs of labor are vague and easily misinterpreted: Do those dull cramps signal that your baby is moving into position, or are they a result of the grand burrito you ate last night? Is that little trickle of fluid your water breaking, or is it just urine leaking because a 7-pound baby is resting on your full bladder? To help you figure out when you’re really nearing your delivery date, learn about the cues that may signal the first signs of labor.
What is labor?
Labor is the process of childbirth, starting with contractions of the uterus and cervical dilation, and ending with the delivery of the baby. As you get closer to your due date, you may begin to notice some subtle physical signs that labor is coming soon. Then you may see signs of early labor anywhere from hours to days before you transition into active labor and the baby arrives.
Signs of Labor
You have likely gone into true labor if you’ve noticed the following signs, but always check with your practitioner to be sure: Strong, frequent contractions You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions (rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by assessing the pain’s frequency, intensity and location. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions: Are the contractions evenly spaced? True labor contractions are spaced at regular intervals and become more frequent as time goes on.
Continue Reading below Read This Next, How long do the contractions last? Real labor contractions last for 30 to 70 seconds each. Are the contractions muscular? Actual labor contractions get stronger over time and don’t ease up, even when you change positions. You may not be able to walk or talk through labor contractions once they’ve progressed. Bloody show you may notice the loss of your mucus plug — the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world.
It can come out in one large piece (it looks similar to the mucus in your nose) or lots of little ones, though you may not get a glimpse of it at all (and some women don’t lose it before delivery).In the last days before labor, you’ll likely see increased and/or thickened vaginal discharge. This thickened, pinkish discharge is called a bloody show and is a good indication that labor is imminent. Belly and lower back pain you may feel like you’re having strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset, or lower abdominal pressure.
You could also have pain in your lower back that radiates down into the legs. This pain won’t go away if you change positions. Water breaking While moves would have you think you’ll learn you’re in labor only when your water breaks (in the middle of a romantic dinner date at a busy restaurant, of course), that’s a very unlikely scenario. For most women, membranes rupture and amniotic fluid leaks after other labor symptoms have already begun. And you won’t necessarily lose it all in one big gush, either — for some women, water breaking feels more like a trickle.
Your water breaking is actually one of the final signs of labor most women experience — and it happens naturally in only around 15 percent of births or fewer. So don’t count on it as a definite sign of labor. Early signs labor is near (but hasn’t started yet) Look out for these very early signs of labor (also known as pre-labor symptoms), which can happen anywhere from a full month or more to a mere hour or so before active labor starts. Baby drops if you’re a first-time mom, expect your baby to drop, or descend into your pelvis, a few weeks before labor begins (usually around two to four weeks before, but it can vary).In subsequent births, this “lightning” doesn’t often happen until you’re truly in labor.
Signs That Labor Is Weeks or Days Away
Just when you think that you can’t possibly be pregnant any longer, you may experience some of the following signs that labor is near. These symptoms don’t necessarily occur in any particular order, and some people will experience only a few rather than all. You may experience several within the same day or a few days of each other—and some may come and go before you even recognize them as a sign.
As you approach delivery, your baby descends lower into the birth canal, a process called “engagement.” With this move, the weight of your baby is no longer pressing on your diaphragm, and you may be able to breathe more freely as a result. The tradeoff? The potential for more pelvic pressure.
Many people experience an increase in vaginal discharge (leucorrhoea) throughout pregnancy, and sometimes the amount of this discharge increases in the weeks and days leading up to labor as the vagina prepares for the baby to pass through the birth canal. Leucorrhoea plays a vital role in the vagina’s ability to self-clean.
As you approach delivery, the cervix will also soften, thin, and dilate—and this process actually begins before labor officially starts. As the cervix begins to open, you may also notice an increase in vaginal discharge that may appear brownish or pinkish in color.
If you have an internal vaginal exam by a doctor or midwife, they may also inform you of any softening, thinning, or dilation of your cervix, which is another sign that your body is preparing for labor and delivery.
Your weight gain slows
Near the very end of your pregnancy, your weight gain may slow. This may be due to the baby reaching its full-term size. Not everyone will experience a decrease in weight gain, however, and some pregnant people may experience more swelling near the end of pregnancy.
You need to visit the bathroom more often
If you’re finding yourself taking a few more trips to the bathroom with loose and frequent bowel movements, there may be a perfectly good explanation. “That’s the body’s way of emptying the bowels so the uterus will contract well,” explains Rochel Lieberman, a certified midwife in Brooklyn, New York. “Indigestion and vomiting prior to labor are also possible.”
You have the sudden urge to organize everything
If you get a sudden burst of restlessness or increased energy, you may be nesting. It’s a natural phenomenon that many pregnant mammals experience in preparation for welcoming a baby. If you do feel a spike in the nesting instinct, use it wisely and don’t do anything too extreme. “Don’t knock yourself out,” advises Barbara Moran, Ph.D., CNM, a nurse practitioner and certified nurse midwife in Dunn Loring, Virginia. “You’ll need your energy for labor.”
You feel some cramping or contractions
You may notice an increase in mild cramps or Braxton Hicks contractions (“practice” contractions) that feel like a tightening or hardening of the uterus as you approach delivery. Additionally, you may notice a sensation of building pressure or cramping in your pelvic/rectal area.
Signs You’re Going into Labor Soon
While the above signs are a good indication your body is getting ready for birth, if you experience any of these symptoms, labor will probably begin sooner rather than late
Signs of Labor
Many pregnant moms have wondered how labor will feel, how long it will last, and how to know whether it’s the real deal or a false alarm. Every birth is different, so it’s hard to predict the answers to all those questions. But knowing the signs of labor to look out for will help provide clues that it’s almost time to meet your baby, including Strong, frequent contractions Bloody sowbelly and lower back pain Water breaking other, early signs labor is close (anywhere from a month to mere hours away from active labor)
Baby drops Cervix begins to dilateCramps and increased back pain Loose-feeling joints Diarrheal Weight gain stops Fatigue and the nesting instinct
Signs That Labor Is 24 to 48 Hours Away
When you’re close to your baby’s due date, each day that passes can feel like 100. Time becomes relentless — just like calls from well-meaning loved ones asking if you’re still pregnant. You need a sign (anything!) to signal that labor is near. But do signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away exist?
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“There are no real rules with labor. It is completely variable. If you take 10 women, you’re going to get 10 different stories about what it was like for them before they went into labor — even between pregnancies
But take heart! Dr. Emery says there are four early signs of labor that may just happen to you.
Four early signs of labor
Signs that labor is imminent are a bit of a moving target. There’s no step-by-step list of how it all goes down, and the only thing you can count on is that your experience will be unique to you.
“The frequency and intensity of contractions determine labor,” says Dr. Emery. “But there are some physical symptoms that happen during that time.”
- Cramps
Some women feel the type of cramps that usually happen with menstruation. “These cramps are different from Braxton Hicks, which are usually painless false contractions that happen when the uterus tightens,” explains Dr. Emery. “These period-like cramps may be the beginning of mild contractions. They’re not too painful, but they’re noticeable. They may come and go over hours or even a couple of days.”
- Pelvic pressure
You may start to feel pressure in your vagina or pelvis. “This may be due to ‘lightening,’ which is when the baby drops down from the abdomen. Some women feel lightening as pelvic pressure or even low back pain,” says Dr. Emery. “But keep in mind that some women don’t experience this drop until they’re in actual labor.”
- Loss of the mucus plug
Some women notice a change in their vaginal discharge, which may signal the passing of their mucus plug. The mucus plug is an accumulation of mucus that forms a seal over the cervix’s opening. It helps protect the baby from unhealthy bacteria outside of the uterus. As the cervix starts opening in preparation for labor, you may lose the mucus plug (also called bloody show) in one blob or gradually.
“Decades ago, people used to think that if a woman passed her mucus plug, it meant that she would be in labor in a certain of days. But now we know that it can be nonspecific. You can lose the mucus plug, not go into labor, and the mucus can even re-accumulate in the cervix.”
- Changes in your vaginal discharge
Even if the mucus plug stays intact, you may notice other changes to your vaginal discharge. “It can become more watery, stickier, and thicker, or maybe a little pink before labor begins or at the early stages of labor,” says Dr. Emery.
Other signs labor could be near
Dr. Emery says that while there are other potential signs of labor, they have less real science to back them up. These signs of labor include:
Fatigue. Lightning crotch pain (sharp, burning, or shooting nerve pain in your pelvis caused by your baby’s position).Loose stools or diarrhea.The sudden burst of energy (which Dr. Emery says is often associated with nesting, or the strong desire to get your home ready for a baby).
“One or more of these labor signs might happen for some women, but there’s no clear evidence that they’re related to pre-labor or early labor.”
What to do if you think you’re in labor
If you think labor has started, Dr. Emery says you should time your contractions. When they are happening every five minutes and are so strong that you can’t walk or talk, call your prenatal provider. The waiting game is finally over!
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Braxton Hicks contractions
Braxton Hicks contractions other names practice contractions, false labor Specify Obstetrics
Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as practice contractions or false labor, are sporadic uterine contractions that may start around six weeks into a pregnancy. However, they are usually felt in the second or third trimester of pregnancy.
Braxton Hicks contractions are often confused for labor. Braxton Hicks contractions allow the pregnant woman’s body to prepare for labor. However, the presence of Braxton Hicks contractions does not mean a woman is in labor or even that labor is about to commence. Another common cause of pain in pregnancy is round ligament pain.
There are two thoughts for why these intermittent uterine muscle contractions may be occurring. The first is that these early “practice contractions” could be helping to prepare the body for true labor by strengthening the uterine muscle. The second is that these contractions may occur when the fetus is in a state of physiological stress, in order to help provide more oxygenated blood to the fetal circulation.
Signs and Symptoms
The determination of Braxton Hicks contractions is dependent on the history and physical assessment of the pregnant woman’s abdomen, as there are no specific imaging tests for diagnosis. The key is to differentiate Braxton Hicks’s contractions from true labor contractions (see Table 1 above).
Most commonly, Braxton Hicks contractions are weak and feel like mild cramping that occurs in a localized area in the front abdomen at an infrequent and irregular rhythm (usually every 10-20 minutes), with each contraction lasting up to 2 minutes. They may be associated with certain triggers and can disappear and reappear; they do not get more frequent, longer, or stronger over the course of the contractions. However, as the end of a pregnancy approaches, Braxton Hicks contractions tend to become more frequent and more intense.
On a physical exam, some uterine muscle tightening may be palpable, but there should be no palpable contraction in the uterine fundus and no cervical changes or cervical dilation. Braxton Hicks contractions do not lead to birth.
More concerning symptoms that may require assessment by a healthcare professional include: Any bleeding or fluid leakage from the vagina
Contractions that are strong, frequent (every 5 minutes), and persisting for an hour Changes or significant decreases in fetal movement
The Real Deal or a False alarm
Many pregnant moms have wondered how labor will feel, how long it will last, and how to know whether it’s the real deal or a false alarm. Every birth is different, so it’s hard to predict the answers to all those questions. But knowing the signs of labor to look out for will help provide clues that it’s almost time to meet your baby, including Strong, frequent contractions Bloody showBelly and lower back pain Water breaking other
Early signs labor is close (anywhere from a month to mere hours away from active labor) include: Baby dropsCervix begins to dilateCramps and increased back pain Loose-feeling joints Diarrhea Weight gain stops Fatigue and the nesting instinct What is labor? Labor is the process of childbirth, starting with contractions of the uterus and cervical dilation, and ending with the delivery of the baby. As you get closer to your due date, you may begin to notice some subtle physical signs that labor is coming soon.
Then you may see signs of early labor anywhere from hours to days before you transition into active labor and the baby arrives. Signs of labor you have likely gone into true labor if you’ve noticed the following signs, but always check with your practitioner to be sure: Strong, frequent contractions You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions (rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by assessing the pain’s frequency, intensity and location.
If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions: Are the contractions evenly spaced?
True labor contractions are spaced at regular intervals and become more frequent as time goes on. Continue Reading below Read This Next How long do the contractions last?
Real labor contractions last for 30 to 70 seconds each. Are the contractions strong?
Actual labor contractions get stronger over time and don’t ease up, even when you change positions. You may not be able to walk or talk through labor contractions once they’ve progressed. Bloody show you may notice the loss of your mucus plug — the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world. It can come out in one large piece (it looks similar to the mucus in your nose) or lots of little ones, though you may not get a glimpse of it at all (and some women don’t lose it before delivery).
In the last days before labor, you’ll likely see increased and/or thickened vaginal discharge. This thickened, pinkish discharge is called a bloody show and is a good indication that labor is imminent. Belly and lower back pain you may feel like you’re having strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset, or lower abdominal pressure. You could also have pain in your lower back that radiates down into the legs. This pain won’t go away if you change positions.
Water breaking While moves would have you think you’ll learn you’re in labor only when your water breaks (in the middle of a romantic dinner date at a busy restaurant, of course), that’s a very unlikely scenario. For most women, membranes rupture and amniotic fluid leaks after other labor symptoms have already begun. And you won’t necessarily lose it all in one big gush, either — for some women, water breaking feels more like a trickle.
Your water breaking is actually one of the final signs of labor most women experience — and it happens naturally in only around 15 percent of births or fewer. So don’t count on it as a definite sign of labor. Early signs labor is near (but hasn’t started yet) Look out for these very early signs of labor (also known as pre-labor symptoms), which can happen anywhere from a full month or more to a mere hour or so before active labor starts. Baby drops if you’re a first-time mom, expect your baby to drop, or descend into your pelvis,
A few weeks before labor begins (usually around two to four weeks before, but it can vary).In subsequent births, this “lightning” doesn’t often happen until you’re truly in labor.
Signs that labor has begun
Know the signs there are several signs that labor might be starting, including contractions or tightening “show”, when the plug of mucus from your cervix (entrance to your womb, or uterus) comes to the toilet, which is caused by your baby’s head pressing on your bowel your waters breaking the early (latent) stage of labour can take some time.
Urgent advice: Call your Midwife or Maternity Unit if
your waters break you have vaginal bleeding your baby is moving less than usual you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labor These signs mean you need to see a midwife or doctor.
The latent phase of labour the start of labour is called the latent phase. This is when your cervix becomes soft and thin and starts opening for your baby to be born. This can take hours or sometimes days. You’ll probably be advised to stay at home during this time. If you go to the hospital or maternity unit, they may suggest you go back home. Find out more about the stages of labour and what you can do at home during the latent phase. Call your midwife if you’re unsure or worried about anything.
Womb Tightens and then Relax?
For some people, contractions may feel like extreme period pains. You may have had contractions during your pregnancy, particularly towards the end. These tightenings are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are usually painless. Your contractions tend to become longer, stronger, and more frequent as your labor progresses.
During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you’ll feel it getting harder; when the muscles relax, the pain fades and you will feel the hardness at ease. The contractions are pushing your baby down and opening the entrance to your womb (the cervix), ready for your baby to go through. Your midwife will probably advise you to stay at home until your contractions become frequent.
Call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance when your contractions are in a regular pattern and: last at least 60 seconds come every 5 minutes you think you are in labor more information on when to go to the hospital Backache often comes on in labor You may get backache or a heavy, aching feeling.
Conclusion
A “show” can signal the start of labor during pregnancy, there’s a plug of mucus in your cervix. This mucus comes away just before labor starts, or when in early labor, and it may pass out of your vagina. This sticky, jelly-like pink mucus is called a show. It may come away in 1 blob or in several pieces. It’s pink because it contains a small amount of blood. If you’re losing more blood, it may be a sign something is wrong, so phone your hospital or midwife straight away. A show indicates that the cervix is starting to open. Labour may quickly follow or may take a few days. Sometimes there is no show.
What happens when my waters break-it’s likely your waters will break during labor, but it can also happen before labor starts. Your baby develops and grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it’s time for your baby to be born, the sac usually breaks and the amniotic fluid drains out through your vagina. This is your waters breaking.
Sometimes when you’re in labor, a midwife or doctor may offer to break your waters. If your waters break naturally, you may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush of water you cannot control. To prepare for this, you could keep a sanitary towel (but not a tampon) handy if you’re going out, and put a protective sheet on your bed. Amniotic fluid is clear and pale. Sometimes it’s difficult to tell amniotic fluid from urine. When your waters break, the water may be a little blood-stained to begin with. Tell your midwife immediately if: the waters are smelly or colored you’re losing blood this
