Signs of Labor

What Are the Signs of Labor?

Labor is another word for your body’s natural process of childbirth. It starts with your first steady contractions and goes through the delivery of both your baby and placenta.

Some women have very distinct signs of labor, while others don’t. No one knows what causes labor to start or when it will start, but several hormonal and physical changes help indicate the beginning of labor.

Lightening during labor

The process of your baby settling or lowering into your pelvis just before labor is called lightening. It’s also referred to as the baby “dropping.”

• Lightening can happen a few weeks or a few hours before labor.
• Because the uterus rests on the bladder more after lightening, you may feel the need to urinate more often.
• But the extra room in your upper abdomen may make it easier to breathe and relieve heartburn.

Passing of the mucus plug

The mucus plug accumulates at the cervix during pregnancy. When the cervix begins to open wider, the mucus is discharged into the vagina. It may be clear, pink, or slightly bloody. This is also known as “show” or “bloody show.” Labor may begin soon after the mucus plug is discharged or one to two weeks later.

Labor contractions

Contractions are the tightening of the muscles of the uterus. During contractions, the abdomen becomes hard. Between contractions, the uterus relaxes and the abdomen becomes soft. The way a contraction feels is different for each woman, and it may feel different from one pregnancy to the next.

• Labor contractions usually cause discomfort or a dull ache in your back and lower abdomen, along with pressure in the pelvis.
• Contractions move in a wave- like motion from the top of the uterus to the bottom.
• Some women describe contractions as strong menstrual cramps.
• Unlike false labor contractions or Braxton Hicks contractions, true labor contractions don’t stop when you change your position or relax.
• Although they may be uncomfortable, you’ll be able to relax in between contractions.

Diarrhea

You may notice your poops are loose or watery. This may mean you are within a day or two of labor beginning.

What's the Difference Between True Labor and False Labor?

Before "true" labor begins, you may have "false" labor pains, also known as Braxton Hicks contractions. These irregular uterine contractions are perfectly normal and may start to occur in your second trimester, although more commonly in your third trimester of pregnancy. They are your body's way of getting ready for the "real thing."

What do Braxton Hicks contractions feel like?

Braxton Hicks contractions can be described as a tightening in the abdomen that comes and goes. These contractions do not get closer together, do not increase with walking, do not increase in duration, and do not feel stronger over time as they do when you are in true labor.

How do I know when I am in true labor?

To figure out if the contractions you are feeling are the real thing, ask yourself the following questions.

Time Your Contractions

When you think you are in true labor, start timing your contractions. To do this, write down the time each contraction starts and stops or have someone do it for you. The time between contractions includes the length or duration of the contraction and the minutes in between the contractions (called the interval).

Mild contractions generally begin 15 to 20 minutes apart and last 60 to 90 seconds. The contractions become more regular until they are less than 5 minutes apart. Active labor (the time you should come into the hospital) is usually characterized by strong contractions that last 45 to 60 seconds and occur 3 to 4 minutes apart.

Try to Relax

It’s best to go through the first stage of labor (called the Latent Phase) in the comfort of your home. Here are some tips to help you manage:

• Distract yourself -- take a walk, watch a movie.
• Soak in a warm tub or take a warm shower. But, ask your health care provider if you can take a tub bath if your water has broken.
• Rest. Try to sleep or take a nap if it is in the evening. You need to store up your energy for active labor.

When Should I Call My Health Care Provider or Go to the Hospital?

When you suspect you are in true labor, call your health care provider. Also, call:

• If you think your water has broken.
• If you’re bleeding (more than spotting).
• If the baby seems to be moving less than normal.
• When your contractions are very uncomfortable and have been coming every 5 minutes for an hour.
• If you have any of the signs of labor, but you haven’t reached your 37th week of pregnancy. You may be going into labor before your baby is ready and will need medical help right away.

Your health care provider will give you specific guidelines about when you should get ready to come to the hospital.

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