Labor Signs

How will I know when I am really in labor?

Signs of Labor

As your due date draws closer, your body will go through a variety of changes. Although there is no way of knowing for sure when you will go into labor, many women experience similar signs that lets them know labor is close. Knowing the typical signs of labor will help you decide when to call your doctor or go to the hospital. Most women do have several false alarms before the real thing occurs. Doctors are used to getting calls from pregnant women who think they are in labor.

Signs of Labor video

Provided by the www Health Channel on eMedTV.com One of the first signs of labor is the baby moving down into the pelvis. Most women will experience a feeling or pressure as the baby moves down. This process is called lightening and usually occurs weeks or days before labor in first time pregnancies. The majority or subsequent pregnancies do not experience this sensation. While some women will notice the difference as lightening occurs, others will not. You may be able to breathe easier as your lungs now have more room to expand, but you will also likely experience an increased urge to urinate.

During the later stage of your pregnancy, your healthcare provider will check your cervix for effacement and dilation. The changes in your cervix will allow your caregiver to note how labor is progressing. Your cervix will prepare itself for labor by softening and thinning, otherwise known as effacement. Effacement is talked about in terms of percentages and when you are 100% effaced, your cervix is completely softened and thinned. To allow the baby to come through the birth canal, your cervix must open or dilate. Your cervix will be measured from 0 to 10 and once at 10, you are considered fully dilated and ready to for a vaginal delivery.

There is a mucus plug that blocks the cervix to prevent bacteria from entering during pregnancy. When the cervix begins to efface and dilate, the plug is usually expelled. This is known as bloody show or the loss of the mucus plug. The mucus plug may come out all at once or in pieces and usually is brown or blood tinged. Once you lose your mucus plug, labor could be days away or weeks away.

Many women experience a "nesting" sensation as labor nears. You may get a sudden urge to clean and organize. This sudden spurt of energy can begin several weeks before your due date, but you will likely notice it is stronger just before delivery. While it is okay to clean and organize, you should be careful to save some energy for your upcoming delivery.

During pregnancy, your baby floats in amniotic fluid in the amniotic sac. Often times before labor begins, the sac will break or leak. You will feel a warm trickle or gush of fluid once this occurs. Not all women will experience this as some have to have their water broken artificially. If you think that your water has broken, you should see your doctor or midwife immediately. Once your water has broken, most caregivers like to deliver the baby within 24 hours to reduce the risk of infection.

As your due date nears, Braxton Hicks contactions will turn into real contractions. Real contractions are usually felt in the abdomen and lower back. Braxton Hicks contractions are usually felt in the lower abdomen and not in the back. Contractions will become stronger, regular and more painful. When you are timing your contractions, time them from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. You should see a regular pattern with contractions that are getting closer together and stronger in intensity. False labor contractions will not be regular. Measure your contraction by timing from the begninning to end of one. A real contraction will generally last longer than 30 seconds early on in labor and between 60-75 seconds as labor progresses. False labor contractions will vary greatly in length and intesity. During a real contraction, you can not stop it and activity usually makes them grow stronger. A Braxton Hicks contraction will usually stop if you begin walking, drinking, or change your position.

Comments: Labor Signs

Comments 1 to 7 of about 7.

sweetlady32 - 581 days ago.
Well by the time you ladies see this you all have had your babies. When your truely in real labor you will know!!! You won't be able to walk or talk, or breathe through them because they r painful and you will get that sharp pain in your back that works it's way from your stomach to your back. This is now my 4th pregnancy..so I know exactly what to expect.

butterflykisses715 - 1090 days ago.
hey hun..i had the same issue from 25 weeks on..just listen to your body...i went in to the hospital many times thinking i was in labor..only one of those time i actually needed meds to stop it...i ended up going to 37 weeks before i went into REAL labor...looking back to all the 'braxton hicks' i was so worried about i would have never worried about them lol..however there are cases where women go into preterm labor..just keep your docs number handy..they have someone on call to answer questions 24 hrs a day..also..you can call the labor and delivery at your hospital and talk to the nurses..they help out ALOT over the phone if your not sure if you should go in...i would have BH contractions sometimes 4 min apart for several hours...never went into real labor tho...hope that helps..and good luck to you

natalie - 1090 days ago.
hi, i am only 25 weeks pregnant but have recently been experiencing quite a few braxton hicks, and tonight.. they are quite painful and close together.. and tummy very tender.. just wondering if they could still be just braxton hicks or could it be worth getting cheacked out???

Mommy Lamb - 1140 days ago.
Ill be 38 weeks tomorrow, and I have started losing my mucas plug.But I am a bit worried that labor will never really start, because the contractions I experience arnt all that painful?Im stuck at 2 cm dialated, and 70% effaced.

shyangel0295 - 1144 days ago.
I am 36 weeks today and had the worst night last night. I thought for sure that I was in labor (and this is my second pregnancy). My contractions were 2-3 minutes appart and they were going on for over 3 hours. I got to the hospital (which is an hour and a half away from my house so I'm always paranoid that I'm not going to make it) and they quit. I felt like such an idoit. I almost felt like everyone was thinking that I made everything up. It was terrible. I know it's a good thing he wasn't born yet it is still a little early but in a way I'm a little disappointed.

babyluv843 - 1359 days ago.
I went to my 27 week appt yesterday.history: I had been having braxton hicks for awhile, and two weeks ago I went to the er because I had food poisoning which brought on dyhydration from throwing up,which brought on contractions that were a little too close together for comfort. they hooked me up and said i was haiving them 4 mins apart and did the fibro test to see if I was going into labor anytime soon, it was neg, and I was completly closed, they hydrated me, contractions went away, sent me home. Ok that was two weeks ago. so at my appt she checks me and tells me Im 1 cm(at 27 weeks?!) and soft (effacing?!)...instead of giving me meds, she lets me go cause on the 15 minute stress test she gave me I didnt have a contraction, the only prevenative measure she gave me was to watch the severity and timing when I do have them, and call immediatly if they hurt/are close....and instead of continuing my appts on a monthy basis she is seeing me back in a week. she said the fact that ive been closed this whole time and now im starting to dialate is cause for worry..if its cause for worry then why not put me on meds or SOMETHING?! you know? wtf! no bedrest or nothing! if I come back to her next week 3 cm then thats it isnt it?! I didnt diallate till 36 wks w my son....sorry so long ya'll! feel free to sent me a msg on my page! thanks!

lissie *team blue* - 1469 days ago.
I wish it were easier to tell when we are getting close to delivering...