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What is labor?
Labor is the process in which your baby enters to the real world and leaves your womb. Labor is also called as childbirth, starting with contractions of the uterus and ending with the delivery of the baby. When your labor is nearing, your body shows you some signs that you can look for and be ready for you big day.
I remember the time when I was pregnant and during my whole 9th month I was wondering that how will I know that I am in labor. Your body gives you signs that you should understand, your body can tell you a lot. As your due date is coming closer, learning the signs of labor can help you to get ready for birth.
As we are near to our big day (due date), so many question comes in mind and it’s not possible to find each and every answer. Each woman is different and each woman experiences her pregnancy and child birth differently. So answer to each question is different for all women.
9 Signs that can tell you labor is nearing or coming soon!
There are so many signs your body will give but it’s not necessary that you will fell all the symptoms. You can feel one at a time or more than one at same time. For some women body don’t give any of these signs. It’s very unlikely that you will suddenly go into labor without warning. Your body will give you some signs when labor is nearing, so make sure to keep an eye on them.
1. Lightening (baby drops)
Lightening is a sign of labor, it means that your baby is getting ready to move into position for birth. It can happen a few weeks or even just a few hours before your labor begins. If you’re a first-time mom your baby will typically start to drop, or descend into your pelvis, a few weeks before labor begins. In subsequent births, this “lightening” doesn’t often happen until you’re truly in labor.
By this time your baby is taking position to make his exit, ideally with head down position.
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2. Increase in cramps and back pain
You can feel some cramps and pain in your lower back when your labor is near. Your body is preparing you for birth by stretching and shifting your muscles and joints.
3. Diarrhea
Loose and frequent bowel movements with cramping. “That’s the body’s way of emptying the bowels so the uterus will contract well”, this is a way to relax your muscles in the rectum and prepare your body for the big day.
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4. Feeling tired
If you are feeling extra tired and your energy levels are decreasing, this is perfectly normal and can be a sign that labor is coming soon so be ready for your big day.
5. Cervix dilation
Your cervix is also preparing for birth. It starts to open up and thin out before your labor. Your doctor can examine your cervix via internal exam to measure and track cervix dilation.
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6. Increase in Vaginal discharge
You have an increase in vaginal discharge that’s clear, pink or slightly bloody. This can happen few days before labor or at the beginning. It’s also called bloody show.
7. Stronger and frequent contractions is a clear sign of labor
Contractions are usually a sign of active labor. Sometime contraction can be your false alarm, also called Braxton hicks contraction. These are practice contractions that can start a few weeks before labor.
There are some difference between false contraction and real contraction.
- Real contractions gets stronger instead of easing up like false contractions
- Early real labor contractions could feel like strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset or lower abdominal pressure.
- Real contraction doesn’t go away when you change position.
- Real contraction becomes more frequent and painful. Intensity tends to build as labor progress. False contractions come and go without getting intense.
8. Baby movement before labor
Your baby may move less as you get closer to the start of labor, but let your doctor know. It can sometimes be a sign of a problem.
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9. Water breaks
This is a sign when you are in active labor. Your baby is growing in a bag of amniotic fluid in uterus, when that bag breaks, you may feel watery discharge or may feel rush of water.
