Pregnancy Labor Signs

When your baby has reached 37 weeks, your baby is mature enough to be born, and many women notice changes that eventually lead to active labor. Discuss with your OB care provider when they want to be called, or what you should do if you think you are having pregnancy labor signs.

What Are Pregnancy Labor Signs?

Pregnancy labor signs might be experienced as your body is preparing itself for your baby's arrival. Some of these signs can be confused with true labor. In the last four to six weeks before your baby is born, you might notice some of these changes:

• Many women start to notice an increase in pressure in their lower abdomen and pelvis, similar to menstrual cramps. This may be an achy feeling. Often, you will find you are less short of breath because your lungs have more room to expand. This is called lightening, and simply means the baby has snuggled further down into your pelvic bones. You will feel more pressure down near your bladder, which means you will feel like you need to urinate more often.
• Some women notice a significant change in energy--either decreased or increased. This is sometimes called the nesting instinct. There might be a burst of energy as you prepare to get everything ready for the baby, or you may just feel more tired than usual. Take this opportunity to get extra rest with naps.
• You may see an increase in vaginal discharge, related to the shifting of hormones that helps prepare your body for labor. Some women notice a light, bloody mucus that usually indicates that the cervix, the lower section of the uterus, is opening and thinning out. Small capillaries burst, which becomes a pink or brownish vaginal discharge. The mucous plug, which has sealed the cervix throughout the pregnancy, dislodges. It will look like pink or blood-tinged stringy mucus.
• Effacement of the cervix is another positive pregnancy labor sign. In the final appointments with your doctor, he or she will conduct manual internal exams and tell you how much the cervix has thinned by percentage, with a goal of 100 percent. Once the cervix is fully effaced, it will begin to dilate, or expand, by centimeters. The magic number is 10 centimeters. Some mothers will hover at 3-4 centimeters for days or weeks, but dilation will rapidly increase as actual labor approaches.

What Are the Signs of True Labor?

• True labor persists, despite changing activities and positions. You should call your OB provider when the tightening becomes regular, is 4-5 minutes apart, about a minute long and last for an hour or so. This 4-1-1 rule is just a guideline, but a good rule of thumb. You should have a plan of action thought out, and know where you are going to go to have your baby.
• You will probably notice increasing tightening and perhaps discomfort. This will be starting in your lower back area, and radiating around towards the front into your lower abdomen and sometimes into your legs. These tightenings intensify and get stronger and more regular. They don’t go away, even if you change your activity, shower, or take a warm bath. Be sure to keep drinking fluids and eating small snacks as you are working to relax with your tightenings. If it is nighttime, try to go to bed and sleep. Conserve your energy. Be as peaceful and calm as possible. You will be excited that you have pregnancy labor signs, but resting is very important at this early stage of your labor. This will help you conserve your energy for delivery.
• Contractions will become closer together. Start timing to get a feeling for the amount of time in between and the length of the contractions. When you talk with your OB provider, they will ask you this information. You or your birthing companion can time a tightening from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next one. Some women describe these tightening as waves that get stronger and then slowly relax the tightness.
• Some women notice an increase in a bloody mucous discharge, which suggests that your cervix is opening. If you are having a lot of bright red bleeding, call your OB provider immediately as this is something about which to be concerned.
• You may notice a leaking or large gush of fluid. This means that your membranes have released and the sac containing the amniotic fluid has burst. To use the more the more familiar term, your “water broke.” This sometimes happens when you least expect it, however, only 1 in 10 women experience it. The fluid should be clear, without odor. Sometimes it’s easy to confuse the amniotic fluid with urine, but a spot check and sniff will help you tell the difference. When your membranes have released, your contractions will probably become more intense and closer together. Call your OB provider and let them know you think your membranes have released and that you are in labor.
• Sometimes women experience diarrhea. This is nature’s way of helping to clear out your bowel to make room for your baby to come through the birth canal.

Remember, each labor is different. If you are confused or don't understand what is happening, call your OB health care provider and discuss your situation with them.

What Is False Labor?

False labor, or warm up labor, is the experience of recognizable uterine tightening, but the regularity isn’t consistent. This is not active labor, but a pre-labor phenomenon. Labor and false labor can occur at anytime of the day or night.

The contractions/tightening, sometimes called Braxton Hicks contractions, that you feel aren’t usually too painful. Soaking in a warm bath, listening to peaceful music, using aromatherapy, eating something you like, and trying to get some rest can all help them to calm down. Your discomfort might be in the lower abdomen or in your back.

This tightening usually fades when you change positions and activities. Try to do things to help yourself relax and get rest if it is at night. If this is really labor, the contractions won't subside but will continue and become more frequent. These signs can seem like labor is about to start, but it's not. Sometimes the cervix thins out and might open up with these tightenings, but this is still not considered labor.

If it’s relatively close to your due date and you have rapid, regular contractions for an extended period of time, don’t hesitate to go to the hospital. At the very least, you’ll discover how long it takes to get there, and receive piece of mind if it’s false labor. The hospital staff deals with this all the time, and there’s absolutely no harm in looking out for the health and safety of your child and yourself.

When Should I Call My OB Provider Right Away?

Call your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Bright red bleeding could be a concern with the placenta. It is especially important to call if you experience tightening/contractions or a fever in conjunction with the spotting.
• If you have a large gush of greenish or bluish fluid, or if you feel something coming from your vagina, this could be a medical emergency where the cord slips down next to the baby.
• If you are having excessive pain that does not go away, this might suggest something is wrong. Any time you have a concern or something doesn’t feel right to you, sort of a mother’s sixth sense, follow through on it and have things checked out.
• If you feel the baby isn’t moving, or hasn’t been moving very much, this is another reason to take action.
• If you are less than 37 weeks and experiencing any of the pre-term labor signs mentioned above, don’t hesitate to call.

It is important for you and your OB care provider to discuss what you will do when labor begins. You need to know which hospital or birthing center to go to, how long it takes you to get there, and what you will want to have packed and ready to go. Talk about this long before you expect to go into labor.

If you are on your way to the hospital, and faced with a fast birth, the important thing is to keep your baby and yourself safe and warm. Stay calm. Allow the baby to be born peacefully and cover yourself with warm blankets. Keep the cord to the placenta attached, and stimulate the baby by rubbing its body to help it breathe. Talk to your baby and reassure it that everything is fine. Once the baby is born, continue onward to where you were heading.

Additional Pregnancy Labor Sign Resources

• Five Top Signs of Labor
• Emergency Childbirth
• National Women's Health Information Center
• Discovery Health has a comprehensive Web site with helpful information for all levels of pregnancy.
• Web MD’s site eMedicine is also another extremely useful site. However, it also deals with more serious issues, so keep an open mind while pursuing articles, and don’t hesitate to consult with your health care provider if you have any questions or concerns.
• The Mayo Clinic Guide to a Healthy Pregnancy is a great book to refer to during each stage of pregnancy.
• Often, new mothers get a nice care package at the hospital that includes samples of products and magazines, but if you can’t wait, request a free magazine from American Baby, talk with mothers of all ages and stages on site forum and get free products.

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• Braxton Hick Contractions
• Stages of Labor
• Labor Symptoms

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