What are the first signs of going into labor?

Lightening: Adjusting the pressure

One of the first signs of labor may be a sensation that the baby is settling deeper into your pelvis. This is known as lightening.

The baby's new position may give your lungs more room to expand, making it easier to breathe. On the flip side, you may experience pelvic discomfort, and increased pressure on your bladder may send you to the bathroom more often.

For a first pregnancy, lightening may occur weeks or days before labor begins. For subsequent pregnancies, it may not happen ahead of time. For some women, the changes are obvious. Others may not notice a thing.

Effacement: Ripening of the cervix

Your cervix prepares for birth by softening and thinning, or effacing. You won't feel this sign of labor happening. Instead, your health care provider will check for signs of cervical change with vaginal exams.

Effacement is often expressed in percentages. When you're 50 percent effaced, your cervix is half its original thickness. Your cervix must be 100 percent effaced, or completely thinned out, before a vaginal delivery.

Dilation: Opening of the cervix

Your cervix will also begin to open, or dilate. Your health care provider will measure the dilation in centimeters from zero to 10.

At first, these cervical changes may be very slow. In fact, some women are dilated 2 to 3 centimeters for days or even weeks before labor actually begins. Your progress isn't a good indicator of when labor will begin, but rather a general sign that you're getting ready for labor. Once you're in active labor, expect to dilate more quickly.

Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug

During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus blocks the cervical opening to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and open, this plug may be discharged. You may notice stringy mucus or a thick discharge. It's typically brown and sometimes tinged with blood.

Losing the mucus plug is among the telltale signs of labor, but it's not a guarantee. Labor may still be a week or more away.

Nesting: Spurt of energy

You might wake up one morning feeling energetic, raring to attack dust bunnies under the couch, set up the crib and arrange your baby's outfits according to color. This urge to clean and organize is commonly known as nesting. No one knows for sure, but it may be a primal instinct that hearkens back to a time when physical preparation was necessary for a safer childbirth.

Nesting may begin months before your due date, but the instinct is usually strongest just before delivery. Do what you must, but don't wear yourself out. Save your energy for the harder work of labor ahead.

Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks

The amniotic sac is a fluid-filled membrane that cushions your baby in the uterus. Sometimes the sac leaks or breaks before labor begins. If this happens, you may notice a trickle of fluid or a more obvious gush.

If your water breaks at home — or if you're uncertain whether the fluid is amniotic fluid, urine or something else — consult your health care provider right away. He or she will evaluate you and your baby to determine the next steps.

If the amniotic sac is no longer intact, timing becomes important. The longer the membranes are ruptured, the greater the risk of developing an infection. If labor doesn't begin on its own, your health care provider may need to induce your labor.

In the meantime, don't do anything that could introduce bacteria into your vagina. Sex isn't a good idea if you think you might be leaking amniotic fluid.

Contractions: When labor pains begin

During the last few months of pregnancy, you may experience occasional, painless contractions — a sensation that your uterus is tightening and relaxing. These are called Braxton Hicks contractions. They're your body's way of warming up for labor.

As your due date approaches, Braxton Hicks contractions may become stronger or even painful. Eventually, Braxton Hicks contractions will be replaced by the real thing. To tell the difference, ask yourself these questions:

Are the contractions regular? Time your contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next. Look for a regular pattern of contractions that get stronger and closer together. Contractions that come at least every five minutes are likely to be the real thing. The contractions of false labor will remain irregular.

How long do they last? Measure the length of each contraction by timing when it begins and when it ends. True contractions last more than 30 seconds at first and get progressively longer — up to 75 seconds — and stronger. With false labor, contractions vary in length and intensity.

Can you stop the contractions? True contractions continue regardless of your activity level or position. In fact, they often grow stronger with increased activity, such as walking. With false labor, you may be able to stop the contractions by changing your activity or position, lying down or even taking a walk.

Where do you feel the contractions? The pain of true contractions tends to begin high in the abdomen, radiating throughout the abdomen and lower back. With false labor, the contractions are often concentrated in the lower abdomen.

Expect false alarms

The boundary between your body's preparation for labor and the actual process of labor isn't always clear. Some women have painful contractions for days with no cervical changes. Others feel only a little pressure or a backache as the cervix gradually dilates.

Don't hesitate to call your health care provider if you wonder whether you're in labor. Preterm labor can be especially sneaky. If you have any signs of labor before 36 weeks — especially if they're accompanied by vaginal spotting — see your health care provider for an exam.

At term, labor will nearly always make itself apparent. If you arrive at the hospital in false labor, don't feel embarrassed or frustrated. Think of it as a practice run. The real thing is sure to be on its way!

you still have a little way to go.... good luck, its only two more weeks :-) welcome to motherhood

Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days:

1. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm, so you are not so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, which means more trips to the bathroom. Others may comment on your changed appearance, although you might not be aware of it at all.

2. Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects your cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is expelled. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucus or discharge. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before labor begins. Not all women notice this sign.

3. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. Your uterus is sitting directly on top of your bladder, which can cause you to leak urine. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to distinguish urine from amniotic fluid.

If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. This can occur with a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you need to try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you would want to contact your health care provider.

Until you see your physician or midwife do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina. Let your health care provider know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if it's green or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection.

4. Nesting: Spurt of energy. For most of your pregnancy you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you'll know when you experience this. One day you will wake up feeling full of energy! You'll start making a long list of things to do, things to clean, things to buy and everything you've put off doing will become a high priority. In all your preparations, don't forget that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner so save some energy.

5. Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. Usually in the last month the cervix begins to stretch and thin. This process means the lower segment of the uterus is getting ready for delivery. A thin cervix will also allow the cervix to dilate more easily.

Your health care provider may check for effacement in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You may hear your helath care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%...” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not be able to determine your effacement process, this can only be done by a health care provider's exam.

6. Dilation: Opening of the cervix. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. “Fully dilated” means you're at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. In the same way that your health care provider may be checking for effacement in the last 2 months, your health care provider may also tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated.

One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening:

Consistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, this is the strongest indication that you are in labor. This is a good time to get out your notebook to record the exact time each one begins and how long they last. These contractions may feel like menstrual cramps or a lower backache that comes and goes, and during early labor they may be as far apart as 20 to 30 minutes. Over the course of several hours your contractions will typically begin occurring at shorter intervals; and you may notice they start happening every 10-15 minutes or less. When your contractions are consistently 5 minutes apart, it is time to call your health care provider.

Labor Contractions Have the Following Characteristics:

They are regular

They follow a predictable pattern (such as every eight minutes)

They become progressively closer

They last progressively longer

They become progressively stronger

Each contraction is felt first in the lower back and then radiates around to the front or visa versa

A change in activity or position will not slow down or stop contractions

There may be bloody show

Membranes may rupture

Your health care provider will notice cervical changes, such as effacement (thinning), or dilation

Well first of all CONGRULATIONS!!!!! I have experienced this Wonderful horror : ) 5 times all vaginal delivery. although each pregnancy is different, usuall first you may lose your mucous plug, you may see some bleeding with this, at this point you may still have a few more days before you go to the hospital, cramping, which may get more intense as you go along they may stop for hours then pick back up. you may be very uncomfortable sitting in certain positions, laying a certain way. but when you water breaks by all means get to the hospital it do not hurt when your water breaks it's like peeing but being unable to control it you cay try to stop it but it keeps coming and then your REAL LABOR PAINS start. I'll bet you that once it's all over you'll feel like there's no other physical pain in this world that you can't conquer. It hurts but when yor allowed to push it feel sooooo good.

I was due April 17 of last year and around my 37th week I was looking for any sign that labor is near because I was feeling done!. My clues were more discharge then usual and just a general uncomfortable crampy feeling throughout my stomach. The day that I went into labor I was really uncomfortable and thought I had a stomach virus so I laid down and 8 hours later, my water broke.

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RE:

What are the first signs of going into labor?

I'm in my 38th week of pregnancy... due april 10... and i'm just wondering what the sings are that labor is getting closer.

If you are a woman answering with experience, that would be nice, Thanx!!

I have had 3 babies and each were different!

With baby 1 I had contractions and couldn't walk, I also had the bloody show!

With baby 2 I was in labor for 2 days than had her, I was cramping, having contractions, I also felt as if I had a bad case of the flu!

Baby 3 I was at a friends house for dinner, and I felt uncomfortable and the next thing my water broke on there sofa! That was at 8:30pm and had her @ 12:32am! I wish you the best of luck!

The nesting instinct is one of the first signs that you're going to go into labor soon. About 48 or so hours before you go into labor you'll start cleaning like a mad woman...I got the urge at about 3:30 in the morning. My husband thought I had gone crazy! And your mucus plug will leave your body! That's also a good indicator that you're going to go into labor soon! Good luck!

Hey congrats and good luck! I felt a LOT heavier a few days before I gave birth. I don't know about you, but I went through a frantic cleaning phase about a month before I gave birth lol (that "nesting" thing is not a joke hehe). I had a "any day now" kinda feeling as opposed to the "when is she coming out" feeling the week before I gave birth. I was more crampier.. I didn't feel her moving as much, either. Also, with the "nesting" thing, a few days before I gave birth, I was frantically trying to get all my school work/paper work together...as if I had a deadline lol. I gave birth 4 days earlier than the edd.

When my labor started, I just all of a sudden got this feeling like I had trapped gas and needed to go to the bathroom, but couldn't. It started at midnight and just progressively got more intense. By 6am I HAD to get to the hospital. When I got there I was 8cm dilated.

Sudden rise in energy(nesting)

Or sudden complete loss of energy

Loss of appetite

Irregular contractions

Loss of the mucus plug(bloody show)

The baby descending into the pelvis( Dropping)

You will have that baby soon. 2 weeks at most for most women.

the biggest sign is your water breaking. If your water doesn't break the next sign would be lower back pain, it feels like you have to poop. I know that sounds weird, but it is true only a bit more painful. But the back pain will also be associated with pain that feels like it circles the lower part of your stomach area too but most of it is felt in the back.