Impending Signs of Labor

By the end of nine months, every woman is anticipating the day when she'll go into labor. The thought of labor can be both exciting and scary for a pregnant woman. You may be desperate to be united with your baby, but at the same time you might also be afraid and nervous about the pain or complications that could come along with labor. All the tiny hopeful signs of approaching labor will send some women in a rush to get their bags ready to go to hospital. But labor doesn't always come when we expect them the most, and there have been cases when many women have overshot their due dates of pregnancy with no pregnancy signs of labor.

Early Signs of Labor

In most of the cases, women are not able to recognize the impending signs of labor when they actually occur. Therefore, it is necessary to be aware of the signs of labor during pregnancy, so that you will know exactly when and what to expect.

Losing the Mucous Plug
The mucous plug is a thick blob of mucous that seals the opening of the uterus and protects the baby from any kind of infection. As the cervix begins to dilate, the plug becomes loose and comes out. This usually happens somewhere near the onset of the labor or a couple of weeks ahead of time. It may be clear, yellowish or pink in color, and you may lose the plug all in one big blob or in small pieces gradually.

Bloody Show
Though they are different, bloody show is often misidentified for the mucous plug. Bloody show is a small quantity of pink or bloody discharge which you can observe anywhere between a few hours to a few days before labor. If the show is bright red and in a significant amount, call your doctor. Once it appears, labor can occur at any time, though it could still be days away as it varies from woman to woman.

Contractions
Contractions is one of the most important sign of going into labor. Once you start experiencing labor contractions, keep a track on their length, intensity, and how many minutes apart they are. True contractions occur at regular and consistent intervals, and gradually their intensity increases which last for longer durations of time. You may also experience false contractions known as Braxton Hicks contractions, which are less painful and eventually decline in intensity. They occur quite prior to your due date and is a part of your uterus preparation for the delivery.

Water Breaks
In some cases, the water will break just before the contractions start, or it may trickle out instead of coming in a big flood. Since the baby's head holds in most of the water, if the water breaks and there are no signs of contractions, call your doctor as he may need to check you, and if needed will induce labor.

Dilation of the Cervix
Once the labor begins, the cervix becomes softer and thinner to accommodate the size of the baby. You may probably not feel that your cervix is dilated but your doctor will notice this effacement at the time of the pelvic exam.

Frequent Bathroom Breaks
As labor approaches, you may observe yourself making frequent trips to the bathroom. You may feel like emptying your bowels several times in a day. Don't worry, this is normal as your body is preparing itself for the childbirth.

Back Pain
Back pain is another impending sign of labor which gradually increases in intensity, and is usually accompanied with symptoms you usually experience during menstruation.

I am sure these impending signs of labor will surely help you to find out whether you are in labor or not. Attending birthing or labor classes, watching a labor and delivery video, practicing breathing and relaxation techniques, and pregnancy exercises will definitely help you in preparing yourself before going through labor and the delivery process. All the Best!!!