Signs of Approaching Labor

Besides the ecstasy of having a baby, what most expecting mothers go through is the anxiety of whether they will be able to recognize the signs of early labor. Labor refers to changes that the uterus undergoes to push the baby out of the womb. It is these changes and the shift in secretion of hormones within a woman's body during pregnancy that triggers the process of childbirth. There is no way to predict exactly when labor starts. However, thankfully there are a number of clues that a woman's body gives that can be taken as signs of approaching labor.

Early Signs of Labor

A pregnant woman's body starts preparing for childbirth as early as about one month before the due date. However, some signs of approaching labor are so subtle that a woman may not realize that she may soon go into labor. Look out for these early signs of labor so that you are prepared for the big day:

Dropping of the Baby: As the uterus becomes softer with date of delivery approaching, mothers may feel a sense of lightening a few weeks before labor starts. This happens as the baby moves further down into the pelvis. The mother finds it easier to breathe although she may feel pressure on the bladder and pelvis. In subsequent pregnancies, 'engagement', as this phenomenon is also known as, usually begins a few hours before a woman goes into labor.

Changes in the Cervix: Changes in cervix are one of the signs of going into labor. During childbirth, the cervix needs to dilate so that the the baby can be pushed out of the womb. Dilation of the cervix begins days and even months before childbirth. Besides dilating, the cervix begins to soften and ripen. This is known as effacement. A pregnant woman is usually unaware of these changes in the cervix. However, it is her physician who can confirm that her cervix is undergoing changes through examination.

Braxton Hick's Contractions: Before a woman feels the real painful contractions that are signs that she is soon going to go into delivery, a woman may feel painless contractions weeks before she goes into labor. Known as Braxton Hick's contractions, these contractions are neither regular nor of the same intensity as the contractions during labor. These contractions also subside when a woman changes position or drinks water.

Increase in Vaginal Discharge: Signs and symptoms of labor include increase in vaginal discharge a few days or weeks before a pregnant woman goes into delivery. This discharge will change from being thick and cloudy to clear and watery. In case it has a yellow tinge it may indicate infection. Call in a health care professional immediately.

Diarrhea and Nausea: There are hormonal changes that a woman undergoes that cleans her body to allow the baby to move downward and out of the body. As the uterus and cervix soften and dilate, the bowels also soften. This results in diarrhea and a feeling of nausea in a pregnant woman. These symptoms are usually felt a few days or hours before childbirth. However, they may occur off and on for a few days before labor.

Besides these discussed signs, a woman may experience the following symptoms during pregnancy that can be considered as beginning signs of labor:

• Slight weight loss, in the range of 1 to 3 pounds.
• Pain in lower back
• Discomfort in legs
• Spurt of energy
• Increased interest in making sure that the room of the baby is well arranged and that all things for him/her are in place. This is also known as the 'nesting instinct'.

Signs of labor during pregnancy can be confusing. Often a woman mistakes signs of approaching labor as signs that she is going into delivery. It is important to be able to recognize these false alarms. One of the surest signs of labor are the contractions. As compared to Braxton Hick's contractions, labor contractions are more frequent, occur at regular intervals, and are accompanied with pain that does not subside by changing position or drinking water.