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- Becky Harrington
- A ‘show’ "A 'show' is a jelly-like blob which comes out of your vagina," says Dr Philippa. "It can look creamy or pinkish in colour or it can look more brown or streaked with blood.
- Lower back pain. During pre-labour, you may experience an ache in your lower back ache, which may feel a bit similar to the back pains you can get when you're expecting your period (in the days before you were pregnant, obviously).
- Braxton Hicks. Braxton Hicks are often called 'practice contractions' and that's not a bad name for them. They feel like tightenings over your bump and, though they don't steadily become more frequent and stronger, like 'real' contractions, they can be uncomfortable or even painful.
- Loose bowels. If you're experiencing diarrhoea close to your baby's due date, it may be a sign that labour is near. This 'emptying out' is thought to be nature's way of making room for the baby.
- Strong, Frequent Contractions
- Bloody Show
- Belly and Lower Back Pain
- Water Breaking
- Baby Drops
- Cervix Begins to Dilate
- Cramps and Increased Back Pain
- Loose-Feeling Joints
- Diarrhea
- Weight Gain Stops
You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions (rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by assessing the pain’s frequency, intensity and location. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions: 1. Are the contractions evenly spaced? True labor contractions are spaced at regular intervals and become more frequent as time goe...
You may notice the loss of your mucus plug— the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world. It can come out in one large piece (it looks similar to the mucus in your nose) or lots of little ones, though you may not get a glimpse of it at all (and some women don't lose it before delivery). In the last days before labor, you'll likely see in...
You may feel like you’re having strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset or lower abdominal pressure. You could also have pain in your lower back that radiates down into the legs. This pain won’t go away if you change positions.
While movies would have you think you’ll learn you’re in labor only when your water breaks(in the middle of a romantic dinner date at a busy restaurant, of course), that’s a very unlikely scenario. For most women, membranes rupture and amniotic fluid leaks after other labor symptoms have already begun. And you won’t necessarily lose it all in one b...
If you’re a first-time mom, expect your baby to drop, or descend into your pelvis, a few weeks before labor begins (usually around two to four weeks before, but it can vary). In subsequent births, this “lightening” doesn't often happen until you’re truly in labor. Your baby is getting into position to make his exit, ideally with the head down and l...
Your cervix, too, is preparing for birth: It starts to dilate (open) and efface (thin out) in the days or weeks before you deliver. At your weekly check-ups in the home stretch of your pregnancy, your provider may measure and track dilation and effacementvia an internal exam. But everyone progresses differently, so don’t be discouraged if you’re di...
You may feel some cramping and pain in your lower back and groin as labor nears, especially if this isn't your first pregnancy. Your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for birth.
Throughout your pregnancy, the pregnancy hormone relaxin has made your ligaments loosen up a little (it’s also responsible for your potential bouts of clumsinessthis past trimester). Before you go into labor, you may notice that the joints all over your body feel a bit less tight and more relaxed. It’s just nature’s way of opening up your pelvis fo...
Just as the muscles in your uterus are relaxing in preparation for birth, so too are other muscles in your body — including those in the rectum. And that can lead to prelabor diarrhea (as if the ongoing pregnancy diarrheayou may have experienced wasn’t bad enough!). Though annoying, it's completely normal. Just be sure to stay hydrated and remember...
Pregnancy weight gainoften levels off at the very end. Some moms-to-be even lose a couple of pounds. This is normal and won’t affect your baby’s birth weight. He’s still gaining, but you’re dropping due to lower levels of amniotic fluid, more bathroom breaks and maybe even increased activity.
- Karen Miles
- Lightening. If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as lightening a few weeks before labor starts. Lightening means your baby has "dropped" and now rests lower in your pelvis.
- Loss of the mucus plug. If your cervix begins to efface or dilate significantly as you get close to labor, you may pass your mucus plug – the small amount of thickened mucus that has collected within your cervical canal during your pregnancy.
- Bloody show. You may have noticed more vaginal discharge during pregnancy, thanks to your body's increased estrogen. Normal, healthy discharge is usually creamy white or clear, but it may also be tinged brown, pink, or red.
- Cervical dilation and effacement. In the days and weeks before delivery, changes in the connective tissue of your cervix make it soften and lead to dilation and effacement.
- Valencia Higuera
- Water breaking. One obvious sign indicating the start of labor is your water breaking, or more specifically, the rupture of your amniotic sac. This fluid-filled sac protects your baby as it grows and develops, but it will rupture in preparation for the delivery, either naturally or artificially by your doctor.
- Losing your mucus plug. The mucus plug is a thick collection of mucus that seals the opening of the cervix. This stops bacteria from entering your uterus, but once labor nears, this plug loosens and drops out.
- Weight loss. As an expecting mother, you might not expect any weight loss until after delivery. But it’s not uncommon to lose 1 to 3 pounds of weight 1 to 2 days before going into labor.
- Extreme nesting. The nesting instinct — which is an overwhelming desire to get the house ready for a baby — is common during the third trimester. You might start cleaning, organizing, setting up the nursery, and making sure everything is just perfect.
Apr 25, 2024 · Signs of labor may include contractions, cramps, pelvic pressure, changes in vaginal discharge and loss of mucus plug — but everyone’s situation is unique.
Jul 23, 2024 · A pregnant person doubles over from the pain of a single contraction, and suddenly a baby appears. In reality, however, labor usually takes time. And the early signs of labor may not be obvious. Here's what to know about the common signs of the body getting ready for labor.
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Apr 15, 2022 · Labor, more commonly called childbirth, is the experience of delivering your baby from the warm and cozy home of your uterus to the outside world.
