Knowing the signs of labor ahead of time will help reduce questions and confusion once labor starts and will help you differentiate between false labor and real labor.
During late pregnancy your baby will get ready for birth by moving into position. The most common is head down with your baby’s back facing outwards but this isn’t always the case. Your baby may even ‘engage’ by moving downwards into your pelvis. This is more common with first babies.
Women tend to have the nesting instinct a few days before labor begins. You’ll want to clean your house as you may likely have a great burst of energy. Remember, this means you’ll be in labor soon, so save some of that energy for the big day.
Some women will also lose a few pounds in the days before labor. Weighing yourself every morning might give you an indication that baby is on its way.
Before labor begins, most women notice a ‘show’, which is the mucus plug leaving your cervix. You may also notice a bit of blood, but heavy bleeding needs to be reported to your doctor right away.
If your water breaks, it’s a good sign of the beginning of labor. It may be only a trickle as opposed to the Hollywood gush.
You may probably notice an increase in Braxton Hicks contractions over the few weeks before labor begins. These contractions differ from real labor because the pain felt is generally in front of your abdomen as opposed to real labor pain, which can be felt in your back and abdomen. Moreover, contractions during real labor come closer together and get stronger with time. Braxton Hicks contractions can come and stop, don’t usually increase in intensity and don’t get closer together.
As long as you have no complications, your doctor will probably advise you to stay at home until your labor has progressed to some extent. Once your contractions are five minutes apart, or your water is broken, or you are bleeding, you’ll need to go to the hospital.