Having a baby can be one of the most thrilling experiences for women. Bringing a new life into the world after nine months of pregnancy is an amazing miracle, but it can also be overwhelming trying to understand how the process works. There’s a lot of information out there to help you know what to expect, but each person’s experience is a little different. As your due date draws ever closer, you’re likely to hear all kinds of stories from all kinds of people about what you should be watching for to know that the time has come to bring your new little one into the world.
If you’re a first-timer, you have little to go on and your lack of experience and familiarity can leave you feeling frazzled as you look for all the right answers to know when you should stay home and when you should head to the hospital. If you’ve had other pregnancies, you may still be unsure, because each pregnancy and delivery is unique. Understanding these signs can be a huge help for any mom-to-be, so below is a list of eight labor signs that will help you know when your delivery is really on the way.
1. Cervix Dilates
The cervix is the opening of your uterus and is the doorway for your little one to be born. While you’re pregnant, your cervix will undergo a variety of changes in connection with your pregnancy. It’ll also stay closed to help protect the growing baby by blocking bacteria and other things so that unwanted and potentially hazardous materials can’t enter your uterus. As your delivery date approaches, your cervix dilates, opening up in order to make room for the baby to leave the birth canal and come into the world.
As your cervix dilates, it goes through a process in connection with your contractions. You’ll be considered in the dilation phase when you hit 1cm, and you’ll continue until you reach 10cm. From time to time, your health care provider will check to see how far you’ve dilated. Once you’ve reached the full 10cm, your body now has enough room to let the baby exit your uterus. As this stage nears, you’ll begin to feel the urge to push, but it’s important to wait until you’re fully dilated. Dilation can be checked during a medical exam whether at a routine visit or while in active labor.
2. Cramps
While your cervix is dilating, you may experience some abdominal cramps. These are the beginning of labor, but you may have them for some time before reaching the active stage with full-blown contractions.
The pain will feel similar to menstrual cramps. That’s because your uterus is preparing for labor and delivery. When your cramps get more intense and regular, they’re a labor sign that contractions have begun. You’ll want to time the length as well as how many minutes of rest you have between them, since that information will help your doctor know whether you should come in right away or you can wait.
3. Increased Back Pain
The cramps you experience will intensify and cause you to feel increased back pain as well. During contractions, the tightening and hardening of your uterus causes pain to radiate from the front around to the back. It may start out as a dull ache and then get stronger.
Some women experience what’s called “back labor” which causes increased back pain throughout the delivery process. The pain may start right in your lower back and circle around to the front. Often with this type of labor, women find that they continue to have increased back pain even during the resting phase between contractions.
4. Loose Joints
While a woman is pregnant, a hormone called relaxin is released. This hormone aids with the softening and loosening of ligaments and can cause you to have loose joints. Although it may make you a little nervous because you may feel like you’re more clumsy than normal, it’s actually a good thing.
Relaxin works to help prepare your pelvis to make room for baby. You may begin to notice loose joints somewhere around 30 weeks of pregnancy, and as your due date gets closer, it’ll be more evident. However, once you’ve delivered and your body gets back to normal, your loose joints should stop.
5. Diarrhea
Another early labor sign that you’ll probably have is the onset of diarrhea. When you begin going into labor, your body will produce prostaglandins and release them. These will help your cervix to become softer as well as promote uterine contractions, and as wonderful as that is, it also has the side effect of diarrhea.
That’s because prostaglandins encourage your bowels to move so that they’ll be empty. This leaves more room for your baby to come through the birth canal, and it also flushes out whatever’s in your stomach so that you’ll be more comfortable and able to focus on your labor experience.
6. Weight Loss
Loose bowels may contribute to weight loss which is another early labor sign. Although you may experience weight gain throughout your pregnancy, when labor begins to approach, you may find that you actually have weight loss instead. Water loss is partly responsible as you experience loose stools.
Also contributing are a lower level of amniotic fluid and restlessness. You may find that you lose as much as three to five pounds, but as long as you stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids, there’s no need to panic, as your body is just getting ready to start the labor process.
7. Fatigue
With so many signs that happen as your due date comes along, it’s no wonder that another of these labor signs is fatigue. Although women may find that they’re tired throughout pregnancy, this is a whole different symptom and often occurs just before the onset of labor.
You may find you have a sudden, marked drop in energy levels or the urge to “hibernate”. Your body is simply preparing you for the physical demands of labor by forcing you to get some much-needed extra rest. Take advantage of the opportunity by napping when possible and just getting off of your feet.
8. Water Breaks
Most people have heard about this labor sign whether from personal contacts or through watching movies. When your water breaks, that’s a sign that your baby is ready to leave his or her old home and join you in yours.
You can determine if your water breaks by paying attention to discharge. If you feel a gush or steady trickle of liquid, it’s probably your water breaking. It should be clear and should have no odor to it, and you should definitely call the doctor if your water breaks as you have to have labor induced if you’re not already having contractions.