Signs Of Labor (And False Labor!)

The time for your baby’s debut is drawing near. You will find some changes happening in your body to get ready for the birthing process. If you have been through this before, then you’ll more or less know what to expect. However, if this is your first baby, here are some useful information on the signs of labor (and false labor too!).

Lightening

This change in your body is an indication that your baby has dropped deeper into your pelvis. You may feel a whole lot of relief from some of the pressure on your diaphragm and may be able to breathe easier too! However, this change could also mean more pressure on your bladder, warranting more trips to the toilet! When lightening occurs, it means that the time to give birth is drawing really close.

Bloody Show

During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects the cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. This mucus plug is a stringy mucus-like discharge. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is expelled. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before the onset of labor. When this plug is expelled, you might experience what is called a bloody show, which is a blood-tinged discharge.

Your water breaks

Only one in every 10 women experience a dramatic gush of amniotic fluid. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks prior to labor and because your uterus is resting directly on top of your bladder, it can cause you to leak urine. It may even be difficult to distinguish the urine from amniotic fluid.

If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be in the form of a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you should try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it is not urine, you should contact your doctor or midwife at once.

Consistent Contractions

When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, it is the strongest indication that you are in labor. When this happens, it’s time to record how long each contraction lasts. These contractions, which may initially be as far apart as 20 to 30 minutes, can feel like menstrual cramps or like a lower backache that comes and goes. In time they will begin occurring at shorter intervals of perhaps every 10-15 minutes or less.

When your contractions are consistently five minutes apart, it’s time to call your midwife or make your way to the hospital.

Effacement:

Thinning of the cervix

In the last month of pregnancy the cervix will begin to stretch and thin out. This is an indication that the lower portion of the uterus is getting prepared for delivery. This thinning of the cervix is called effacement.

Characteristics of Labor Contractions:

• They are regular
• They follow a predictable pattern (such as every ten minutes)
• They become progressively closer
• They last progressively longer
• They become progressively stronger
• Each contraction is felt first in the lower back and then radiates around to the front or vise versa
• A change in activity or body position will not slow down or stop contractions
• There might be a bloody show
• Membranes might rupture
• How to differentiate between actual and false labor

Sometimes it’s very hard to tell false labor from the early stages of actual labor. If you’re 37 weeks or more, here are some things that might help you sort it out:

• False labor contractions are unpredictable. They come at irregular intervals and vary in length and intensity. Although actual labor contractions may be irregular at first, over time they start coming at regular and shorter intervals, become increasingly more intense and last longer.
• With false labor, the pain from the contractions is more likely to be centered in your lower abdomen. With actual labor, you may feel the pain starting in your lower back and wrap around to your abdomen.
• False labor contractions may subside on their own where else the real contractions will persist and progress.