In the last few weeks of pregnancy, your body will begin to signal that labor is approaching. Some of these changes may occur quite a while before labor begins. Other changes occur right before you go into labor. The following are signs you can watch for:
- Lightening is the change in the shape of the abdomen that occurs when the baby settles into the birth canal. People may look at you and say that your baby has "dropped". In a first pregnancy, lightening may occur two to four weeks before labor begins; in later pregnancies, it may not occur until labor actually starts. When lightening occurs, you may urinate more often and you may have increased pressure in your pelvis. You may also notice that your clothes fit differently because your uterus will be lower and tilt more toward the front.
- False labor contractions occur more often as you get closer to your due date. To feel a contraction, place both hands on the top of your uterus (womb). When you feel a tightening or the baby "balling up," you are having a contraction. After the contraction, your uterus (womb) will feel soft. False labor contractions may be painless or feel like mild menstrual cramps and generally do not last very long or come regularly. They also do not cause the cervix or the mouth of the womb to open for the delivery of the baby. That is why they are called false labor contractions. Contractions do not need to be reported to your doctor unless they occur four or more weeks before your due date and occur more than four times in one hour.
- Bloody show is a pink or brownish-colored mucus discharge from your vagina that may occur 24 to 48 hours before you go into labor. It is a normal sign of labor and does not need to be reported to your doctor. Bloody show should not be confused with bleeding. Bleeding, which is red and looks like a period, must be reported to your doctor immediately.
- The bag of water is the sac of fluid in which your baby floats during the pregnancy. It may break at any time within the last two weeks before your due date. The fluid is usually clear and has a musky odor. If it is green or brownish, it may indicate a problem. It may flow out in a large gush or trickle out a little at a time. The fluid is not yellow and does not have a strong smell like urine. If you think you have broken your bag of water, it is very important for you to call your doctor immediately. Be sure to tell him when you think it occurred and what color the fluid was. He may want you to come to the hospital immediately.
Diarrhea and lower backache may also be signs that labor is coming, but they do not need to be reported to your doctor.
When to call the doctor
- If you have contractions and this is your first baby, call your doctor when the contractions are five minutes apart for a one-hour period.
- If you have contractions and you have already had a baby, call your doctor when your contractions are 10 to 15 minutes apart for a one-hour period.
- Call your doctor if your bag of water breaks, even if you do not have contractions.
- Call your doctor if you have any bleeding from your vagina. Vaginal bleeding is bright red and may be heavy like a period.
- Do not call if you are having bloody show.
How to time contractions
- Write the time the contraction starts on a piece of paper.
- Look at the second hand of your clock or watch and see how long it is until the contraction stops.
- Write the seconds across from the time the contraction started.
- Do this for at least five to six contractions.
- Then look at your paper to see how far apart your contractions are and how long they last.
For example:
12:05 - 40 seconds long
12:15 - 45 seconds long
12:24 - 50 seconds long
12:31 - 40 seconds long
12:36 - 50 seconds long
12:43 - 45 seconds long
Note: in the above example, the contractions are five to seven minutes apart from the beginning of one contractions to the beginning of the next. They are lasting 40 to 50 seconds from the beginning to the end of the contraction. This is the information you should provide when notifying your doctor that you are in labor.
Last Updated: February 09, 2009