If this is your first time, these are the Signs of labor you should look out for before you are prepared to rush to the hospital, ensure you are experiencing the actual labor symptoms as many a time, it may be a false alarm. Let’s now get acquainted with the labor signs and what’s to be done in such cases.
Early signs of labor
- You experience leakage or discharge
If there’s any fluid or blood leaking from your vagina or you notice a different colored discharge (Brownish or reddish), you may have lost your mucus plug covering your cervix.
- You may experience cramping
This is exactly the kind of cramping that you experienced during your periods. However, this cramping may or may not be accompanied by diarrhea.
- You may experience contractions
Your stomach may feel too stretched and firm. If you experience contractions at regular intervals, you may be in labor.
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- You may feel pressure on your pelvis
You may feel pressure on your pelvic region. This pressure may feel like your baby is pushing downwards in your belly.
- You experienced back pain
You may experience a backache, though this pain will be more pronounced around your lower back and maybe dull and mild.
Signs of active or approaching labor
- Stronger and more irregular contractions.
You will experience more prominent and regular contractions during active labor. These contractions will not fade or go away like Braxton Hicks’ contractions. These contractions may begin like normal cramping, but will become more pronounced and may occur every three to eight minutes.
- Your water breaks or the amniotic sac ruptures
If you experience the amniotic sac rupturing or your water breaking, and are also experiencing contractions with it, then you are surely going into labor. The water breaking is subtle, and you may feel like you are peeing, but you may not have control over it.
- Intense Rectal and pelvic pressure
The rectal pressure would feel more like a feeling of passing a bowel movement. When you feel these symptoms, this means your baby is on his way out.
Signs of false labor
- The contractions come randomly and not at regular intervals.
- The pain is limited to the lower abdominal region.
- The contractions do not become intense or more painful with time.
- You may not experience any pain or discomfort while talking.
- You may feel comfortable moving around and the pain may even subside by walking.
Some women tend to overlook even the bigger symptoms associated with labor, thinking that it is normal in pregnancy. It is suggested that if you experience any signs and symptoms associated with labor, get in touch with your doctor at the earliest to avoid complications.
