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You may have wondered what labor looks like and how it feels. You are not alone. Many pregnant women also ask questions about how it will feel, what to expect, and how long it will last.
This article will discuss what labor is and how to know you are in labor.
Labor is the process of childbirth that starts with strong uterine contractions and cervical dilation and ends with the expulsion of the fetus.
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There are early signs that labor is soon or imminent. Some may occur 3-4 weeks before actual labor sets in. At other times, these signs happen just before labor starts or hours before active labor.
Some very early signs of labor include the following:
This is also known as lightening, where your baby (ideally, your baby's head) descends into your pelvis. If you are a first-time mum, this may occur a few weeks before labor. If you're not a first-timer, lightening may not happen till you're truly in labor.
Your healthcare provider may notice your cervix dilating (opening) and effacing (thinning out) during your antenatal visit. This may happen weeks to days before delivery. Note that some women do not dilate at all till labor starts.
As labor nears, you may feel cramping and pain in your lower and groin. Not to worry, your abdominal and pelvic muscles and joints are loosening up and stretching in preparation for labor and childbirth.
While your joints and ligaments may have loosened up during pregnancy, you may feel them loosen as labor nears. This is your body's way of preparing for the passage of your little one.
You may experience diarrhea as your expected date of delivery nears. Ensure you drink lots of water and stay hydrated.
During the last days of pregnancy, you may feel very tired and sleepy with your big belly and active bladder.
You may have bursts of energy and a compelling urge that sees you through cleaning, arranging baby clothes, putting up a baby's room, organizing your home, and many more.
The following are signs of true labor:
Unlike Braxton Hicks contractions, labor contractions increase in intensity, are regular, painful, frequent, and don't get better with changing positions. Also, real labor contractions last anywhere between 30 to 70 seconds, depending on far you've gone into labor.
During pregnancy, a mucus plug seals off your uterus at the cervix. However, as the cervix dilates or the body prepares for labor, it may come off as a large piece or in bits.
When the mucus plug comes off, it may be with blood. Hence, a thickened, pinkish vaginal discharge is called bloody show. When you notice a bloody show, it indicates you are close to or in labor.
If you're having strong abdominal cramps, abdominal pain or pressure, and/or pain in your lower back that radiates to your legs, you are most likely to be in labor.
This may occur just before labor or after you've experienced other labor symptoms. When your water breaks, your membranes rupture, and amniotic fluid escapes from the sac. It could be in big gush. At other times, it could be a trickle or leak.
Not all women's water break before labor. Usually, it happens later during childbirth and occurs in a small percentage of pregnancies. Hence, it is not a definitive sign of labor.
Call your doctor when your contractions are painful, intense, regularly spaced, and last for 30 to 70 seconds
Also, if you have doubts about whether or not you're in labor, call your healthcare provider. If you also experience or notice any of the following, immediately contact your healthcare provider:
A visit to us helps you get your prenatal care started while you await your appointment with your local OB doctor. Your virtual physician can help to electronically order prenatal care labs and/or send an order to the nearest radiology facility for you to get an ultrasound.
At My Virtual Physician, we are available to help guide you through your pregnancy and answer any questions that may arise. We are in network with many insurance health plans, including Medicaid, Medicare, United HealthCare, and Blue Cross.
