What are the Signs and Symptoms of Labor?

Labor is your body’s natural process of moving your baby, placenta, and umbilical cord out of your uterus. The process of labor usually starts when your baby is full-term, between 37 and 40 weeks of pregnancy.

How will I know when I am close to going into labor?

As your body prepares for labor and the birth of your baby, you may notice the following symptoms in the weeks and days before true labor starts:

• Having a strong desire to get your home ready to receive your new baby. This is called nesting. Nesting may be a sign that labor is approaching, and it may occur several weeks before birth. Nesting may involve cleaning and organizing your home.
• Passing a small amount of thick, bloody mucus out of your vagina (normal bloody show or losing your mucus plug). This may happen more than a week before labor begins, or it might occur right before labor begins as the opening of the cervix starts to widen (dilate). For some women, the entire mucus plug passes at once. For others, smaller portions of the mucus plug may gradually pass over several days.
• Your baby moving (dropping) lower in your pelvis to get into position for birth (lightening). When this happens, you may feel more pressure on your bladder and pelvic bone and less pressure on your ribs. This may make it easier to breathe. It may also cause you to need to urinate more often and have problems with bowel movements.
• Having “practice contractions” (Braxton Hicks contractions) that occur at irregular (unevenly spaced) intervals that are more than 10 minutes apart. This is also called false labor. False labor contractions are common after exercise or sexual activity, and they will stop if you change position, rest, or drink fluids. These contractions are usually mild and do not get stronger over time. They may feel like:
  • A backache or back pain.
  • Mild cramps, similar to menstrual cramps.
  • Tightening or pressure in your abdomen.

Other early symptoms that labor may be starting soon include:

• Nausea or loss of appetite.
• Diarrhea.
• Having a sudden burst of energy, or feeling very tired.
• Mood changes.
• Having trouble sleeping.

How will I know when labor has begun?

Signs that true labor has begun may include:

• Having contractions that come at regular (evenly spaced) intervals and increase in intensity. This may feel like more intense tightening or pressure in your abdomen that moves to your back.
  • Contractions may also feel like rhythmic pain in your upper thighs or back that comes and goes at regular intervals.
  • For first-time mothers, this change in intensity of contractions often occurs at a more gradual pace.
  • Women who have given birth before may notice a more rapid progression of contraction changes.
• Having a feeling of pressure in the vaginal area.
• Your water breaking (rupture of membranes). This is when the sac of fluid that surrounds your baby breaks. When this happens, you will notice fluid leaking from your vagina. This may be clear or blood-tinged. Labor usually starts within 24 hours of your water breaking, but it may take longer to begin.
  • Some women notice this as a gush of fluid.
  • Others notice that their underwear repeatedly becomes damp.

Follow these instructions at home:

• When labor starts, or if your water breaks, call your health care provider or nurse care line. Based on your situation, they will determine when you should go in for an exam.
• When you are in early labor, you may be able to rest and manage symptoms at home. Some strategies to try at home include:
  • Breathing and relaxation techniques.
  • Taking a warm bath or shower.
  • Listening to music.
  • Using a heating pad on the lower back for pain. If you are directed to use heat:
    • Place a towel between your skin and the heat source.
    • Leave the heat on for 20–30 minutes.
    • Remove the heat if your skin turns bright red. This is especially important if you are unable to feel pain, heat, or cold. You may have a greater risk of getting burned.

Get help right away if:

• You have painful, regular contractions that are 5 minutes apart or less.
• Labor starts before you are 37 weeks along in your pregnancy.
• You have a fever.
• You have a headache that does not go away.
• You have bright red blood coming from your vagina.
• You do not feel your baby moving.
• You have a sudden onset of:
  • Severe headache with vision problems.
  • Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea.
  • Chest pain or shortness of breath.

These symptoms may be an emergency. If your health care provider recommends that you go to the hospital or birth center where you plan to deliver, do not drive yourself. Have someone else drive you, or call emergency services (911 in the U.S.)

Summary

• Labor is your body’s natural process of moving your baby, placenta, and umbilical cord out of your uterus.
• The process of labor usually starts when your baby is full-term, between 37 and 40 weeks of pregnancy.
• When labor starts, or if your water breaks, call your health care provider or nurse care line. Based on your situation, they will determine when you should go in for an exam.