This is what sealed your cervix during pregnancy. You might notice a thick, pinkish or blood-streaked vaginal discharge sometimes called a bloody show. Dilation happens slowly at first but speeds up once you’re in active labor. Your cervix begins to widen and open until it’s fully dilated. You may feel mild contractions or nothing at all.ĭilation. Your cervix thins, softens, and shortens completely before vaginal delivery. The contractions may be less than five minutes apart by the end of early labor.Įffacement. The pain or pressure that you feel may start in your back and move down to your abdomen. You may feel mild contractions that occur 5 to 15 minutes apart and last for between 60 and 90 seconds. This is called lightening because you may feel lighter, and find breathing a little easier, after the baby drops and isn’t pressing on your diaphragm. Your baby drops lower into your pelvis in the weeks, days, or hours before labor. Don’t overexert yourself-try to take it easy. Although nesting can begin any time during your pregnancy, many women experience it just before labor. You might also have the urge to “nest” and prepare your home for the baby. It’s perfectly normal to experience a sudden surge of energy in the days or weeks before labor. Until your contractions become more regular and more intense, or your water breaks, try to stay relaxed-active labor will eventually start.Īlthough every pregnancy is different, you may experience the following signs of early labor, some more subtle than others: This time will usually become shorter with subsequent deliveries. It may be hours or even days before you progress to active labor, especially if this is your first baby. Signs and Symptoms of Early LaborĮarly labor can be unpredictable in terms of duration. Learn more about these signs and symptoms of labor in the following two sections, which cover the two phases (early and active labor) of stage 1 of labor. Lightening-a feeling that the baby has droppedĬontractions that range from mild (during early labor) to strong (during active labor)ĭilation-widening the opening of the cervix Here are the 10 most common signs of labor in most women: Labor is a different experience for every woman and can vary from pregnancy to pregnancy for the same woman. So, if you’re concerned labor hasn’t started yet, the best thing to do is consult your healthcare provider. In fact, experts don’t recommend trying any kind of home remedy. You might have heard of traditional methods of inducing labor, such as drinking castor oil, which has not shown to be effective. If your due date has come and gone, you may be eager for labor to begin. This sometimes stops on its own without leading to preterm birth but will always need immediate medical attention. Going into labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy is called preterm labor. It's also not uncommon for labor to begin earlier than 40 weeks, such as at week 38 or 39. A pregnancy can last between 41 and 42 weeks, which is referred to as late term, and even last longer than 42 weeks, which is called postterm. When Does Labor Start?Īlthough your due date is usually calculated according to the average length of pregnancy, which is 40 weeks for a full-term pregnancy, don’t expect your baby to arrive on the dot. Knowing about what’s likely to happen can help you prepare for the big day ahead. That said, labor tends to follow a general pattern for most women. You’ve probably been excitedly and anxiously awaiting this moment for quite some time, but it’s important to understand that labor is a slow, multistep process that’s unique for each woman and each pregnancy. Labor, more commonly called childbirth, is the experience of delivering your baby from the warm and cozy home of your uterus to the outside world. Learn about the different stages of labor, the differences between true and false labor, the signs and symptoms of both early and active labor, and what to do when you think your baby is coming! What Is Labor? A woman’s body almost always gives her the signals she needs and the inner wisdom to recognize them however, to help you understand them, we’ve compiled a list of the most common signs of labor. How does labor start? Water breaking? Contractions? Those are both sure signs of labor, but sometimes, the signs labor is near are more subtle.
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