How to Know When You're Having Contractions & Going Into Labor

Giving birth for the first time can be awe-inspiring events of your life. The fears, anxieties, hopes and dreams can all conspire to keep you in a turmoil of emotions. Gaining knowledge of what to expect when you go into labor and being able to tell the difference between true labor and Braxton Hicks contractions is important. Braxton Hicks contractions prepare your body for the true form of labor that is to come. There are ways to be sure that your body is experiencing true labor pains.

Instructions

    • 1

      See your obstetrician on a regular basis. Thinning of the cervix or effacement is one of the best ways to know if your baby will arrive soon. Your doctor will let you know what percentage you are effaced at your regular late-term pregnancy visits. The baby will not arrive until you are 100 percent effaced. This can rapidly change within a day or two or your checkup, though. Your doctor will also check for dilation of the cervix, though this may begin several weeks before the actual birth.

    • 2

      Overlook your embarrassment if you go to the hospital on a false alarm. This is common for pregnant women, particularly those giving birth for the first time. Just think of it as a practice trip to the birthing center.

    • 3

      Check for signs of nearing childbirth, such as a sudden burst of energy and a nesting instinct, in which you feel the need to be totally organized and ready for the arrival of your baby.

    • 4

      Watch for the appearance of the mucus plug. This discharge can be dark, blood-streaked or stringy and is a good sign of actual labor, but it does not always appear, and it may even appear several days before delivery.

    • 5

      Go to the hospital right away if your water breaks. This may be a sudden gush of fluid or a trickle. Your doctor will be able to tell if it is amniotic fluid or just bladder incontinence. Once your membranes rupture, the risk of infection is elevated.

    • 6

      Time your contractions. True contractions typically begin lasting longer than 30 seconds, will increase, and last as long at 90 seconds, according to the Mayo Clinic website. Braxton Hicks contractions may subside if you change your position or go for a walk, while true labor pains will not subside no matter what you do.

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