How to Know Signs of Labor

Signs of labor start weeks or days before your baby makes her debut. Some indicators are subtle while others are quite obvious. When you start feeling them, don't panic. Stay in touch with your doctor, and when your baby is ready, there will be no mistaking it.

Instructions

    • 1

      Notice if you have a sudden urge to clean and prepare your home for the baby. This phenomenon called "nesting" is a sign that labor could come in the next few weeks.

    • 2

      Breathe easier. As your due date approaches, your baby drops down, relieving pressure on your diaphragm.

    • 3

      Take note if you see mucous discharge or blood when you visit the bathroom. This is the mucous plug that covers your cervix, protecting the baby from infection. When birth is imminent, it falls away.

    • 4

      Be prepared for your water to break, or the rupturing of the amniotic sac. This means you're well on your way to labor.

    • 5

      Distinguish between Braxton-Hicks contractions and the real ones. Braxton-Hicks contractions come at irregular intervals, while full-on labor contractions come regularly.

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