As a pregnant woman's due date approaches, she may begin to wonder if she will be able to recognize the signs of labor. While the only sure indications of labor are killer contractions and the amniotic sac rupturing, there are signs that occur as labor approaches. Some women may experience all of these signs of impending labor, but some women may not. The woman should contact her health care professional when any of these symptoms occur.
Lightening
For some women, the baby begins to settle into the birth canal before labor begins. This is known as lightening. An increase in pelvic pressure and more frequent urination are signs of lightening. Some women may notice that it is easier to breathe because the baby is no longer taking up space by the diaphragm. Lightening before labor begins is most common during a first pregnancy, notes Giving Birth Naturally. In subsequent pregnancies, lightening usually occurs once the woman is in labor. Practitioners note lightening with stages -3 to +3. Stage +3 occurs when the baby is crowning, 0 occurs when the head is engaged in the pelvi, and -3 is when the baby is still floating freely in the amniotic sac.
Energy
A sudden burst of energy, also known as "nesting," is common before labor begins. This burst of energy is usually accompanied by the need to deep clean and get everything ready for the baby. Despite these urges, the mother to be is encouraged to take it easy and rest for her upcoming labor and delivery.
Cervical Changes
Some women will know that the birth of the baby is close because of cervical dilation and cervical effacement, both of which are checked via a manual pelvic exam by the practitioner. Prior to birth, the cervix is thick, but as labor gets closer, the cervix may begin to thin out, or efface. A fully thinned cervix is said to be 100 percent effaced. While the cervix is thinning, the woman may begin to dilate, or open. A closed cervix is 0 cm, but at birth the cervix is opened to 10 cm.
Mucous Plug
As the cervical changes occur, the mucous plug that has blocked bacteria and germs from entering the uterus may dislodge. The mucous plug appears as a bloody, pink or clear gelatin-like vaginal discharge, which is also known as a bloody show. Loss of the mucous plug can occur hours or days before labor begins, notes the American Pregnancy Association.
Amniotic Sac
During pregnancy, the baby lives in the fluid-filled amniotic sac. At some point during labor, this sac ruptures, which is also known as the water breaking, and amniotic fluid is expelled through the vagina. The rate at which it is expelled varies from a slow trickle to a substantial gush. Because the amniotic fluid constantly replenishes, the discharge will continue until the baby is born. Approximately 13 percent of women will experience the amniotic sac rupturing before labor begins, according to LaborofLove.com. If the water breaks and labor hasn't begun, medical care is needed, because the risk of infection increases as time progresses.
Contractions
Some women may note a change in Braxton-Hicks contractions, which are practice contractions. These changes can closely mimic true contractions that occur when labor has stared. True contractions are productive contractions that occur at a regular rate and get progressively stronger; however, the contractions may not come at perfect intervals. True contractions don't abate with changes in activity, such as lying down or walking, but Braxton-Hicks contractions will abate.
