How do I know if I'm in labor?

Question

I'm 40 weeks pregnant, dilated to a 3 and 80% effaced. I woke up this morning feeling very crampy but am feeling better since I'm up and around. How do I know when I'm really in labor?

Answer 1

Having read all of the above posts, I thought I'd debunk a few myths and misinformations for you. I believe your question meant, "When will I be going into active labor," and some of the above symptoms can happen up to two months before actual labor. I thought I'd share the research I've done, from one expecting mother to another.

I thought I'd let you know that recent medical studies have shown that the water breaks (membranes rupture) before noticeable labor in only 15% of pregnancies. If your water breaks you need to go to the hospital immediately, even if no other labor signs are present. Once your water breaks, the risk of infection for the baby grows significantly. Should your water break, usually contractions start within 24 hours. If they don't, your doctor will often induce you. The water may come out as a steady gush, or simply a trickle that happens when you lay down or recline (sometimes when you stand or sit up straight, the baby's head is engaged, so it blocks the flow). The amniotic fluid should be clear. If you notice a dark green or brown staining to it, you need to go to the hospital and call your doctor immediately. The coloring is meconium (fetal intestinal matter... baby poop), and when it is let loose in the amniotic fluid it is a sign of fetal distress.

Also, losing the mucous plug can occur up to a week before you go into active labor. It is nothing to worry about, and you do not need to call your doctor or go to the hospital unless there are abnormalities. The loss of the mucous plug is what causes "bloody show", which can be a pink or blood tinged discharge. Should this discharge be extremely heavy, or should the blood be bright red or just blood, you need to call your doctor immediately, as it could be a problem with the cervix or placenta.

Lightening or engagement (the baby dropping), can occur up to a month and a half before labor, usually two to four weeks in first children, and sometimes not until active labor. In second children it rarely ever happens until the onset of active labor. I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my first child and I dropped three weeks ago.

As for nesting, you can nest anytime during pregnancy. Usually it happens in the last trimester, but I nested in the first three months, then it quit until last month. It is not an accurate indicator of labor, but it is a common occurance.

Effacement and dilatation begin, as you know, well before labor actually arrives. If you are fully effaced and over 4 centimeters dilated, that is when active labor should begin. If not, often a Pitocin (oxytocin, the chemical that spawns contractions) drip will be given to you to help the process.

With all that said, here are some surefire ways to know that true labor has begun. I'm using my own knowledge and the pamphlet my doctor gave me two weeks ago.

1.) Unlikely thought it is, your water breaks. Call your doctor and go to the hospital immediately. If you are unsure if your water has broken, call anyway. There are tests they can do to make sure and you want to be better safe than sorry.

2.) Contractions that continue, despite movement. Often in false labor contractions, if you change your position or activity, the contractions will ease or cease.

3.) Contractions that increase in strength steadily. False labor contractions, or Braxton-Hicks contractions, are usually weak compared to real labor contractions and do not get stronger.

4.) Contractions that come at regular intervals and, as time goes on, get closer together. When they last 30 to 70 seconds and/or are 3-5 minutes apart, you need to call your doctor and head to the hospital.

5.) Contractions that start in the back and move to the font. Braxton-Hicks are usually only felt in the front. This is not always the case, and it is possible that your contractions can be felt merely in the front, but this is the norm.

Remember, if you are ever in doubt, call your doctor. Do not worry about waking her, or interrupting her home life. She is used to it, and I guarantee she would rather see you safe than not be interrupted.

Congratulations and good luck!

Answer 2

You'll know. But I will tell you, the few days or so before I went into labor I felt "odd". And what they say about the nesting thing - TRUE!! I redid our entire home and cleaned it top to bottom the day before I went into labor. The final indicator (after 5 trips to the hospital) was the water FINALLY breaking. But being 80% effaced, I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't too much longer. Do some walking - gravity will help move things along. If you start experiencing contractions that get very consistant and closer together as time goes, get to your hospital.

Good luck!!

Answer 3

When there is a definite pattern to the cramping. As the contractions get closer together, they will get more intense.

The entire abdomen will feel hard, not just cramps in the lower belly

Also look out for spotting, bleeding, and losing your mucus plug, if you havent yet. You may have those before you go into labor, or not until you are already in the hospital.

And of course, if your water breaks, get to the hospital ASAP - even if you arent having contractions yet.

Answer 4

i am so not qualified to respond to this because I've not had any kids yet. But I do ask that you don't do what my sister did: she was due July 8th. July 5th she woke up to intense pain, still got ready for work, wailing screaming crying the whole time, contractions got shorter & shorter, and she was still wondering if it was false labor, if she should go to the hospital, after all, she had 3 days before her due date. OMG we all wanted to hit her in the head! Congratulations, btw! :o)

Answer 5

You'll know, trust me. When the contractions are regular and the time between them gets shorter and shorter, you know you are in labor. Also when you aren't able to speak during a contraction, that's a sure sign. Good luck! I bet you'll have your baby any day.

Answer 6

you'll know the pains will get closer together and you'll start to feel a lot more pressure down there. To speed up the process walk around a bit but be careful and sit down when your body tells you.

Goodluck

Answer 7

i had a different labor...maybe this will help. i started cramps the night before and slept through the night i woke up to contractions but they felt like braxton hicks....they didnt hurt until the dr. broke my water...it might now be full blown pain for you until you loose your water....especially if you have a high pain tolerance.

Answer 8

you'll know that your in labor!! if you start feeling period type cramps but stonger and close together. about 5 mins apart depending how far you are from the hospital..then will be the time to go to the hospital

Answer 9

Lightening: You can breathe again!

Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug

Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks

Nesting: Spurt of energy

Effacement: Thinning of the cervix

Dilation: Opening of the cervix


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Answer 10

Your water may not break-not everyone's does.
If you're walking around and it stops the pains, it's not labor.
When the contractions are regular and changing positions or walking around doesn't stop them, it's labor.