How do you know when you are going into labor?

Question

This is my first child. I am only 17 & I really don't know much about pregnancy & going into child birth. I only know what my family or doctor has told me. I am 37 wks & 4 days. Its to where I could easily go into labor anytime from now till my due date. I want to know how you can tell you are having contractions(labor pains) & when is the right time to go to the hospital. I'm excited(more less anxious) but yet scared in some way. I would really appreciate all the helpful tips & hints.

Answer 1

if you are getting pains that make you actually scream or cry or you cant move... then it could be time
contractions are like big waves of pain... that move slowly over your tummy ... you will feel it all over and in your back... they are really really strong....and weigh you down and feel like nothing you have ever felt before in your life...
sometimes contractions can start before your water breaks...
if your water breaks go to the hospital straight away... when your waters break you are at risk of infection... and it is good to have a doctor watch over you
good luck sweety...

Answer 2

Honey, you will know when you are going into labor. You may have a bloody show, which means some blood will be present on the toilet paper when you urinate, or you may feel a gush of water, knowing your bag of waters has broken, but these will probably follow the BIG SIGN of labor beginning.
Labor begins ever so slightly, slight cramping, then becoming stronger and the pains are closer together. Call your doctor when they are getting closer together, and don't be scared. There are many modern ways now of going through labor and delivery compared to back about 30 years ago. Just don't run to the phone if your pains are not bad, and happen every 15 minutes, but then again, don't wait till they are 2 minutes apart and severe. The doctor knows best, and the fact that you are so young and this is your first, you may not know what to expect. Talk to an older woman who lives near you, or an acquaintance but most importantly, on your next visit to the Dr. talk to him. Good luck

Answer 3

. I see a lot of letters here that could really scare someone who's never experienced labor before.
When your labor starts, it will feel like mild cramping. You will also have a feeling of energy. Of course they will gradually get stronger, this is natural. They should then feel like bad flu stomach aches. You may or may not have diarrhea. Your body is attempting to do the most important thing in the world, so you may also feel a little nauseous.
Labor and birth work with gravity. If you are standing up, or even sitting up, the contractions will progress faster. When you go to the hospital, they will tell you to lie down. This actually works against labor.
When the pains get to where you really don't want to deal with them anymore, then ask for an epidural. That's what they're for.
Don't let people scare you. Childbirth is childbirth. It's not a walk in the park, but when it actually happens, it's surreal. There is no way on earth to express just how beautiful it is, and how incredible you feel. Congratulations on your baby. You'll do just fine.

Answer 4

to me it felt like cramps..but here is a list of things to watch out for

Labor Signs Symptoms

Lightening
Lightening occurs when the baby drops or settles lower into your pelvis.

Often you will suddenly find you are less short of breath because your lungs have more room to expand.

Pressure will increase in your pelvis though, and you may need to urinate more often.

Lightening usually occurs several weeks prior to your first delivery. With following births, it may happen just hours before delivery.
Bloody show
As the cervix thins and starts to dilate (open) in preparation for delivery, small capillaries burst and cause a pink or brown vaginal discharge.

The mucous plug, which has sealed the cervix throughout the pregnancy, dislodges. It will look like pink or blood-tinged stringy mucus.

Bloody show can occur anywhere from hours to several weeks before delivery.

If the discharge is bright red, or more than an ounce is present, a problem with the placenta may have occurred, and you should contact your health care provider immediately.
Nesting instinct
Some women notice a burst of energy a few days prior to going into labor.

This is nature's way of helping ensure everything is ready when the new baby arrives.

http://www.emedicinehealth.com/labor_signs/page3_em.htm

If you feel like it is then you need to call your doctor and see if you need to come in..they should understand you need to check on your baby you feel..or the nurses in the office should be able to talk to you about what you feel and help you decide what you need to do..

Remember all this you go through will all be worth it when you hold that baby in your arms..your life will change and your heart will melt..its the most awsome thing that could ever happen..

I was 17 when i had my 1st boy and it was rough..i was scared alot..i now have 3 kids and the other 2 was c sections..

Answer 5

I too was a first time Mom at 17. I found that each pregnancy was different(I had 3). Each time however I "just knew" when I was in labor. I was told "it'll be different than anything you've ever felt" and it was. My babies swam out. My water did not break untill just before the baby was born. First & second pregnancies I did not want to move around. With #3, I couldn't help moving. When a pain hit, I had to get up & walk as fast as I could. I can tell you that when you're having a contraction your tummy does get very hard. You can't push it in with your finger. It is like a board. When the contraction is over it has a lot more give. Congratulations on your precious bundle. Let us know how it goes.

Answer 6

I can not believe the answers!!! Read the ratings for good answers. I had twins and they were worried when I was having 6 contractions an hour, 10 weeks before due date but all was still fine. I couldn't feel it, but the monitor I was given to borrow, said so. My twins were induced labor, but my first daughter was singleton and natural. You know all the new different feelings inside your tummy? Well, labor will feel similar but different then those. True (I assume) that all labors are different, but as a first child I was worried/excited and called hubby and he drove me to the hospital. I kept progressing then got 'stuck' so after hours, Doc pricked my water and let the water drain, and 8 hours of hard labor started. (hard labor is what they call it when you want to scream and crush fingers that are holding your hand, and that's with meds but not the best feel good ones). If you get the type of labor that your water breaks soon after labor starts, that's still not bad, but get your ask to the hospital pronto! Sorry I could only be vague, but I/we don't want to scare you, and all labors are different, but we are doing the best we can in describing it. After you have your baby, try to describe it to someone... it will be very hard... The easiest answer is: it will be a different kind of pain that can vary from mild to painful. Best of luck and best wishes and congratulations! Oh, is there a new mom around you you can talk to? if she has time, ask her a few questions, in person.

Answer 7

We were all scared too Hon. Anyone that says they weren't scared is fibbing!
When you loose the "mucus plug" (it looks like a loogy with a tinge of blood) when that happens the baby is usually born "within" the next 72 hours. Even though you are very excited, my best advice for you is to utilize this time wisely! First make sure your bag is packed and by the door. If your mom is going to the hospital with you. call her and let her know it's almost time. Ask her if she has a rolling pin ( used for rolling out pie crust) if she does, ask her to bring it with her, those are great if you have back labor! And it will give Mom something to do( she can gently roll it up and down your back) Ok the main things are done,now take a shower have something to eat( clear broth and a few crackers)Don't eat anything heavy( sometimes during labor or giving birth) a woman will vomit, If you have solid food in your tummy this could be very life threatening for you. If you have lost the mucus plug, you can be assured that the contractions aren't false labor. Sleep as much as possible. Even when the contractions start try to sleep in between. When the pains get about ten minutes apart you should go to the hospital. Some say you should wait. For your babies well being and maybe yours,please go to the hospital when they are ten minutes apart They will monitor the baby's heart beat and can know in an instant if your baby is in distress ( sometimes the naval cord can become tangled around the baby's neck) So even though it might be more uncomfortable for you it will soon pass, it is your responsibility to make sure the doctor has the opportunity to give you and your baby the best care , by being in the hospital so he/she can do that! If your mom is going with you,and if she has access to the internet ask her to to quickily read about "the lamaz "method of child birth. Someone that can help you /coach your breathing and staying focused is a tremendous help.The main thing is to stay calm and try to relax and your labor and birth will be much easier. I've included web links to Lamaze sites. Read as much as you possibly can before your labor begins! The first site is the best one I found.Good Luck,Best Wishes and Congrats. Be sure to let us know how you are doing after the big event!

PS.Not implying this would happen but just in case! If any nurse should talk hateful to you or treat you in a way that upsets you, Do not hesitate to talk to the head nurse or your doctor. It's your body,your baby.

Answer 8

You do not need to go to the hospital right away if your water breaks first. It can take up to 24 hours for some women to start contractions after your water breaks. Go when you are comfortable. I waited 6 hours before going to the hospital. If I knew what I knew now I would have waited longer, they still didn't start when I went in. They tend to push you into things when you go in too soon. If you start contractions first you will know they feel like light cramps at first then become stronger. Don't feel like you need any pain meds & if you do, don't feel like you don't need it either. Depending on how far you are from the hospital is when you should go in. With my 2nd child my contractions started first, I was 10 min. from my hospital & left my house when they were 2 min. apart. You should probably leave when they are 5 min. apart being this is your first child. You should start reading the book (What to Expect When You're Expecting by: Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenburg & sandee Hathaway) right away if you want its very helpfull. The pain is really not that bad as every one portrays it. What helps when in labor is thinking about the contraction one contraction at a time not how many more to come. Whatever happens the most important thing is your baby being born healthy. Trust yourself, listen to your instincts. Have someone to support you before, during & after labor. You will forget the pain after it is all over. Pushing is going to feel probably the worst of it all because there is someting called a ring of fire. The baby will start to come out when it is time to push & then go back in a little & then come out again with each push it could take 2 pushes or more but just concentrate on yourself & the baby. Believe in your baby too the baby is helping. Don't let any one be negative to you & don't be afraid to scream screaming helps with pushing & labor pains. Tell them to get out if they are negative or mean. Even if its a nurse tell them you want a different nurse.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Answer 9

When I was pregnant with my first son I woke up early in the morning with a strange new ache in my lower back, but pretty much dismissed it as the joy of pregnancy, but that night at about 9 pm I felt my first labor pains, and as far as those go trust me you'll now. Early labor feels like a series of awefully painful cramps that hurt really bad but pass fairly quickly and they come without any regularity. As labor progresses the cramps start coming in regular intervals and lasting longer, and sorry to say but the pain gets worse since you have less time to rest while they are gone. And nearing the birth of the baby the giant nightmare cramp just stays with no relaxing. I was pretty scared with my first son but after labor starts you judt forget that you don't know anything and just go with what your body and the doctors tell you to. And they told me to go to hospital when the contractions are about 5 minutes apart but I waited until they were about three apart because I wanted to do as much as possible in the comfort of my own home. And remember that you can have an epideral to help with the pain but it may slow the labor down some. And just in case nobody told you (because no one told me and I was heartbroken) after the baby is born you will still look about four months or more pregnant and will have to wear maternity gear for probably about two months. But if you keep moving around, not even strict excercise, just keep moving around it will fall back off.

How exciting for you, and what a challenge it will be. Congratulations and I hope it comes soon for you. Do you know wether you are having a boy or a girl?

Either way enjoy them small, they grow up so fast.

Answer 10

I'm 16 and have an 11 week old son. It was alot different than I was told and I actually enjoyed it, the time flew by really quickly. I went for a registration on my due date and I was told I was dilated 3cm so they put me back on the registration machine and I was having contractions and couldnt feel them. So they said I couldn't go anywhere because I would give birth before the end of the day. They gave me the anesthetic before I could feel the contractions properly but it wore off toward the end so I felt the worst contractions and it was actually better that way because the contractions hurt so much I didnt feel a thing when he came out. One thing you should look out for though is when I went to the toilet I felt a small pain go down my belly, I didnt know what it was so I assumed it was nothing. When I was in labor I asked the midwife what it was and she said it was a different type of contraction from the braxton hicks. I started feeling them about 2 weeks before labor, they dont hurt its just like a small period pain going down you belly just not as intense. If you get them pains you should probly let your doctor/midwife know. Anyhow labor isn't like on TV or how you would imagine. Try and distract your mind from the pain and you should be OK. If i was you I'd get someone to show you how to breathe as it helps alot, it helped me alot and it does actually ease the pain abit if you do it properly. If you feel pains that last 2 minutes then go away for about 5 minutes and it carries on for half an hour or an hour, they don't have to be intense as they will go more intense you you get further into labor, then you are going into labor. I felt these before I was given the anesthetic but they hardly hurt but are very continuose. Anyhow if you have any signs like I've explained you should go see a doctor as you might be more dilated than you think. Do lots of walking as that will help the baby fall into place, it's very important. My little boy wouldn't rest his head and he stayed in the same place for a few hours and they were thinking of operating me but in the end they injected me something to help his head rest.

Sorry it's so long.

Good luck!!!

Answer 11

Everyone is different in how their labor starts.There are many signs that come along before you go into actual labor. You will see a slimy pink discharge a few days before your Labor begins,or you could get what is called a nesting urge.Some women the day or two before their baby comes have a very strong desire to clean the baby's room or clothes,sometimes just organise everything. I believe it is a shift in your hormones that causes it. You may also notice what feels like additional weight over your bladder or rectum. That occurs when the baby moves into it's birthing position. The actual feeling of labor is different for everyone but I think the most important part is that it is rhythmic.You will feel changes in the way your body feels usually starting at intervals of 45 minutes apart and moving to shorter and shorter periods of time in between. For some its back pain, others it's cramps, for myself my tummy would harden and raise up a bit, then relax again. I hope this helps! Best wishes.......