based on your experience?

Question

signs that labor is coming...

Answer 1

When your contractions start coming regularly. Once every five minutes is what mine were at first. They get stronger the closer together they are. Once your water breaks they are really painful, but my doctor broke my water. It feels disgusting. Most women don't have their water break on their own. If you relax and take a bath and the contractions don't go away, your not in labor. If it is your first labor, it will take forever. Atleast mine did. Over 24 hours. It doesn't hurt so bad until you get into active labor and the contractions are only a minute or thirty seconds apart. Lamaze classes help a lot even if you do get an epideral. Enjoy your last few days as a pregnant lady. Get lots of rest because once you start labor and have a baby you won't be getting much rest. I know it is easier said than done, but I slept through the first few stages of labor and it made it much easier. Good luck and Congratulations.

Answer 2

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.
Nausea and diarrhea


Hormonal changes early in labor can cause an upset stomach, cramps, and diarrhea.
Increased Braxton Hicks contractions


These practice contractions, which have been present during the last several months of pregnancy, may become more frequent, intense, and even painful.

Answer 3

I was supposed to be induced with my son on August 4th 1999, that morning the hospital called and said not to come in since they overfilled throughout the night. The next morning at 3am I woke up (after only managing a couple hours sleep - I was constantly uncomfortable) and my lower back was killing me. I stared at the alarm clock and the pains were 3 minutes apart - with a constant ache in between. I monitored it for 2 hours and there was no change. I finally woke up the hubby (he fell asleep after I did and I actually felt BAD waking him up!) and had him call my mom. My regular doctor was on vacation for a few days so I saw 2 different doctors in the hospital. The first believed I was in real labor but couldn't do anything as she was just "filling in" for the doctor on duty. He showed up a couple hours later and wasn't sure if it was "real" labor or not. But as soon as he walked out the door after telling the nurses to give me some meds through my IV that would determine if it was real or not (i'd sleep if it was fake, and continue to be in pain if it was real) my water broke. just under 12 hours after it all started - my baby boy was born.

with my daughter (2nd) I was induced so there was no question whatsoever.

Answer 4

Back pain is often a sign. With each of my babies I felt tiny "butterfly" contractions very regularly for about 24 hours before labor actually started. Another big sign of course is if your water breaks. The water breaking may not be a huge rush of fluid - it may be just a small amount.

Answer 5

first your stomach will drop, u will feel pressure sometimes your water breaks, sometimes when u wipe there will be mucus that's a sign its getting close. I only had back labor with my son, the girls i had front labor, u will have sharp pains by your overys when u start labor. dont be afraid your 1st one can be frighting not knowing what its like ,other ladies in there will scream, but i had 3 of my 4 kids with no pain killers .

Answer 6

Let's see...baby 1 - lost the mucas plug, labor within 48 hours;
baby 2 - lost the mucas plug, labor 15 minutes later;
baby 3 - contractions - had the baby 1 hour later;
baby 4 - water broke in my sleep;
baby 5 - water broke, but took pitocin to deliver;
baby 6...still waiting...due in April

Good luck!!!

Answer 7

Trust me when I say you will know when you're in labor. Your back will begin to hurt and you'll have period-like cramps like nothing you've ever felt before. You may becom nauseous, and achy. But there will be no question when it's the real thing. If you're asking yourself, "I wonder if this is it" then it's not.

Answer 8

Lower back pain, pressure and change in bowel movements. You can just feel uncomfortable in general... the baby might drop or there is a clear difference with the Braxton Hicks contractions.

Answer 9

Back ache
change in bowel's
contractions
and when your water breaks

Answer 10

Change in bowel's
Back ache
Contractions.