I am 39 weeks pregnant what are the major signs I am about to start labor?

Answer 1

Six Signs that Labor is Within a Few Weeks or Days:
1. Lightening: You can breathe again! This is an indication that the baby has dropped, settling deeper into your pelvis and relieving some of the pressure on your diaphragm, so you are not so short of breath. You may feel increased pressure on your bladder, which means more trips to the bathroom. Others may comment on your changed appearance, although you might not be aware of it at all.

2. Bloody show: Loss of mucus plug. During pregnancy, a thick plug of mucus protects your cervical opening from bacteria entering the uterus. When your cervix begins to thin and relax, this plug is expelled. Some women think the plug will look solid like a cork, but it is actually stringy mucus or discharge. It can be clear, pink or blood tinged and can appear minutes, hours or even days before labor begins. Not all women notice this sign.

3. Rupture of membranes: Your water breaks! Only 1 in 10 woman experience a dramatic gush of the amniotic fluid and even then it usually happens at home, often in bed. Sometimes the amniotic sac breaks or leaks before labor begins. Your uterus is sitting directly on top of your bladder, which can cause you to leak urine. Sometimes it can be quite difficult to distinguish urine from amniotic fluid.

If your membranes have ruptured and you are leaking amniotic fluid, it will be an odorless fluid. This can occur with a sudden gush or a constant trickle. If you notice fluid leaking, you need to try to determine if it smells like urine or if it is odorless. If it does not seem to be urine, you would want to contact your health care provider.

Until you see your physician or midwife do not use tampons, have sexual intercourse or do anything that would introduce bacteria to your vagina. Let your health care provider know if the fluid is anything other than clear and odorless, particularly if it's green or foul smelling, because this could be a sign of infection.

4. Nesting: Spurt of energy. For most of your pregnancy you have probably been fighting the urge to take a nap, so you'll know when you experience this. One day you will wake up feeling full of energy! You'll start making a long list of things to do, things to clean, things to buy and everything you've put off doing will become a high priority. In all your preparations, don't forget that “Labor Day” may be just around the corner so save some energy.

5. Effacement: Thinning of the cervix. Usually in the last month the cervix begins to stretch and thin. This process means the lower segment of the uterus is getting ready for delivery. A thin cervix will also allow the cervix to dilate more easily.

Your health care provider may check for effacement in the final 2 months of pregnancy. Effacement is measured in percentages. You may hear your helath care provider say,“You are 25% effaced, 50% effaced, 75%...” The Braxton Hicks contractions or “practice contractions” you have been experiencing may play a part in the effacement process. You will not be able to determine your effacement process, this can only be done by a health care provider. exam.

6. Dilation: Opening of the cervix. Dilation is the process of the cervix opening in preparation for childbirth. Dilation is measured in centimeters or, less accurately, in “fingers” during an internal (manual) pelvic exam. “Fully dilated” means you're at 10 centimeters and are ready to give birth. In the same way that your health care provider may be checking for effacement in the last 2 months, your health care provider may also tell you how many centimeters your cervix has dilated.

One SURE Sign Labor is Really Happening:
Consistent Contractions: When you begin to experience regular uterine contractions, this is the strongest indication that you are in labor. This is the time to get your notebook to record the exact time each one begins and how long it lasts. These contractions feel like menstrual cramps or a low backache that comes and goes at 20 to 30 minute intervals. Gradually, the aching or cramping becomes stronger and lasts longer. When your contractions are consistantly 5 minutes apart, it's time to call your health care provider.

Labor Contractions Have the Following Characteristics:
They are regular
They follow a predictable pattern (such as every eight minutes)
They become progressively closer
They last progressively longer
They become progressively stronger
Each contraction is felt first in the lower back and then radiates around to the front or visa versa
A change in activity or position will not slow down or stop contractions
There may be bloody show
Membranes may rupture
Your health care provider will notice cervical changes, such as effacement (thinning), or dilation
http://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/signsoflabor.html

Answer 2

Let's see, your mucus plug will come out, you may or may not notice or be able to tell when that happens. It may look like a little whitish, rust colored stuff on your undies. I know, gross, but true. Also, you will probably start having contractions, you may have a backache. You may also start having HUGE bowel movements with the backache. As things move down, you naturally start to displace anything that is there. If your water doesn't break, you will have contractions, or pains that start generally in your lower back and at first they are just annoying, but then you notice they start coming around to the front, almost about the area where your kidneys used to be in your back, and where you would have menstrual cramps in the front.....(sorry, best way I could describe it). Once you realize that it is happening, and it is happening regularly, start WALKING. It helps things progress. When you get to the point that your doctor says, call.

You may get a "nesting" instinct. Two days before my first child, I was standing on a dining room table cleaning the ceiling with a mop. And I thought that was normal...LOL. It was dirty. congrats on the new baby!!!!! And GOOD LUCK:)

Answer 3

true labor pains start at your back and work towards the front (for some) i had a pms kinda crampy feeling...little kinda nausea. regular contractions are as they say consistent. (meaning they last a certain length and continue every say 5 mins...for an hour...

this info came from my doctor's sheet..

have fun...

btw: my plug came out a week before both kids arrived. and my water never broke...on its own...i had it done at the hospital....with one...4cm...with the other around 6 cm. having your water break is not the major sign!

Answer 4

The first sign you will probably see is passing the mucous plug; however, that's not absolute, so if you start to have contractions, assume you're in labor and get to the hospital!

Answer 5

Other then all the basic physical signs that you will get lots of answers. I remember my wife having more energy then in recent pass weeks as a type of anxiety. It was a sense as in a need to prepare. She started to arrange things in the baby's room.

Answer 6

My doctor told me there are alot of women going 42 weeks lately. So you may still have 3 weeks to go...but they wont let you go over 42 weeks usually. You could always try some home remedies to bring on your labor...like walking, or having sex.

Answer 7

Your water breaks or you have a bloody show, a small tinge of blood, then labor pains will start. Best Wishes! Congradulations on you new baby!

Answer 8

you get a lot of pain through your vigina.you feel like the baby is going to slip right out and you cant do anything. your vigina starts feeling really heavy. and you get cramps all the time. you'll know what i mean in a few weeks.

Answer 9

You will "Show" No one told me about that till it happened.
Its pretty gross so be forwarned....
Its when this mucus stuff comes out of you that naturally lubricates the cervix to get it ready for birth. If it happens don't worry, its completely natural!
When it happened to me at first I was worried that something was wrong with the baby or something because no one ever warned me of that! Lol.

Answer 10

mucus plug will come out...and then u should start having some kind of contractions.....my mucus plug came out and i had contractions a week later early in the morning....my water didnt break until i got to the hosital....but my dct did give me a list of things...if u wld like a scanned copy email me :)