Everyone’s heard the “horror” stories about women walking around a mall, totally oblivious to what’s about to happen and then all of a sudden … whoosh! The waters break and she’s rushed to the delivery room of the nearest hospital. Or what about the women who experience a bit of backache and before they know it, the baby is coming and they barely make it to the car, let alone the hospital!

Frankly, for some women, labor signs may be very subtle. They may complain of backache for a couple of days and not even be aware that they are in the early stages of labor. Some lucky Moms give birth within an hour of any signs at all!

Still, others suffer long, arduous labors that begin with any number of signs and continue through the night and into the next day. Some indications of labor are indeed slight but for most women, there is no doubt that the baby is on its way.

Contractions
When a woman begins experiencing contractions, she may believe she is going into labor. Contractions without pain, however, are Braxton-Hicks contractions and are sometimes mistaken for labor. If she is experiencing pain, then it is likely labor has begun. Period-like cramps will be accompanied by tightening in the abdomen and some women report sensations like a rubber band stretching around the belly, others say it’s like period pain, only worse.

Bloody discharge
Sometimes labor will begin with a ‘show’, a small bloodstained discharge that signifies that the cervix has thinned and the mucus plug has dropped out. There may or may not be cramping or discomfort with this discharge, but Mom should go directly to hospital to avoid infection.

Breaking of membranes
When the bag of waters breaks, there may be a trickle or an actual gush of fluids from the uterus. If not accompanied by pain, it will soon begin. Go directly to hospital or your birthing location because once the membranes break, you are prone to infection.

Backache
Dull lower back pain is often an indicator of the onset of labor. It may begin as discomfort and gradually worsen and may be relieved by walking or by sitting in certain positions, and the impending Mom-to-be will try to determine how best to get comfortable.

Depending on how manageable the pain is, Mom may prefer to stay at home and wait out the contractions there, instead of in the clinical environment of the hospital delivery ward. Once the contractions begin coming at around seven to ten minutes apart, they should be timed, from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next.

Always contact your doctor or midwife if you believe you are in labor so they can prepare for your arrival at the hospital. Calling the hospital in advance of your trip there is advised so one of the midwives can ask you some questions and help you decide how to plan.

Posted in Pregnancy

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