In this Article
Before you prepare yourself to grab your hospital bag, make sure you are experiencing the actual symptoms of labour, as many a time, it may be a false alarm or pre-labour signs only. Your body prepares itself for the upcoming labour, and thus you may confuse it with active labour. In the following article, we shall acquaint you with the signs of labour and what you are required to do.
What are the Early Signs of Labour?
If you are worried whether what you are experiencing is early labour, you may look out for the following first signs of labour:
1. You Experience Leakage or Discharge
If you notice any fluid or blood leaking from your vagina or you notice a different colour discharge (brownish or reddish), you should call your doctor right away. You may have lost your mucous plug that covers your cervix.
2. You May Experience Cramping
You may experience cramping; this is exactly the kind of cramping that you experience during your periods. However, this cramping may or may not be accompanied by diarrhoea.
3. You May Experience Contractions
Your stomach may feel too stretched and firm. If you experience contractions at regular intervals, you may be in labour. However, Braxton Hicks contractions are also very common at this time, but they come randomly.
4. You May Feel Pressure on Your Pelvis
You may experience pressure on your pelvic region. This pressure may feel like your baby is pushing downwards in your belly.
5. You Experience Back Pain
You may experience a backache, though this pain will be more pronounced around your lower back and may be dull and mild. But it will be a good idea to report the same to your doctor.
What You Should Do
You may go to a quiet place and lie down comfortably. Catch your breath and prepare yourself mentally for the upcoming process. It is suggested that you drink water or juice to keep your body hydrated. Lack of water or dehydration may also cause cramping and make you uncomfortable. You may like to track your symptoms, and for the same, you can ask your partner or a friend to help you. If your symptoms subside or go away, it will be a good idea to relax for the day. However, if your symptoms become more intense and the pain increases, get immediate medical help.
What Are the Signs of Active Labour?
Below are some signs of approaching labour:
1. Stronger and More Regular Contractions:
You will experience more prominent and regular contractions during active labour. These contractions will not fade or go away, like Braxton Hicks’ contractions; rather, they will stay until the delivery of your baby. These contractions may begin like normal cramping but will become more pronounced and may occur every 3 to 8 minutes. You may feel these contractions rising from your back and slowly coming towards your stomach.
2. Your Water Breaks or the Amniotic Sac Ruptures
If you experience your amniotic sac rupturing or your water breaking, and you are also experiencing contractions with it, then you are surely going into labour. However, if your contractions have not started, then you may have to wait for a couple of hours for the labour to start. The water breaking is subtle, and you may feel like you are peeing, but you may not have control over it. It is also seen that only ten percent women may experience amniotic sac rupturing.
3. Intense Rectal and Pelvic Pressure
As you enter your labour you may feel increased pelvic and rectal pressure. The rectal pressure would feel more like a feeling of passing a bowel movement. When you feel these symptoms, this means your baby is on his way out.
If you experience the above-mentioned labour pain symptoms, you should prepare yourself to go to the hospital.
How Can You Tell Whether It is False or True Labour?
You can experience Braxton Hick’s contractions as one of the ’37-weeks-pregnant’ signs of labour. Here we shall discuss various aspects that will help you know whether you are in false or true labour.
Following signs are the signs of false labour:
- The contractions come randomly and not at regular intervals.
- The pain is limited towards the lower abdominal region.
- The contractions do not become intense or more painful with time.
- You may not experience any pain or discomfort while talking.
- You may feel comfortable to move around, and the pain may even subside by walking.
Following signs are the signs of true labour:
- Change in the foetal activity; it may decrease or increase in comparison to normal activity.
- The contractions will be centred on your pelvic region.
- You will experience the contractions at regular intervals, and they will become more intense as you move closer to delivering your baby.
You will experience pain in true labour that will begin from your back and come towards your lower belly in contrast to false labour, where the pain may only be felt around the abdominal region. You should call your doctor as soon as you experience the symptoms of true labour.
When Should You Go to the Hospital?
Your doctor or midwife will guide you properly about the labour and the birthing process. You will also be told when you would be required to go to the hospital.
The guidelines or instruction may vary, depending on your pregnancy. If you have a normal pregnancy, then you will be told about the normal guidelines to manage your early and active labour symptoms. However, if you have a high-risk pregnancy, are pregnant for the first time, or you have other complications, then your doctor may give you special guidelines depending on your case.
If you have any doubts or you are confused about your labour, feel free to give a call to your doctor. You will be guided on how to deal with your false labour or how to deal with your true labour till you reach the birthing centre of the hospital. However, if you are a case of high-risk pregnancy, you will be required to keep your midwife updated from time to time and even as soon as you go into labour.
If there are no complications involved in your pregnancy, you may be told to wait till your contractions last for about a minute each. These may come every five minutes, for up to an hour at a stretch. It will be a good idea to monitor and record the time of your contractions. As soon as you experience the actual signs of labour, where the contractions are more prominent, and at regular intervals, you should get in touch with your doctor.
However, it is recommended to get in touch with your doctor as soon as you see the following symptoms:
- Reduced or low foetal activity.
- You have vaginal bleeding, pain and even fever.
- If your amniotic sac ruptures or you notice brownish, greenish, or yellow fluid. This could be meconium, your baby’s faeces or this may also indicate foetal stress.
- If your amniotic sac ruptures before 37 weeks or you have contractions, this means you have preterm labour.
Some women tend to overlook, even the bigger symptoms associated with labour, thinking that it is normal in pregnancy. It is suggested that if you experience any of signs and symptoms associated with labour, get in touch with your doctor at the earliest to avoid complications.
