The Signs of Labor:

It can be hard to tell at first if you are in labor, but there are some signs that help you to know that labor may be near.

• Lower backache
• Baby dropping down into the pelvis
• Increased Braxton Hicks Contractions
• Increased pressure in pelvis and rectum
• Nesting Instinct: It is nature’s way of helping you feel confident and ready to protect, nurture and welcome a new baby into your home. It is characterized by an overwhelming desire to clean, organize, and re-organize your home.
• Water breaking
• Loose or more frequent bowel movements
• Mucus plug/ bloody show (blood-tinged vaginal discharge)
• Light spotting
• Regular tightening, pulling or cramping sensations

Do not panic if you feel any of these signs, contact your doctor/midwife for clarity.

What does it mean when your water breaks?

Your water can break at any point in your labor or even before the contractions start (10% of the time) It might be super obvious and happens as a gush or it might just feel like trickle.

What do I do if my water breaks?

If you’re not sure that your water broke, go and pee put a pad on and walk around for an hour. If it’s water, you likely wet your pad. Once your water is broken, it will keep leaking.

There will be no barrier between the baby’s head and the neck of the womb. This means more pressure on your cervix, more contractions, and hopefully your cervix will be thinning out and dilating.

Your baby’s head plugs the opening to the vagina, keeping water inside. So, it is unlikely that your baby will run out of water.

Get excited! The best-case scenario is that your baby comes within 24 hours.

If you don’t progress into labor spontaneously, you might need an Induction of Labor. Your doctor will explain the process to you.