7 Major Signs Your Labour is Near
By Chiomah Momah
How will I know when you are in labour? This is a question many expectant mothers ask, especially when it’s their first pregnancy. Even for experienced mothers, it’s easy to get confused as to when exactly to get ready to get into the hospital. There are a some tell tale signs that your bundle of joy is making his way into this world soon. Find a few of them below…
1. Dropping: During the final weeks of pregnancy, it’s normal to see that your abdomen has dropped lower. This is when the baby’s head settles into the pelvis. This phenomenon is referred to as ‘dropping,’ ‘lightening’ or ‘engagement’ because at this stage, the baby has dropped, seems lighter and her head is engaged into the pelvic opening. In some cases, especially in second time mothers, this dropping occurs just before labour starts. Whatever the case, a lower belly shows that your baby’s arrival is just a few weeks or hours away.
2. Bloody Mucus Show: This show of bloody mucus is actually the mucus plug that covers the cervix. When the baby’s head descends into pelvic cavity and the cervix begins to thin, then the mucus plug is ‘uncorked.’ The mucus plug is either passed as one big glob of bloody mucus or several times in bits. Whatever the case, once you lose your mucus plug, it is usually a sign that labour is imminent and not further than a week away. However, if you notice the discharge is bright red, then this may be a sign of something sinister, so go ahead and call your doctor or head to the hospital right away.
3. Changes in foetal motor activity: I noticed this during the preceding days to the birth of my last child. A day before labour, there was a lot of active movement. Apparently this shows the baby is trying to choose a rhythm and getting ready for her birthday. While this rapid movement may be unsettling, it is usually a good sign and may also precede the engagement of the baby’s head in the pelvis. All mums-to-be should however ensure that any change in baby’s movement should not be taken lightly. A sudden change in movement may also be a signal of foetal distress. Consequently, when you feel baby is not moving as much or moving too much, a scan should be done at the hospital to put your mind at ease.
4. Breaking bag of waters: The amniotic fluid is contained in the bag of waters. When labour is imminent, the bag can suddenly break, thus causing the amniotic fluid to gush out. Once this happens, the mother should go to the hospital, whether or not she is in active labour. This is because once the bag of waters has ruptured, infection can set in. However, in most cases, the bag of waters leaks slowly and many mothers may assume they have peed on themselves. To know whether the fluid is amniotic fluid or urine, one can wear a pad and examine the smell and colour of the fluid. Amniotic fluid is usually clear and almost odourless unlike urine which has an acidic smell. However, for most mothers, their bag of waters remains intact and have to be broken by medical personnel during labour.
5. Braxton-Hicks (false) contractions intensify: Many mothers have false contractions for weeks before baby’s arrival. This can be a source of confusion and make it difficult for one to know when the real contractions start. However, one sign that the contractions are the real thing are when they change from an uncomfortable feeling to one of actual pain. Another sign that the contractions are the real thing is when you feel the contractions in your lower back at timed intervals. This leads us to another sign of imminent labour.
6. Lower back pain: After the baby drops and is engaged, an expectant mother may begin to experience uncomfortable sensations in her back. These sensations may be caused by the pressure of the baby. Also, as your uterine and pelvic ligaments stretch, this pain may increase. Many mothers feel this pain as early as their second trimester but for most mums, this lower back pain commences at the tail end of the pregnancy.
7. Frequent bladder and bowel movement: As labour approaches, one will feel the urge to urinate more frequently. Also, the birth hormones could also cause abdominal cramps and frequent bowel movements. This is nature’s way of emptying your intestines in preparation for childbirth. However, one could mistake the urge to push for a bowel movement, so be careful. I experienced this during the labour of my second child as I barely felt my contractions and almost had the baby on the way to the hospital!
As everyone anxiously waits for baby’s big arrival, rather than doing anything extreme or silly to pre-empt labour, enjoy the time your little one is on the inside and do as much as you can, for once baby arrives, there will be little time for anything else.
Awwww so true…what a great experience!
I keep learning new things every day on this page. Kudos to u. MIM. Nice tips.
Tnx, what a wonderful experience
It,s not as easy as it looks.
Awesome tips and its coming at de very right time.Thanks MIM
I will sure experience all this some day by God’s grace
Good MIM
Yea yea can’t wait to welcm my lovely baby into dis world. No induction dis tym arnd oo amen. Tnks MIM for such a great tip nw I kw berra
Always on point. Nice tips.
Nice tips MISM… Tnx
Nice tips I experieced no 6 and 7 weeks before my due date
Very helpful tips.
Not as easy as it sounds o! Already very heavy and tired! Can’t wait again o!
Nice one mim
Its a beautiful and painful experience.thumbs up for mim
But Braxton hicks is a scary feeling, you would be wondering is it time? And at the tail end one would literally live in the toilet
Wish I had seen dis some days back,hmmm.but I thank God for safe delivery.it was quiet a wonderful experience.
okay really nice tips
thanks
when I start having these signs I get mixed feelings…. fear, joy etc.
nice piece here
Hmmm, I remember some
Hmmmm, e dey pain oo gaga
Thanks mim for such tip,will learn a wonderful experience good of u mim
That is so true,they will be little time for something else
i experience all in my first pregncy expt number 4, maybe i will experience number 4 this time around past my due date sha still waiting and praying for safe delvery
Great tips MIM, there is always something new for me to learn here..
God is our strength He puts the baby there He brings it out in due time tnk you Lord Jesus
I have 2 kids bit haven’t experienced any of these things. I don’t get pain or contraction and I thank God for that
Nice tips
I recall most of d memories. Painful bt gainful.
I remember them too well. Thanks for sharing
I have been having all these experience except for the breaking of water.. already in the 40th week, hpe it happens soon can’t wait any longer. Thanks for more information.
Thank u so much for making me know what to expect when it is time…… Lors of luv
Thanks for sharing
motherhood no be beans ooo
Thanks MIM
Nice one