Signs That Labor Is Near: What To Watch For

Early signs that labor is a few days away can include Braxton-Hicks contractions and lightening. Braxton-Hicks contractions are often less painful than labor contractions and usually become less painful with movement. Lightening is when the baby “drops” inside the uterus. Other weird signs labor is near may include diarrhea and “nesting instincts,” or a sudden burst of energy.

Some symptoms could mean false labor, and it can be difficult to distinguish false labor from actual labor. Labor has an unequivocal definition characterized by some specific signs. These signs include painful contractions and rupture of membranes (water breaking).

It can sometimes be difficult to tell when labor has started when you’re nearing the end of your pregnancy. Every twinge, cramp, and hiccup in the final month of pregnancy can make you think you’re going into labor. Every birth is also different, so signs generally vary between people. Read on to learn how to tell when labor is a few days away.

It can be difficult to figure out if your symptoms are true labor or not. Below are some signs that may signal that labor is near but not necessarily that you’re actively in labor.

Baby Drops

The fetus’s head may “drop” inside your uterus, which increases vaginal pressure. This is known as lightening. Lightening happens sometime before labor, usually if this is your first pregnancy. People who have given birth before may not have lightening until labor has actually started.

You may notice your abdomen appears lower than normal if you experience lightening. This shifts the fetus from placing pressure on your lungs, allowing you to breathe easily. You might also notice you have to go to the bathroom more often since the fetus places pressure on your bladder.

Back Pain and Cramps

It’s not uncommon to have lower back and groin pain and cramps as your due date approaches. Your muscles and joints will start to shift to prepare for labor and delivery, which can result in pain.

Braxton-Hicks Contractions

Braxton-Hicks contractions can be felt in the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. These contractions are thought to be your body’s way of practicing for the real contractions that open up your cervix during labor. You may feel a sudden tightening, then release, of your uterus.

Cervix Begins To Dilate

The cervix, or the lowermost part of the uterus that connects to the vagina, dilates as your due date approaches. The tissue softens and becomes thinner, allowing the cervix to widen. Dilation allows the fetus to pass through the vagina.

An OB-GYN will begin to check your cervix in the weeks leading up to your due date. They can tell you how many centimeters (cm) you are dilated. The cervix continues to dilate until it reaches 10 cm, which is when you can start pushing.

Diarrhea

The uterine muscles relax as your body prepares for labor and delivery. The rectal muscles may also relax, which can cause diarrhea (loose stools).

Loose Joints

Relaxin is a hormone that the ovaries and placenta produce during pregnancy to loosen the ligaments in your pelvis. Loose ligaments allow your body to stretch and accommodate the fetus as it moves through the vagina. Your hip and lower back joints may feel looser than usual, making you feel unbalanced.

Nesting Instincts

Some people experience “nesting instincts” as their due date approaches. You may feel the need to clean or organize your home in preparation for the baby to arrive. It’s unclear why some people have nesting instincts, so more research is needed to understand it.

Loss of Mucus Plug

Slight vaginal bleeding or seeing long strings of mucus—your mucus plug—coming from your vagina may suggest your cervix is dilating. Bleeding or losing your mucus plug could happen a few days or weeks before labor as your cervix opens slightly. Your body must dislodge the mucus plug from your cervix to deliver the infant. This isn’t always a tell-tale sign of labor.

Not everyone experiences the same symptoms when they go into labor, but some signs are common. These signs include painful contractions and rupture of membranes (water breaking).

Belly and Lower Back Pain

You may have pain in your belly, especially as contractions start. It’s also common to feel back pain, depending on how the fetus is positioned. Pain during labor can be very intense and uncomfortable.

Bloody Show

You may notice that your vaginal discharge is thicker and is tinted brown or red. Cervical changes can cause bleeding, known as “bloody show.” This is typically a sign that your cervix is dilating.

Contractions

It’s important to pay attention to the pain. You won’t know without the assistance of a healthcare provider whether your cervix is dilating.

Are the contractions irregular, mild, and don’t get stronger or closer together as time progresses? These are likely Braxton-Hicks contractions in the uterus. Real contractions, in contrast, feel different. These contractions are typically stronger, more frequent, and more painful than Braxton-Hicks contractions.

It’s more likely to be false labor if you spend the day running around and then have weak contractions after settling down to relax. On the other hand, your body may be preparing for labor if painful contractions start during the night and wake you.

It’s not worth worrying about if you can modify the pain. Real contractions won’t feel better when you sit, stand, lie on your side, or change body position. The same goes for walking, taking a bath or shower, or curling up on the couch to rest. Your contractions won’t improve when you rest or move around if you’re in labor.

Water Breaks

The amniotic sac ruptures when your water breaks during pregnancy. This sac is filled with protective fluids that enclose the fetus during pregnancy. It ruptures during labor so the fetus can exit the uterus and make its way through the birth canal. The fluid may be light (trickling) or heavy (gushing).

If you think your water broke but aren’t sure if it’s urine, there are two key differences. Amniotic fluid is usually colorless and smells sweeter than urine.

Let a healthcare provider or OB-GYN know if you think your water has broken. You might need antibiotics to protect the fetus from a severe infection. A healthcare provider will need to confirm the fetus’s position to prepare for delivery.