It’s time! True labor is coming!!
Signs of labor
👶 Contractions
Labor contractions grow stronger over time and more frequent as they cause your cervix to dilate. You will feel an excruciating pain that may crush you from the inside and bring tears to your eyes.😖 It’s going to be too painful for you to talk through once they’ve progressed.☹️
Assessing the pain frequency by timing your contractions, knowing the intensity and location of the pain help you indicate true labor and prepare yourself.😃 Call your doctor immediately to make sure all the signs are true.👩⚕️
👶 Back pain
If you’re having lower back pain that radiates down into the legs🦵 along with contractions, it can be a sign that you’re having back labor. The pain doesn’t go away even if you change your positions. It intensifies during contractions, inferring your baby’s head👶 is pressing against your lower back and wishing to come out.
👶 Water breaking
When the amniotic fluid sac that surrounds your baby ruptures, fluid leaks from your vagina💦. This is one of the final signs of labor and labor usually follows soon. Call your doctor to discuss the symptoms to make sure whether you’re actually in labor.👩⚕️
If your water breaks and you’re in full term but you haven’t had contractions yet, you might have premature rupture of membranes (PROM).⚠️
Preterm labor
👶 Preterm labor
Labor often starts between week 37 and week 42 of pregnancy. If you notice you have contractions before you reach week 37, you’re in preterm labor.😶
👶 Symptoms of preterm labor
It’s difficult to determine whether you’re in preterm labor due to some similarities between Braxton Hick contractions and labor contractions. If you’re really in preterm labor, your doctor👩⚕️ will give you medications to prolong your pregnancy days to allow the baby’s lungs to fully mature and protect their brain.
If you have more vaginal discharge than usual, fluid leaks, abdominal pain like menstrual cramps, six or more contractions in one hour even if they don’t hurt😩, you should contact your doctor. Signs such as unprecedented low back pain, irritation in the pelvic area can also be harbingers that you might be in preterm labor.⚠️