Signs of Approaching Labor

The days right before the baby is finally about to make their appearance can be exciting, hectic and scary. A lot of expecting mothers feel completely over being pregnant. Which is fair- the blotting, fatigue and nerves have this effect.

 

Predicting and knowing exactly when your labor will begin is a near impossibility. However, your body does show certain signs that indicate the labor is 24 to 48 hours away-

 1. The water breaks

Your water breaking doesn’t always have to be a strong gush of waterfall- it could be as small as a trickle of water or slight wetness in between your legs. The “water breaking” is actually your amniotic sac rupturing. This happens when your baby’s head applies pressure towards the birthing canal.

 

2. The mucus plug is lost

There is a thick collection of mucus that generally plugs the opening of the cervix. Meant to protect you and your baby from the bacteria that might enter the uterus, this plug loosens and drops out just before the labor.

 

 

3. The lower back hurts

When your body is about to get ready for labor, your muscles, joints and ligaments get loosened naturally. This means, this pain is different from the regular backache you might experience during the pregnancy. Just a day or two before the labor, this back pain worsens and spreads to the pelvic region too.

 

 

 4. There is slight weight loss

Before labor, the body sheds all the excess water which leads to a kilogram or two being reduced from your weight. Generally speaking, mothers don’t lose weight before the delivery but this water shedding can lead to reduction in weight.

 

5. The real contractions begin

Fake labor pains known as Braxton Hicks Contractions occur weeks before the actual labor to prepare the body for pushing out the baby. They are mildly uncomfortable and barely last a few seconds. Whereas real contractions are more intense, frequent and can last longer than a minute. Eventually, when the contractions are 4 to 5 minutes apart, labor can start within 24 to 48 hours.

 

The journey of conceiving the little one, carrying them for nine months and then bringing them to the real world is long, and sometimes it's strenuous. But congratulations, mommies- you are so close! And we are sure at the end, it will all be worth it!