One of the most searched topics during pregnancy? “Am I actually going into labor?”

Although the conventional knowledge says that pregnancy lasts nine months (which would be 36 weeks), most babies are actually born between 38 and 42 weeks. This means that you can think of your due date as more of a “due month” rather than a specific date. In fact, less than 5% of babies are born on their due date. This date range can present a problem, though: how do you know if you are actually ready to meet your baby? Here are four surefire ways to know if you are going into labor.

You’re experiencing certain physical and emotional changes. 

There are specific physical and emotional changes we hear from clients that make your doula double check her birth bag and put her running shoes by the door! We often see a change in emotions and becoming more sensitive. Bursts of nesting energy and new or unusual cravings can also signal your body is getting ready to give birth. Physical changes may also occur.

These may include:

• feeling “crampy” or having backaches
• increased vaginal discharge
• loss of mucus plug (especially blood-tinged mucus)
• softer, more frequent bowel movements.

Be in tune with your body and emotions, and communicate those changes with your care providers as you get closer to your due month.  

You’re having uterine contractions. 

Uterine contractions are the first sign of going into labor for most people. But how do you know the difference between uterine contractions and Braxton Hicks or false labor contractions? Uterine contractions are regular and consistent; they get steadily closer, stronger, longer and do not lessen with rest, movement, eating or drinking. You may have contractions before you are in labor. But if they are not causing your cervix to change, you are not in labor. See our blog post on latent labor for more on those contractions.

Your water breaks. 

You’ve seen it in movies and on tv shows: water spills on the floor and the character suddenly knows their baby is coming. In reality, only occasionally does your water break ahead of contractions. Typically the other signs we’ve outlined will happen for hours or even days prior to your water breaking. Ir this is your first sign, the vast majority of people will experience contractions that follow within 12-24 hours. 

Your cervix is not a crystal ball and it can’t tell you if labor is imminent.

Cervical exams are not necessarily an indication of when labor will begin. There are a number of cervical changes that have to take place ahead of dilation, the number measured in centimeters that we all associate with how close the baby is to being born.

Your cervix will go through these changes:

• shift forward to align with the birth canal
• soften or ripen
• thin (or efface)
• The final step is dilation.

These changes may be evaluated by your care provider during a cervical exam once you head to the hospital in order to determine if you are in labor.

To learn more about childbirth and the stages of labor, sign up for our Complete Childbirth Education class or Birth Basics.