I am already approaching my due date. What are the signs of labour to watch out for?

The final days before delivery can be distressing and exciting simultaneously. It’s been a long wait for you, and the little one will finally be out of your womb into your arms. There’s also that liberating feeling of being done with being pregnant and all the limitations it brings.

Your gynaecologist has probably given you a due date, and you keep counting the days as you approach closer the D-day.

While the delivery doesn’t need to occur on the due date unless you’re getting a C-section, your body will show signs that labour is 24 to 48 hours away. This usually includes lower back pain, weight loss, diarrhoea and most obvious of all, water breaking.

These are the most common signs to watch out for, but every woman experiences them differently. Childbirth can be a walk in the park for some expecting mums or a complicated mess for others. Either way, it helps to know that you are now in the home stretch of the pregnancy and closer than ever to delivering your precious little one.

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How Do You Feel Days Before Labour

If you’re a woman about to give birth, chances are you’ve got a lot on your mind. Being nervous is normal, but that doesn’t mean you should put yourself through unnecessary stress.

Instead of stressing out about the unknowns of childbirth, take a moment to focus on what you do know: labour is going to happen and there’s nothing anyone can do to stop it.

A few things that can help make the process more manageable: eating right, getting enough sleep, and staying hydrated will all help ensure that your body is ready for what’s coming next.

Image Source: Unsplash

7 Signs That Labour Is 24 to 48 Hours Away

1. Water breaking

The most obvious sign that you are entering labour is your water breaking with the rupture of your amniotic sac. It’s a fluid-filled sac that protects your baby as it grows and develops over nine months.

The sac usually breaks because the baby’s head puts increased pressure on the sac. With the amniotic sac rupturing, it’s a sign that your body is preparing for delivery, and you should be heading to the hospital immediately.

While some women will feel a gush of water flowing down, others will realise it’s only a small trickle or feeling of wetness in their innerwear.

2. Losing the mucus plug

This is a thick collection of mucus that seals the opening of the cervix. It ideally stops bacteria from entering the expecting mum’s uterus. However, the plug will loosen and drop out when the body is close to delivering.

Some mums will realise a glob of mucus falling out after using the restroom, while others may realise its presence in their underwear or when wiping after urination.

One of the signs to watch out for is clear or pink mucus, which also contains blood. Experts suggest it’s completely normal and only a part of losing the mucus plug.

In most cases, you will lose the mucus plug a few days before going into labour, while the time period could also fluctuate by a few weeks.

3. Lower back pain

Back pain is natural during pregnancy, especially close to the labour date. This is because the joints and ligaments naturally loosen in preparation for childbirth.

That’s why expecting mums will experience pre-labour lower back pain that will make the process a bit more uncomfortable than it already is.

One of the signs that labour is 24 to 48 hours away is lower back pain that may feel excessive during those hours. This also extends to your pelvis area and is likely to continue until after delivery.

For expecting mothers experiencing lower back pain during pregnancy, a Lumbar Soft Pillow could provide much-needed relief and support. Designed to alleviate discomfort and promote proper spinal alignment, this pillow can help ease the strain on the lower back and pelvis, making the process of pregnancy and labor a bit more comfortable.

4. Diarrhoea

Your body automatically starts adjusting towards the end of pregnancy and releases the relaxing hormone that will loosen your joints and ligaments.

While it causes lower back and pelvis pain, it will also cause diarrhoea. This happens because the muscles around the rectum relax.

5. Weight Loss

Expecting mums will also experience weight loss right before the delivery period. While this isn’t a hard and fast rule for all mums, some pregnant women can lose up to 1.5 kg in one or two days before going into labour.

This happens because the body starts shedding excess water weight it was holding during pregnancy. One of the most significant ways to lose this water weight is the loss of amniotic fluid and increased urination.

The baby moving to a lower position further adds pressure on the bladder, increasing the number of restroom visits.

If you see a similar weight drop closer to your due date, it’s a sign that you should prepare for childbirth.

6. Real contractions

While the Braxton Hicks contractions or false labour pains can start months before the due date, the real contractions will occur within hours or days.

Real contractions occur as your uterine muscles prepare for delivery. Unlike false contractions, these are strong in intensity and occur frequently. They last longer than a minute with a frequency of 4-5 minutes.

Image Source: Pexels

7. Cervical dilation

As you come closer to the due date, your gynaecologist will check your cervix to see how far you have dilated. The cervix opening needs to dilate so the baby can easily pass through the birth canal.

On average, the cervix must dilate at least 10 cm for a vaginal delivery. The cervix would’ve dilated about 2 to 3 centimetres when labour kicks in. This indicates that labour is 24 to 48 hours away.

In most cases, your doctor will recommend that you get admitted to the hospital during this period. The final days of your pregnancy can be chaotic both physically and emotionally. Make sure you make the most of it and prepare as much as possible beforehand.

Have a birth plan in place that you’ve shared with the hospital, and do include a Plan B to make things easier for you and your partner. Better preparation will only help you enjoy motherhood and the adventure it brings.

Labour Pains Symptoms When to Go to Hospital

If you’ve been having contractions for a few hours, it’s time to head to the hospital. The first stage of labour is called “early labour,” typically lasting between six and 12 hours. In this phase, your cervix begins to dilate (open up) and thin out in preparation for birth.

Your contractions will continue at regular intervals and become stronger as time goes on. You may also have some bloody show (a small amount of blood-tinged mucus) or experience leakage of amniotic fluid from your vagina. You may feel like you have to go to the bathroom more often than usual or that you need to urinate more frequently during early labour.

If you experience any of these signs and symptoms, get yourself checked by a health professional immediately.

Pregnant woman having pelvic pains

How Will I Know When I Am Having Contractions

While it’s true that many women don’t feel the pain of labour until they’re in the hospital and an epidural has been administered (if they choose), some signs can help you determine if you are in labour.

The first thing to look out for is a change in your cervical fluid. If it’s clear and thin, that’s known as “show.” If it’s cloudy or thick, it might be amniotic fluid leaking. Either scenario can mean labour is near.

Next up is abdominal pain—sometimes called “contractions,” although they’re not always painful! Here’s the thing about this one: pain during pregnancy can be caused by many things—your belly stretching and growing, gas pains, or heartburn from the food you ate earlier today could all be contributing factors to what seems like contractions but may not be contractions at all!

So if you think something might be happening with your baby but aren’t sure whether or not it’s time for a doctor’s visit yet, call your OB-GYN before heading over, just in case!

How to Know if You Are in Active Labour

Are you in active labour? Here’s how to tell.

Active labour is the time leading up to your baby being born when contractions become closer together and more intense. It can feel like an intense period of very uncomfortable cramping with a lot of pressure, or it can feel like milder discomfort with less pressure. The important thing is that you have consistent contractions that get stronger and closer together.

If you’re not sure whether you’re in active labour or not, here are a few things to look for:

Are your contractions regular? Are they about five minutes apart? Contractions should be about five minutes apart for most women during the first stage of labour. You may also notice them getting stronger as the time between them gets shorter.
Are you experiencing back pain? Pelvic pressure is another sign of active labour (though some women don’t experience this). If you’re having back pain along with more intense abdominal cramping, your baby may have dropped into position—which means that it’s almost time for your baby to be born!

You’re on the homestretch, mum! Soon, you will be holding your precious baby in your arms. Relax, and be in constant communication with your gynae. Good luck, we are rooting for you!

Updated by Pheona Ilagan

Cleveland Clinic, NHS, Health Canal

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