And 9 months later… the anxiety gets intense! Knowing that the moment of birth is near is one of the reasons the end of pregnancy feels extremely long. And we really should be prepared for labor at any time, since you never know when the baby might arrive. Even if you, like me, have scheduled a C-section, it’s good to stay attentive to the signs of labor. I’ve read and watched countless stories of people who had a scheduled C-section and their little one decided to come early.

So how do you recognize the signs of labor? Besides the obvious breaking of the water, there are other signs that may help1. In some women, labor signs are quite subtle and when they go to the maternity ward, they find out they’re already dilated. Others have very clear labor signs, such as tightening of the belly and strong contractions.

How Do I Know If It’s a Contraction?

Contraction pains can occur both in the belly and in the back. For some women, they’re so intense they can’t even sit down, while for others it’s barely painful. These pains are not always accompanied by dilation, and there’s no set pattern for all women.

This is almost impossible, in reality, because each body and pregnancy is different. The ideal is to stay alert and always have your obstetrician’s phone number at hand, since you never know what could happen or when it will happen, especially. But if you are over 36 weeks pregnant and start having cramps and a hard belly, it’s time to go to the maternity emergency room.

How to Identify the Signs That the Time Has Come?

  • Back pain similar to severe menstrual cramps.
  • Losing the mucus plug2, a mucus with blood or pink or blood-tinged discharge that comes out of the cervix to clear the way for the baby.
  • Rhythmic tightening of the belly with or without pain and with an interval of 15 or 10 minutes. Contractions become frequent and very regular, which means labor may have started.
  • A very soft cervix also means labor is getting closer! This is the so-called “effaced cervix” often mentioned in doctor’s offices.
  • And last but not least, the broken water bag! But attention, sometimes when your water breaks it’s not the big gush like in the movies. It could happen as it did for me, a partial rupture that lets the fluid leak out with no big drama for the mom. It’s important to monitor, and any unusual sign of wetness should be investigated.

If your water breaks, stay calm—you have up to 24 hours for the baby to be born safely. But never allow the doctor to let you go beyond this deadline, as it will be necessary to receive intravenous antibiotics to prevent infection risks3. Usually, doctors opt for a C-section, but if you want a vaginal birth, don’t hesitate! Talk to your doctor about your birth plan and see if your choices are possible!

Readers’ Questions:

Will I Feel Intense Pain at the Beginning of Labor?

Before labor begins, the body gives off signals that the big moment is coming. Discomfort and aches are natural at the end of pregnancy, but the most intense ones only happen during active labor and close to the baby’s birth.

How Do I Know if I’m in Labor?

Labor is only definite when it’s determined that contractions are regular and rhythmic. The mother can make notes of the time of each contraction, confirming at the hospital through the cardiotocography exam.

See also: Natural Birth – The Strength and Beauty of Being a Woman

Photo: Pais&Filhos, Sempre Materna