Anxiety! This is a good word to describe the 9 months of waiting to have a child. While all the preparation, tests, and shopping take place, anxiety also arises—and it comes on strong.

Which parents don’t eagerly look forward to seeing their child’s face? And about 40 weeks later, that usually happens. But how can you be sure that the moment has really arrived? We have prepared a list of signs that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital so you can stay alert when that time finally comes.

Main Signs That Labor Has Begun

First of all, it’s important to remember that not all women experience all the symptoms of labor1. That’s why the list contains several signs, which together, usually indicate that the baby is about to be born.

There are, however, chances the signs could be false or just the body getting ready for when the moment comes. Nevertheless, it is important to know the main signs that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital and be especially attentive if you have more than one of them. The signs are:

  • Contractions
  • Your Water Breaks
  • Loss of the Mucus Plug
  • Lower Belly
  • Stomachache

Let’s talk in more detail about each of them and why they are signs that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital.

Contractions

The well-known contractions are a major indication that a woman is going into labor. But you need to pay attention and notice whether these are really labor contractions or just the body’s preparatory signs.

This is because in the final weeks of pregnancy, women can already feel some contractions, also known as practice contractions. However, when they come at a regular rhythm, felt from the abdomen to the back and become increasingly constant, it’s time to go to the maternity hospital.

Another strong characteristic is that they are quite painful, as the uterus hardens for about 30 seconds and then relaxes, leading to these contractions.

Your Water Breaks

The breaking of the water bag can happen slowly over time or suddenly, with all the fluid coming out at once2. Sometimes the loss of amniotic fluid is confused with urine, especially because some women experience urinary incontinence in the last weeks of pregnancy due to the growing belly.

Many mothers end up panicking at that moment, especially first-timers, thinking they are having the baby right then. Although this is a clear sign that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital, there’s no need to panic when your water breaks. The woman can clean herself, get ready, and go without any rush.

Loss of the Mucus Plug

The mucus plug, or mucous stopper as it is commonly known, is basically a cap made by your body to protect the cervix from different types of bacteria during pregnancy. Its appearance can be very similar to mucus, and when it comes out, it’s usually tinged with blood.

When the mucus plug is expelled from the body, it is a sign that the body is getting ready for the baby to come out, and usually the first sign that the cervix is dilating3. Although this often occurs on the day of labor, it can still take a few days for the baby to be born after it happens.

Lower Belly

Another major sign that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital is when a woman’s belly drops lower and lower. This happens because, after the baby turns head down, they begin settling into the mother’s pelvic bones for birth.

The woman’s breathing also tends to improve when this happens, since the baby is no longer pressing on the diaphragm.

Stomachache

It is also quite common, moments before labor, for women to experience intestinal issues and discomfort. This is a natural reaction of the body, which literally tries to “empty out” the woman so the uterus can dilate even more.

Stomach pain, like other signs that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital, can happen a few days before labor really starts, but it usually becomes stronger on the same day.

False Signs of Labor

Although all these signs point to labor, often they just mean that the body is getting ready, or they may only resemble true signs but don’t mean that the woman is really in labor.

Stomach pain is a good example, since it can occur for various reasons and make a woman think it’s happening because of labor.

Another false sign that makes many women think they are going into labor are Braxton-Hicks contractions, also known as false contractions. These occur sporadically and do not cause much pain or discomfort. They are quite common in the last weeks of pregnancy.

When to Call the Doctor?

When a woman is going into labor, all these signs that it’s time to go to the maternity hospital appear naturally, without any unusual change. Worrying changes, like heavy bleeding, loss of dilation, decreased baby movement, or excessive discharge may be reasons to contact a doctor.

With a quick assessment, the doctor will determine if new exams are needed or even a cesarean section.

But be careful—not to confuse intense pain and intestinal distress with these concerning signs. Pain is common in childbirth and, unless it is so severe that the woman cannot bear it, everything is going well.

There is always anxiety when it comes to a baby’s arrival—whether it’s your first or your fourth child, it is always a special moment. However, this anxiety can often get us mixed up and make us visit the maternity hospital earlier than necessary.

For this reason, it is necessary to pay attention to the real signs and know which ones are false and how each of them happens. That way, it’s much easier to know the right time to go to the maternity hospital.

See also: How to Speed Up Labor?
Photo: Sanjacy