The day before labor, you might feel physically different with signs like cramps, lower back pain, loose joints, diarrhea, frequent urination, or a "bloody show," while emotionally you might experience intense fatigue or a strong nesting instinct, but these signs vary, and labor can start hours or weeks later, so it's a mix of physical readiness and unpredictability, say experts from Pregnancy, Birth and Baby, The Bump, eMedicineHealth, and Healthline.
8 Symptoms Before Labor Starts
While there is no way to know when labor is 24 to 48 hours away, labor signs include a bloody show, Braxton Hicks contractions, labor contractions, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, lower back pain, rupture of the amniotic sac (“water breaking”), and nesting instinct.
Pelvic pressure
As the baby drops lower into the pelvis, you might feel a heavier sensation in your lower abdomen. Along with cramps, this increased pressure can signal that labor is approaching, so it's important to pay attention to these kinds of changes and silent labor signs.
When real contractions start, they'll be stronger, more frequent, and will eventually come at regular intervals. Sometimes these first real labor contractions will feel like strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset, or bad back pain.
Early Labor
You will experience mild, irregular contractions that feel similar to period cramps. You may notice a thick, stringy discharge of your mucus plug, which can happen up to 2 weeks week before labor. Early labor can last several hours to several days and tends to take longer for first-time moms.
"Very painful cramping and tightening that started at the top of my uterus and spread downward and through my back." "Like the cramps you get with a really bad stomach flu, but they last longer!" "Labor feels like charley horses in your lower abdomen."
Early dilation often feels like menstrual cramps as the cervical changes cause pain and cramping noticed in the lower part of the uterus. It is the same sensation and location as menstrual cramps. Active labor tends to be felt in a larger area but can be a similar sensation as cramping (with more intensity of course).
Nausea is a common but often surprising experience for many women as they approach labor. While morning sickness and nausea are typically associated with the early stages of pregnancy, experiencing nausea before labor is not unusual.
True labor contractions build up over time. They may begin as a cramp or feeling of pressure, but within a few hours, they tend to get stronger and come closer together. You're also more likely to have true labor contractions in the last few weeks of your pregnancy.
The signs of labor will vary for every pregnant person; some symptoms may be more subtle than others. Some early signs of early labor include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, increased bowel movements, lower back pain, cervical dilation and effacement and the loss of the mucus plug.
Other signs labor could be near
It's not unusual to feel like your water might break even if it hasn't happened yet. Some women notice a sensation of pressure, slight wetness, or different feelings in the lower belly or vaginal area before the amniotic sac actually ruptures.
Lightening – feeling the baby drop. With your first baby, this usually occurs 2-3 days before your due date. After it occurs, you might experience frequent urination, pelvic pressure, or increased swelling or cramps in your legs, often in one leg more than the other.
Many women describe pre-labor fatigue as a slowing down of the body—much like moving through molasses. They sleep hours upon hours in the few days prior to labor. They cannot seem to find the energy to get off the couch or participate in their normal activities.
5 Signs That You're Really in Labor
Early signs of labour include cramps, a 'show' or your waters breaking. A 'show' is bloodstained vaginal discharge. Braxton Hicks contractions are not true labour contractions.
There are often early signs, like your baby dropping, cramping, or a nesting urge that show up days (or even weeks) beforehand. When contractions become stronger, longer, and more regular — especially paired with symptoms like a bloody show or water breaking — you're likely in early or active labor.
Just over half of all births were spontaneous births following labours which started spontanously. These were most likely to occur between 1:00 and 6.59am with a peak around 4:00am, and a trough in the afternoon. They were slightly more likely to happen on weekdays than on other days.
The 7 cardinal movements of labor are: engagement, descent, flexion, internal rotation, extension, external rotation, and expulsion.
The head tends to move further into the pelvis, compressing the lower abdomen, one of the first indicators that your body is preparing for labour. A few women can have lower back pain, a feeling of pelvic heaviness, or an energy boost. It's worth noting that these changes do not happen at the same rate for all women.
Loose bowel movements can happen 24–48 hours before labor. Nesting is a spurt of energy some women may experience before labor begins. You may want to clean the house, wash clothing, or shop for groceries.
Some potential symptoms of your cervix softening include: Pelvic pressure. When your cervix effaces, you may feel pressure down there, Thiel says. The pressure from baby's head could contribute to the thinning of your cervix and may cause some discomfort.
1 centimeter fits one finger tightly. 2 centimeters fits one finger loosely. 3 centimeters fits 2 fingers tightly. 4 centimeters is 2 loose fingers.
Some women will have backache and cramps, or episodes of contractions that could last a few hours, but then stop and start again the next day. This phase can take from 6-10 hours up to 2-3 days although it is often much shorter for 2nd and subsequent babies.