Many pregnant moms have wondered how labor will feel, how long it will last, and how to know whether it’s the real deal or a false alarm.

Every birth is different, so it’s hard to predict the answers to all those questions. But knowing the signs of labor to look out for will help provide clues that it’s almost time to meet your baby, including:

  • Strong, frequent contractions
  • Bloody show
  • Belly and lower back pain
  • Water breaking

Other, early signs labor is close (anywhere from a month to mere hours away from active labor) include:

  • Baby drops
  • Cervix begins to dilate
  • Cramps and increased back pain
  • Loose-feeling joints
  • Diarrhea
  • Weight gain stops
  • Fatigue and the nesting instinct

What is labor?

Labor is the process of childbirth, starting with contractions of the uterus and cervical dilation, and ending with the delivery of the baby.

As you get closer to your due date, you may begin to notice some subtle physical signs that labor is coming soon. Then you may see signs of early labor anywhere from hours to days before you transition into active labor and baby arrives.

 

Signs of labor

You have likely gone into true labor if you’ve noticed the following signs, but always check with your practitioner to be sure:

Strong, frequent contractions

You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions (rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by assessing the pain’s frequency, intensity and location. If you’re unsure, ask yourself these questions:

  • Are the contractions evenly spaced? True labor contractions are spaced at regular intervals and become more frequent as time goes on.

  • How long do the contractions last? Real labor contractions last for 30 to 70 seconds each.

  • Are the contractions strong? Actual labor contractions get stronger over time and don’t ease up, even when you change positions. You may not be able to walk or talk through labor contractions once they’ve progressed.