What are the signs of imminent labor?
Towards the end of pregnancy, our whole body and mind are on high alert. The slightest strange sensation (well, we mean stranger than feeling another human being wriggling inside us…) attracts our attention and we ask ourselves repeatedly: is it (FINALLY!?) today?
Very early in pregnancy, doctors set a due date based on the last day of menstruation (a relatively uncertain date for many women). And naturally, we focus on THIS day, which will become one of the most important of our lives. An unforgettable day! Yes, but… science (just like us, for that matter) sometimes seems to forget that this baby is a little person in its own right, with its own sense of humor and timing, and that, despite all possible scientific calculations, weight predictions, height measurements, leg lengths, etc., it will arrive when it pleases, period. Day or evening, weekday, weekend, or holiday (yes, some really have no mercy), before or after the long-awaited D-Day, one thing is certain: you will act according to the baby's needs, not the other way around. However, certain signs—sometimes subtle—can give you a clue.
There are clear signs, such as the oh-so-charming rupture of the amniotic sac, which often happens in public ("Why is the lady peeing herself?") and at a completely incongruous moment ("Could you prepare the bill quickly, please? And if so, we'll just get the rest of the meal to go, thank you!"). Because reaching the end of pregnancy isn't sporty enough, Mother Nature throws in a little joke to top off our personal Airon Man. But other signs of labor are less well-known, yet they still invite you to gently but surely prepare for the very imminent arrival of your little one.
It's a matter of days
You're at full term, you've reached the 37th week of pregnancy, so your baby could arrive at any moment. Some babies make a dramatic and unexpected entrance before this point, so stay alert. What are the warning signs?
- extreme fatigue . That's the theory, because we still wonder what percentage of women are as spry as a fish with a 9-month pregnant belly, especially those who give birth in the summer when the mercury exceeds 30°C.
- The loss of the mucus plug . Yes, another glamorous detail of pregnancy that no one told you about… #you'rewelcomegirls. The mucus plug, which has the delightful appearance of a clump of bloody mucus, is located in the cervix. It provides extra protection for the baby since, as its name suggests, it acts as a seal against the outside. The closer the due date gets, the more the cervix changes, which can lead to the detachment and expulsion of the mucus plug. Labor can then begin within hours or days, as it's a true sign of impending labor, although for some, it will still be two to three weeks before labor begins.
" I lost my mucus plug four days before my due date. I'd already been on sick leave for two weeks because my cervix was dilating and I was having regular contractions. I simply went to the bathroom to urinate, and when I wiped, I noticed a few tiny traces of blood on the toilet paper. PANIC! I looked down the toilet bowl and saw a clump of mucus mixed with blood. Uh-huh?! What?! I used the two brain cells I had left and concluded that I wasn't going into labor or having a miscarriage, that this thing at the bottom of the toilet wasn't my baby, nor a part of him. I calmed down. I realized I wasn't feeling any pain, nothing unusual, no stronger contractions. I Googled it (ah, the poetry of internet searches during pregnancy!)" "Cough with blood, 9 months pregnant," and I discovered what a mucus plug is. I admit I was tempted to take a picture of it to ask my physiotherapist if that was it, but I loved her very much and I finally decided I didn't want to subject her to that at 9:30 a.m. on a Tuesday. — Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM
- A lower belly. For some women, it's quite striking. In just a few days, the belly (and therefore, more specifically, the baby) drops and becomes much more cumbersome. You stop counting how often you have to go to the bathroom and forget about sitting on anything lower than your knees. You won't recover from this on your own, that's for sure. At least not while maintaining your dignity. #saveWilly
- More regular and painful contractions . In truth, they are sometimes painful, sometimes just uncomfortable. These contractions, although regular, are often of low intensity and are called Braxton Hicks contractions. In this case, it is advisable to take a bath. If, once immersed in water, the contractions do not subside, then things are getting serious. It's a bit of a cliché, but we'll say it anyway: if you're wondering if this is "what" a labor contraction is, then it isn't! As the hours or days pass, they will intensify and become closer together until the amniotic sac ruptures and/or labor contractions begin. Not all women experience their water breaking first.
“ I was incredibly lucky during my delivery: my cervix dilated to 6 cm without labor contractions starting. In the euphoria of the moment, I Googled (yes, again!): childbirth without painful contractions. Turns out it's possible, but extremely, extremely rare. During contractions, I felt intense pressure on my stomach, I had trouble breathing, and it wasn't exactly pleasant, but I was able to stand without any problem, I walked, I chatted, I told jokes, I even showed off a little, it's true, 'Did you see? 6 cm and it didn't even hurt!' I asked my physiotherapist and the midwife several times: 'Are you sure these aren't labor contractions?' And they both replied in unison: 'Trust us, you don't look like a woman in labor.' Okay, fine. And then, my water broke.” And then, I started having labor contractions. I only have one thing to say: dear anesthesiologist, I love you. Six hours later, Lily was in my arms. I felt everything, I just didn't feel any more pain. It was a Walt Disney birth. – Marie-Noëlle, Milk Away MUM.
- severe back pain . This refers to intense and unusual back pain. It is a side effect of the contractions accelerating and intensifying.
- A baby who moves less . This is a lesser-known sign and difficult to interpret. Suddenly, the boxing matches inside your womb are over. The baby moves less because there's no more room and is saving its energy for the big slide. Less movement is normal at the very end of pregnancy, but it can also be a bad sign. So don't hesitate to make an appointment with your gynecologist to make sure everything is alright.
It's a matter of hours.
- The rupture of the amniotic sac . From this moment on, everyone wants to tell you: "Let the fun begin!" No doubt about it, labor has started, you can go to the maternity ward. Keep in mind, however, that sometimes the sac leaks slowly, which is much less obvious to notice. If this is your first child, no stress (in any case, there's no point in panicking, forgetting half your things at home, or risking an accident). Set off with joy and good humor (and a little pain too, but hey, the adrenaline will do its job, you'll be fine!). If you already have children, labor is generally faster, so go to the maternity ward without stopping by your mother-in-law's to tell her in person that it's almost time.
"Are these contractions? The sensation reminds me more of painful periods, even though the pains are regular. I'm calling everyone I know to find out if these are labor contractions or the infamous Braxton Hicks contractions. But it's May 1st, a public holiday, it's 5 p.m., and no one is answering. At best, I could have spoken to a midwife hiking up a mountain who would have told me to relax and not worry. Yes, but... the contractions are getting stronger and closer together. I'm 36 weeks pregnant, it's too early! My husband John and I prefer to go to the hospital, even if it means looking silly and being turned away. He asks me if he has time to take a shower. "Of course, my love!" Five minutes later: "Uh, I think my water just broke." "This isn't a false alarm, hurry up, we're on our way!" It's 6:15 PM when we leave, and the hospital is 45 minutes from home. The looooongest 45 minutes of my life, having to overtake all the Sunday grandpas coming back from their walks. Seatbelt between my teeth, feet on the dashboard, labor begins. There they are: the real contractions. At 7 PM, we arrive at the hospital after turning the car into a swimming pool because I feel like I've lost liters of amniotic fluid (#thanksforthecomfort in the car seat). Due to Covid, they first take my temperature, but I can't take it anymore... CAN'T YOU SEE I'M IN LABOR?! The rest of the events are a bit hazy. They came to get me in a wheelchair because I couldn't stand anymore. Once I was lying on a monitoring table, they told me I was already 6 cm dilated. Off to the delivery room. No gynecologist, no epidural, John acted as midwife and at 7:15 pm: Doug was born. Talk about a quick exit! " Aurélie, Milk Away MUM.
Contractions every five minutes for at least an hour. Yes, it's a long time, but the risk is being turned away if you arrive too early and the maternity ward is overcrowded. And that's really the worst-case scenario… If you have any doubts, or if you start to feel stressed, don't hesitate to call the hospital where you'll be giving birth; ask them your questions, explain your symptoms—they're professionals, they'll be able to help you stay calm and tell you what to do and when to come.
We don't wait, we go for it!
- In case of fresh, bright red blood loss , take a deep breath and focus on one goal: getting to the nearest hospital as quickly as possible. Call an ambulance first, and if possible, go to the entrance to expedite the transfer. Blood loss is abnormal but not always serious; only a doctor can confirm this.
- If you feel deep down that something is wrong.
Tick, tock, tick, tock, the big meeting is almost here. Prepare for a tsunami of emotions.
