Labor & Delivery

Am I in labor?

It can be difficult to determine if you are in labor. There are often signs that signal the beginning of labor. These signs can be noticeable several days to weeks before you actually begin labor.

· Nesting: a spurt of energy experienced by some women. Cleaning house, doing laundry, shopping, etc. This is nature’s way of giving a woman extra energy for her labor.

· Lightening: the baby’s head drops into the pelvis. Your abdomen will appear lower after the baby drops. It may feel easier to breathe, and you may notice some relief of heartburn. You may experience backaches, pelvic pressure, and more frequent urination. Lightening can happen 2-6 weeks before labor actually begins with your first pregnancy.

· Loose bowel movements: this can occur from 24-48 hours before labor begins to clean out the lower bowel for delivery.

· Vaginal secretions: discharge of thick mucus (mucus plug) that has accumulated at the cervix.

· Effacement and dilation: thinning and opening of the cervix. These processes can begin before the start of labor and can be determined by a vaginal exam done at the office visits. True labor is the combination of these two events.

· Braxton-Hicks contractions: (or False Labor) These contractions prepare the uterus for labor and usually do not cause dilation.

· Maternal weight: Leveling off or weight loss without dieting may be noticed the last few days before labor begins. Some women lose as much as 1-3 pounds of body water.

· Water breaking: This could be a trickle of fluid or a gush of fluid from your vagina.

Just like the rest of your pregnancy, labor and delivery are very personalized. Every woman will have her own experience.

The Three Stages of Labor

1st Stage: From the beginning of labor until your cervix is fully dilated or opened. This stage is further divided into three phases: early, active and transition.

· Early Phase: The early phase of labor lasts from the start of labor until the cervix is dilated to 3 centimeters. For most women this is the longest stage of labor.

· Active Phase: The active phase of labor is from 3-7 centimeters of dilation.

· Transition Phase: The transition phase is from 7-10 centimeter of dilation, or complete dilation.

2nd Stage: Beginning with complete dilation and ending with the delivery of your baby, the 2nd stage is when you get to actively push your baby down and out.

3rd Stage: This stage usually lasts from 5-30 minutes. Beginning after the baby is born and ending with the delivery of the placenta.

For more information visit familydoctor.org.