Signs of labor differ from one woman to another. While some women experience very distinct signs of labor, others might not. No one knows what causes labor to start or when it will start, but several hormonal and physical changes that may indicate the beginning of labor include, lightening (baby moves down into the pelvis in preparation for delivery); passing of the mucus plug (opening and thinning of cervix); contractions; water breaking; and effacement and dilation (opening and thinning) of the cervix.

In addition, you can tell labor has begun if:

  • You’re experiencing regular abdominal pains every 2 to 3 minutes in 10-minute duration. It may be helpful to have your husband/mother/sister time how often these are occurring within a 10-minute span.
  •  You feel a gush of fluid or a trickle of liquid coming out of your vagina. This is referred to as a “Spontaneous Rupture of Membrane” meaning that the baby water has broken.
  • You have seen mucus dislodging from your vaginal or blood
  • You feel pressure on your bladder or you are urinating frequently
  •  You are experiencing diarrhea/nausea/vomiting