Signs of Labour

~~~came across this informative article online~~~~

Since you never know when your baby will arrive, it's a good idea for you to be knowledgeable on the signs of labor.

Bloody show - If this is your first pregnancy, you may pass your mucus plug a few weeks before labor actually starts. When you lose your mucus plug, you may notice stringy mucus that is tinged with pink, red, or brown blood.

Sudden burst of energy - Some women go into major nesting mode right before their labor begins. If you've been exhausted, and all of a sudden, you get an unexpected burst of energy, you're nesting. You may have an uncontrollable urge to clean, or reorganize the shelves in your home. Remember not to overdo it. You are going to need your energy for labor and delivery.

Your water breaks - When the amniotic sac breaks, it's time to call your doctor. In most cases, you will already be having contractions when your water breaks. Sometimes, contractions occur afterwards. Unlike on TV, you may not experience a huge gush of water. Rather, you may notice a small trickle of fluid.

Diarrhea - Some pregnant women experience diarrhea in the 24 to 48 hours before they go into labor.

Contractions - At 37 weeks pregnant, if you go into true labor, you will start to experience contractions that get increasingly stronger, last longer, and get closer together. At first, your contractions may be 20 minutes apart, and a few hours later, they are 10 minutes or 5 minutes apart. Sometimes, you may get regular contractions out of the blue and with no warning. Make sure that you talk to your doctor beforehand about when he or she wants you to come in at the onset of real contractions.