'The mucous plug, commonly known as 'the show' can appear just before labour starts to a couple of weeks before,' points out Kitt. It might come away in small clear bits or it could be streaked with blood and be quite stringy,' she adds.īut, don't assume the arrival of the show means the birth will definitely be imminent. 'As your cervix softens and prepares for labour, the show can come away and you might find it when you visit the toilet. 'The show, or operculum, is the mucous plug that seals your cervix internally,' expert Halliday explains. To find out exactly what the early labour signs are, we spoke to Liz Halliday, Deputy Head of Midwifery at Private Midwives, and Beth Kitt, NHS midwife and founder of The Bump to Baby Chapter. While waters breaking and contractions are typical signs labour is approaching, there are some slightly more surprising (and subtle, we should add) indications that you're about to give birth. You should time the frequency and duration of your contractions for at least an hour.We all know how the early signs of labour unfold in movies usually with the mum-to-be's waters breaking at the least opportune moment, at which point she's whisked off to hospital and emerges shortly after, fresh-faced, with child.īut needless to say, this isn't how it always happens in real life. This is how far apart your contractions are. To time the frequency of your contractions, start from the beginning of the first contraction to the start of the next contraction. When the uterus softens (pain/discomfort ends), that is when the contraction ends. When your uterus begins to feel hard (pain/discomfort starts), that is when the contraction begins. To time a contraction, put your hand on your abdomen. A good way for you to tell the difference is to time the contractions. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference between false labor and true labor without having your cervix checked by a doctor or nurse. These irregular contractions “false labor pains” are called Braxton Hicks contractions.

They may become very uncomfortable or even painful. These irregular contractions may increase in frequency and intensity as your due date approaches.

Contractions: Throughout the second half of your pregnancy you may have noticed your abdomen getting hard, then soft again, or you may feel like the baby is “balling up”.

If your “bag of waters” breaks, with or without contractions, you should go to the hospital. The fluid should be clear, but it may be green or blood tinged. This may happen a few hours before the onset of contractions, or at any time during labor.

Rupture of Membranes: This is when the amniotic sac that surrounds the baby (“bag of waters”) breaks.

Many women do not even notice losing their mucous plug. This “show” may occur a few days or even a few weeks before labor begins.

The mucous can be green (snot-like) or blood tinged (bloody show). It may come out in one piece or in small amounts. When the cervix begins to thin and open, this discharge is expelled through the vagina.

During pregnancy, a thick mucous plug covers the cervix to serve as a barrier against infection. Discharge: This is more commonly referred to as “show”, or your mucous plug.If this is not your first baby, “lightening” usually occurs immediately before or even during labor.

You may suddenly find it easier to breath but now feel the need to urinate more frequently. With a first pregnancy this can happen 2-3 weeks before labor begins. Lightening: This is when the baby “drops” down into the birth canal.However, there are a few things you may experience as labor approaches. Unfortunately, no one can tell you the exact time you will go into labor.

Nausea close to due date