Common prelabor signs

Technically "common" isn't the right word, because while some prelabor symptoms happen more than others that doesn't necessarily mean you'll experience them. All mamas head into early labor differently. Physical changes that can occur prelabor may happen as much as a month or more before labor starts or as little as hours before. Most midwives and doctors characterize prelabor as the time when cervical effacement and dilatation begins. The following signs are also considered signs that prelabor has maybe started...

• Change in your vaginal discharge such as it gets thicker or the amount increases.
• You may be getting more tired quicker - say if you go for a long walk it might wear you out faster than before. However, note that another sign of prelabor is often weird bursts of energy (i.e. what often leads to nesting).
• Loss of weight or a super slowing of weight gain (weeeeee!)
• You may feel like there's more pressure in your pelvis and rectum areas.
• You may notice a pinkish or reddish show - or this coloring in your urine or on your undies. As your cervix stretches little capillaries in said cervix may rupture causing a little blood. This is nothing to be alarmed about so long as you're not bleeding more than a bit.
• Pretend contractions, called Braxton Hicks, may increase in intensity or frequency or both.

All of the above may or may not happen to you. If you are experiencing these signs it can mean that REAL labor is getting very close to starting OR it could mean you're having early signs but labor is still a ways off. I know, that sucks. It's hard to have new signs and symptoms and not know how close labor is, but that's nature. If none of the above signs are giving you any trouble, you can go about your day. If any of the above is causing you a lot of pain, major discomfort, or making you very worried talk to your midwife or doctor.