The start of labor feels different for every woman. The length of labor varies, too. If this is your first baby, you can expect your labor to last about 12 to 20 hours. Labor for a second or later child is often shorter and easier.
How to Know You Are in LaborThe start of labor feels different for every woman. The length of labor varies, too. If this is your first baby, you can expect your labor to last about 12 to 20 hours. Labor for a second or later child is often shorter and easier.What is labor?Labor is how your body prepares to give birth. The muscles in your uterus, or womb, start to tighten and then relax. These are the contractions, or labor pains, you feel. They help dilate, or widen, the cervix, which is the opening of the uterus. They also help move the baby out of the uterus and down the vagina, or birth canal. Labor is a good name for this process because it’s often a lot of work.When does labor start?Most women start to go into labor around the baby’s due date. This is typically around 40 weeks of pregnancy. But you can’t predict when your labor will actually start.If you are having signs of labor before 37 weeks of pregnancy, call your healthcare provider right away. You may be going into preterm labor.How to know you are in laborYour contractions may feel mild or very uncomfortable, depending upon your past experience with pain and your ability to handle it. When you feel strong, frequent, and regular contractions, you are in labor. You may also have pain in your lower back.Call your healthcare provider if any of these things happen:If you are in labor or think you are; When your contractions are between 5 and 10 minutes apart; If you can’t walk or talk during your contractions; If you have a brown or reddish discharge called bloody show; orAs soon as your water breaks, especially if it is green or brown in color. If this happens, don’t wait for contractions to start. When you may be in false laborMany women also experience false labor, or Braxton Hicks contractions. These are irregular contractions in the uterus.Unlike during true labor, these contractions usually don’t get stronger or more frequent. And they may stop if you move, rest, or change positions.You can often tell the difference between true and false labor by timing your contractions. But sometimes you may need to see your healthcare provider to know for sure.What we have learnedMost women go into labor around 40 weeks of pregnancy. True or false? The answer is "true." If labor starts before 37 weeks, call your healthcare provider right away. You may be going into preterm labor.Contractions help move the baby out of the uterus and down the birth canal. True or false? The answer is "true." When you are in labor, your contractions will be strong, regular, and frequent.False labor is rare. True or false? The answer is "false." Many women experience false labor, or Braxton Hicks contractions, before they go into true labor.
Author: Semko, Laura
Date Last Reviewed: 05/01/2020
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