When you’re close to your baby’s due date, each day that passes can feel like 100. Time becomes relentless — just like calls from well-meaning loved ones asking if you’re still pregnant. You need a sign (anything!) to signal that labor is near. But do signs that labor is 24 to 48 hours away exist? Show
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy “There are no real rules with labor. It is completely variable. If you take 10 women, you’re going to get 10 different stories about what it was like for them before they went into labor — even between pregnancies,” says Ob/Gyn Jonathan Emery, MD. But take heart! Dr. Emery says there are four early signs of labor that may just happen to you. Four early signs of laborSigns that labor is imminent are a bit of a moving target. There’s no step-by-step list of how it all goes down, and the only thing you can count on is that your experience will be unique to you. “The frequency and intensity of contractions determines labor,” says Dr. Emery. “But there are some physical symptoms that happen during that time.” 1. CrampsSome women feel the type of cramps that usually happen with menstruation. “These cramps are different than Braxton Hicks, which are usually painless false contractions that happen when the uterus tightens,” explains Dr. Emery. “These period-like cramps may be the beginning of mild contractions. They’re not too painful, but they’re noticeable. They may come and go over hours or even a couple of days.” 2. Pelvic pressureYou may start to feel pressure in your vagina or pelvis. “This may be due to ‘lightening,’ which is when the baby drops down from the abdomen. Some women feel lightening as pelvic pressure or even low back pain,” says Dr. Emery. “But keep in mind that some women don’t experience this drop until they’re in actual labor.” 3. Loss of the mucus plugSome women notice a change in their vaginal discharge, which may signal the passing of their mucus plug. The mucus plug is an accumulation of mucus that forms a seal over the cervix’s opening. It helps protect the baby from unhealthy bacteria outside of the uterus. As the cervix starts opening in preparation for labor, you may lose the mucus plug (also called bloody show) in one blob or gradually. “Decades ago, people used to think that if a woman passed her mucus plug, it meant that she would be in labor in a certain number of days. But now we know that it can be nonspecific. You can lose the mucus plug, not go into labor, and the mucus can even re-accumulate in the cervix.” 4. Changes in your vaginal dischargeEven if the mucus plug stays intact, you may notice other changes to your vaginal discharge. “It can become more watery, stickier and thicker, or maybe a little pink before labor begins or at the early stages of labor,” says Dr. Emery. Other signs labor could be nearDr. Emery says that while there are other potential signs of labor, they have less real science to back them up. These signs of labor include:
“One or more of these labor signs might happen for some women, but there’s no clear evidence that they’re related to pre-labor or early labor.” What to do if you think you’re in laborIf you think labor has started, Dr. Emery says you should time your contractions. When they are happening every five minutes and are so strong that you can’t walk or talk, call your prenatal provider. The waiting game is finally over! You have nine months, give or take, to prepare yourself for labor. You’ve read up on it, talked to your friends and consulted with your doctor or midwife about pain relief options. In the process, you may learn about back labor — or pain in the lower back during labor that's usually linked to your baby's position. Back labor can be unrelenting and very painful, especially when you're having contractions. The good news is, there are a lot of effective ways to relieve back labor pain. What's more, the majority of babies flip into the proper position all on their own before it's time to make the final push. Here's more on back labor and what to do to manage the pain. What is back labor?Back labor is intense pain and discomfort experienced in the lower back during labor. It usually happens when a baby is positioned with his head down toward your cervix but is facing forward, toward your stomach. The vast majority of babies turn to face backwards on their own before their moms are ready to deliver. What causes back labor pains?The main cause of back labor is a baby’s position during labor. For most women who experience back labor, their babies are positioned "sunny-side up." That means your baby’s head is nestled down by your cervix, but he's facing your stomach instead of your back. (Your doctor would more formally call this the "occiput posterior position", by the way.) If your baby is facing your tummy, the back of his head (the hardest part) pushes down on your spine and tailbone. This presses on spinal nerves, causing pain. When babies are positioned head down and face their mothers' backs with their chins tucked up into their chests (formally known as the "occiput anterior position"), their heads are less likely to press on the spine and cause back labor pain. This position is also ideal for labor because the head is lined up to fit through the pelvis as easily as possible. Continue Reading Below Read This NextFortunately, odds are good that your baby will flip all on his own. While up to 20 percent of babies in the heads-down position face forwards up at term, only about 5 percent of babies haven't turned around the other way by the time their moms' deliver. It's possible you’ll still experience back labor even if your baby is facing your back. That may be because he was sunny-side up but recently flipped, leaving your back feeling extra sensitive. Other times, it just seems to be the luck of the draw: Some women simply experience more back pain during labor than others. What does back labor feel like?As delivery day approaches, your practitioner will try to determine which way your baby is facing. If you're in a hurry to find out, look for these clues:
Once contractions start, back labor feels like strong pain in your lower back that gets worse during each contraction and doesn't usually subside as things progress. Signs of back laborHow will you know whether you're experiencing back labor? Signs of back labor might include:
When to go to the hospital with back laborYour doctor has likely given you a list of the signs that suggest it may be time to head to the hospital during labor. During early labor (when contractions are irregular, coming every five minutes or more, and lasting about 30 to 45 seconds each), you're best off resting at home. Keep in mind, early labor can last for a few hours to a few days. No matter which position your baby is in, give your doctor a call if:
Back labor vs. back pain: how can you tell the difference?With the weight of your growing uterus shifting your weight forward and the pregnancy hormone relaxin loosening your joints, back pain is a common pregnancy complaint. It often starts in the second to third trimester and gets worse as pregnancy progresses. With normal pregnancy back pain, your lower back and upper hips feel constantly achy, stiff or sore. Back labor, on the other hand, is much more intense back pain that begins when you’re in labor. While you might feel consistent back labor pain until you deliver, you'll likely notice it gets much worse during contractions and noticeably subsides between contractions. Back labor vs. regular laborLabor contractions can cause pain in just the lower abdomen or the lower abdomen and the back. Normal labor contractions feel like intense menstrual cramps that come and go with increasing intensity. Regular contractions are only slightly felt in the back. Back labor is much more intense pain in your lower back. The pain in your back tends to continue between contractions and gets particularly uncomfortable at the height of a contraction. Are there risk factors for back labor?There's no surefire way to know whether you’ll experience back labor, since back labor risks vary from person to person. Some research, however, has suggested that you may be at greater risk if you:
Is back labor more harmful than regular labor?Back labor itself doesn’t cause any more complications for your baby than regular labor. However, back labor may be more uncomfortable and increase the chances of some complications for you. Babies delivered in the sunny-side up (occiput posterior) position may be more likely to have a lower five-minute Apgar score, but their score tends to be the same as babies delivered in the standard (occiput anterior) position by 10 minutes after birth. They may also be more likely to be admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Back labor may take longer versus regular labor because your baby may have a harder time extending his head from under your pubic bone. You may also experience more pain than regular labor given all of the pressure on your spine, so you might be more likely to ask for an epidural or other medical pain relief. Some research suggests that back labor increases the likelihood of having:
How can I prevent back labor pain?Is your baby still in the sunny-side up position as your due date approaches? There's no research-backed way to prevent back labor. Some midwives suggest giving the following tactics a shot:
Remember, most babies turn from one position to another all on their own, so don't worry too much about which way your little one is facing before labor begins. What can I do to relieve back labor pain?If your baby is still in the sunny-side up position when you go into labor, you have a number of options for back labor pain relief:
If your baby is still in the face-up position during the second stage of labor and your labor is taking too long, your practitioner may try to turn your baby manually. Otherwise, you may be able to deliver with your baby still facing toward your tummy, or your doctor may suggest a C-section. Though back labor can be quite painful, the good news is it will be over as soon as you've given birth. And once you see your beautiful new baby, the pain will seem well worth it. From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. Was this article helpful? Does pelvic pressure mean labor is coming?Many women notice more pelvis pressure as the baby's head descends in her pelvis. Some call this “lightening” and it can happen weeks before or just as labor is starting. Some women start to have more nausea and loose stools or even diarrhea as the body is preparing for labor.
Does lower back pain mean you are dilating?#2: Backache and Menstrual Like Cramps
Like lightening crotch which can occur throughout pregnancy, backache and cramps can simply be pregnancy or dilation. As baby descends and applies pressure to the cervix, back pain can begin or worsen.
Why do I feel a lot of pressure in my pelvic area 38 weeks pregnant?Some women may develop pelvic pain in pregnancy. This is sometimes called pregnancy-related pelvic girdle pain (PGP) or symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD). PGP is a collection of uncomfortable symptoms caused by a stiffness of your pelvic joints or the joints moving unevenly at either the back or front of your pelvis.
When should I go to the hospital for back labor?If you're having very painful contractions every 5 minutes that last for about a minute, you're probably in labor. Add back pain to this and you may also be experiencing back labor. Take a deep breath, call your OB, and head to the hospital.
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