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How will you know when you're really and truly in labor? Here are 5 of the most important symptons.




It's been a long nine months and you're anxiously awaiting the big moment. How will you know when you're finally in labor? According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the following symptoms indicate the onset of labor:

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Bloody show: You notice a pink stain on your underwear or toilet tissue. This indicates that you lost the mucus plug.

Rupture of membranes: You feel fluid gush or trickle from your vagina, indicating that the bag of water containing your baby has ruptured.

Regular contractions that intensify: You feel contractions that are frequent and increasingly painful. They don't go away but instead intensify with physical activity.

Pain in lower back: You feel a regular and intense pain in your lower back that radiates to your lower abdomen and sometimes even to your legs.

Cramps that feel like intestinal upset: You feel cramping that seems like the onset of diarrhea, and you may actually experience diarrhea.

If you're not sure you're in labor, call your doctor and discuss your symptoms. If you feel that you are definitely in labor, call your doctor and ask her for instructions or to meet you at the hospital.

Important note: Don't insert tampons, take a tub bath, or have intercourse after the rupture of membranes. If the fluid from the rupture is tinted green, brown, or gold, contact your doctor immediately. This is a possible sign of fetal distress.

Now the moment you've been waiting for all these months is imminent. Get ready to experience the most life-altering event you could ever imagine, and have faith in your body's ability to deliver its most precious cargo.

Source: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists

Reviewed 2/01 by Jane Forester, MD

The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. You should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your pediatrician or family doctor. Please consult a doctor with any questions or concerns you might have regarding your own or your child's condition.

• Quiz: Am I About to Go into Labor? >>
• Signs of Approaching Labor >>
• The Lowdown on Labor >>

Source: AmericanBaby.com - American Baby online

More in Understanding Labor
• Labor Inductions on the Rise
• Checklist: Signs of Preterm Labor
• The Lowdown on Labor


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