Signs of labor
Though no one can predict when labor will begin, a pregnancy is considered full-term at 39 weeks. One mom can have all the signs that her body is ready to deliver, yet she may not have the baby for weeks. Another mom may have no advance signs before she goes into active labor.
Giving birth is a natural process. Your body is designed to give you cues that labor is going to start soon. Here are some of the ways it might let you know, “Its’s time!”
You have contractions
If you feel contractions regularly every 10 to 15 minutes, lasting 30 seconds or more – especially if they don’t go away when you move around – labor has probably started. Learn how to count your contractions to determine whether or not you’re in labor on the next page.
Your water breaks
This usually means labor will start within a day. If your water breaks or if you think you might be leaking fluid, call your labor and delivery department. Let us know when it happened and what color the fluid was, and we’ll walk you through what to do next.
You have bloody discharge
This is sometimes called a “bloody show,” and it happens when you pass the mucus plug that sealed off your uterus during pregnancy to protect your growing baby. It’s one of the steps your body goes through to prepare for delivery, and it could mean labor is about to begin. However, sometimes the bloody show happens up to 3 weeks before your baby is really ready to arrive. Call us if it happens to you, and we’ll let you know if it’s time to head to the hospital or not.
Your baby drops
If you’re a first-time mom, your baby might start settling into your pelvis a few weeks before you deliver, so it’s not always a sign of labor. If you’ve given birth before, you’re more likely to go into labor right after your baby drops.
No matter how much you’ve prepared, it’s normal to be unsure, anxious, or a little scared when you start labor. Just remember that your body was made to do this, try to stay calm, and give us a call. Kaiser Permanente delivered more than 101,000 babies last year, so you’re in good hands with your labor and delivery team.
Contractions
A contraction is a tightening of the uterus that feels like cramping or pressure. You should feel it over your entire uterus and possibly into your back. As labor progresses, your contractions become more frequent and regular, so timing them is a good way to figure out when it’s time to head to the hospital.
Timing is everything. Here’s how it works:
- Start timing your contractions once you feel a few in a row.
- Time the length of each contraction. If the tightness lasts for 30 seconds or longer, they’re labor contractions.
- Count the time between contractions from the start of one to the start of the next.
If this is your first baby, come to the hospital when your contractions:
- come every 3 to 5 minutes over an hour-long period
- last at least 45 to 60 seconds
If you’ve given birth before, come to the hospital when your contractions:
- come every 5 to 7 minutes
- last at least 45 to 60 seconds
For an easy way to keep track, print the contractions chart from kp.org/maternity, or download a dedicated app — there are many to choose from — to monitor your contractions.
When should I go to the hospital?
The key to knowing when you’re in labor is that contractions start to get longer, stronger, and closer together. You’ll feel them even when you change positions and are walking or moving around.
After a while, it will become hard for you to talk during a contraction. You may have to stop to focus on your breathing.
When your contractions become strong and regular and last about a minute, it’s time to call us and go to the hospital.
Call the Kaiser Permanente Health Line at 404-365-0966 If you experience any of the following: (dedicated registered nurses are available by phone 24 hours a day)
- vaginal bleeding resembling a period
- regular contractions for an hour (about 4 or more in 20 minutes, or about 8 or more in 1 hour, even after you have had a glass of water and are resting)
- sudden release of fluid from your vagina. (it is possible to mistake a leak of amniotic fluid for a problem with bladder control)
- lower back pain or pelvic pressure that does not go away
- your baby has stopped moving or is moving much less than normal
- you have symptoms of infection, including:
- your belly hurts when you press on it
- you have a fever that you can’t explain
- you feel unusually tired
- you have intestinal cramps
You or someone else should call 911 immediately if you think you may need emergency care.
Call if you:
- have severe vaginal bleeding
- have severe pain in your belly or pelvis
Resources
Enrolling Your Baby in Kaiser Permanente
Learn how to select a health plan for your bundle of joy.
How to reach us
Need to make an appointment with your care provider? Feeling something unusual or like you’re going into labor? Want advice about breastfeeding? We’re here for your call.
