Labor and delivery (11)
- Inducing labor: When to wait, when to induce
- Labor pain: Weigh your options for relief
- Stages of labor: Baby, it's time!
- see all in Labor and delivery
Postpartum care (7)
- Maternity leave: Tips for returning to work
- Exercise after pregnancy: How to get started
- Weight loss after pregnancy: Reclaiming your body
- see all in Postpartum care
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Signs of labor: Know what to expect
By Mayo Clinic staffNo one knows for sure what triggers labor — and every woman's experience is unique. But there are some typical signs of labor, and understanding them can help you know what to expect as your due date approaches.
Lightening: Adjusting the pressure
One of the first signs of labor may be lightening — a sensation that your baby is settling deeper into your pelvis. The baby's new position may make it easier for you to breathe, but may send you to the bathroom more often.
If this is your first pregnancy, lightening may occur weeks or days before labor begins. For subsequent pregnancies, it may not happen ahead of time. You may notice obvious changes or not notice anything.
Effacement: Ripening of the cervix
Your cervix prepares for birth by softening and thinning (effacing), a change you won't feel. Your health care provider will check for signs of cervical change during vaginal exams.
Effacement is often expressed in percentages. When you're 50 percent effaced, your cervix is half its original thickness. Your cervix must be 100 percent effaced, or completely thinned out, before a vaginal delivery.
Dilation: Opening of the cervix
Your cervix will also begin to open (dilate). Your health care provider will measure the dilation in centimeters from zero to 10.
These cervical changes may begin slowly. In fact, you could be dilated 2 to 3 centimeters for days or weeks before your labor begins. Once you're in active labor, expect to dilate more quickly.
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