Top 11 Signs of Approaching Labor Every Expecting Mom Should Know

Frequent urination is common for any expectant mother, but as childbirth approaches, the frequency increases. The pressure on the pelvic area from the descending baby stimulates the bladder, causing more frequent urination. Additionally, stimulation of the rectal area results in increased bowel movements.

If frequent urination alone is not a definitive sign of an impending delivery, increased bowel movements are more reliable. During the earlier stages of pregnancy, many mothers face challenges with constipation, and as they approach the final stretch, the ease and frequency of bowel movements increase. This transition often relieves discomfort and is more prevalent.

Mothers often share the saying 'Three times down, ready to give birth,' but this isn't always accurate. Whether blood flows to the legs varies for each expectant mother—early or late, and in abundance or scarcity. Recognizing impending delivery through the sign of blood flow to the legs differs from blood flow due to a medical condition, a situation that occurs when mothers have proteinuria. If urinary tests show no signs of protein, you can rely on the sign of blood flow to the legs to estimate the delivery time.

Why does blood flow to the legs?
Because the feet are far from the heart, arterial blood returning to the heart takes time, leading to accumulation and causing swelling. Additionally, as the pregnancy progresses and the baby's size increases, it puts pressure on the veins, making it more challenging for blood to return to the heart.

What can mothers do to reduce this phenomenon?

• Drink plenty of water
• Do not hold back urine
• Eat a bland diet
• Exercise, soak your feet in hot water before bedtime to improve blood circulation
• Elevate your legs

When mothers experience blood flow to the legs in the ninth month of pregnancy, it could be a warning sign of imminent childbirth.

Considered one of the clearest signs indicating that a new life is about to enter the world, the rupture of the amniotic sac allows mothers and their little ones to meet within a few hours. However, this phenomenon only occurs in about 10% of pregnancies; other cases involve the sac breaking during labor.

How does the rupture occur?

The rupture of the amniotic sac is the phenomenon of the amniotic sac protruding and releasing white fluid, sometimes mixed with brown or pink fluid.
The occurrence of the rupture of the amniotic sac varies for each expectant mother. Many describe it as if a water balloon has burst, with fluid flowing rapidly, strongly, and forming a stream from the vagina without pain. Although some mothers experience a rupture, the amniotic fluid may only leak slowly, resembling the phenomenon of water leakage.

What should mothers do when the amniotic sac ruptures?

When the amniotic sac ruptures after the 37th week of pregnancy, it means the baby is ready to be born. The amniotic fluid is a supportive environment, protecting the baby; therefore, once the amniotic sac ruptures, mothers need to be taken to a medical facility immediately to deliver the baby, avoiding complications such as suffocation, malnutrition, and fetal distress. When the rupture of the amniotic sac occurs, mothers should avoid vigorous movements as the baby no longer has the protective 'cushion' of amniotic fluid.

Imagine the amniotic sac as a water-filled balloon, and when the balloon bursts, releasing the water abruptly, it is called amniotic sac rupture. If only a small hole is punctured, and the fluid leaks slowly, it is referred to as amniotic fluid leakage. Amniotic fluid leakage can occur throughout pregnancy, and its impact varies at different stages.

However, not every pregnant mother recognizes this change because amniotic fluid, if not carefully observed, can be easily confused with urine. A helpful way for pregnant mothers to distinguish is to test with litmus paper; if the litmus paper changes color upon contact with the suspected amniotic fluid, then it is indicative of amniotic fluid leakage.

As pregnancy progresses, mothers need to pay attention to amniotic fluid leakage, as excessive leakage can lead to oligohydramnios, causing serious consequences. When amniotic fluid leakage occurs near the expected delivery date, it may be a sign for the mother to prepare for a ready birthing position.

Unlike the typical Braxton-Hicks contractions that occur in the later months of pregnancy, experiencing frequent and more intense contractions is the earliest sign indicating that the mother is about to give birth.

Mothers need to differentiate between physiological contractions and labor contractions. If the physiological contractions occur irregularly, do not cause significant discomfort, last about 30-60 seconds, and can be relieved by changing positions, while labor contractions bring intense discomfort, start from the lower back, spread to the lower abdomen and legs; contractions occur continuously about 5-7 minutes apart, even if the mother changes positions, the pain persists and does not subside.

What should mothers do?

Mothers are advised to seek medical attention when experiencing 3 contractions in 10 minutes.

This is a common sign for many expectant mothers during pregnancy, but as the due date approaches and the abdomen moves downward, women will feel more lower back pain, and some pregnant women will experience pain starting in the pelvic bone area and then rotating around the pelvic bone.

At this point, the muscles in the pelvic bone area become soft and flexible, allowing the pelvic bone region to stretch in preparation for the baby's arrival.

As the due date approaches, pregnant mothers undergo more frequent prenatal check-ups, potentially weekly, or more often for those facing complications. This helps mothers monitor the amniotic fluid, fetal position, assess the level of calcium in the bones, and evaluate cervical dilation to determine the readiness for labor.

Many mothers, experiencing intense contractions, also undergo internal examinations. During these examinations, the doctor, wearing gloves, examines the cervix to assess its dilation progress. Despite the discomfort, some mothers may not have any dilation or only a slight opening and are advised to return home to await more pronounced contractions. After returning home, mothers may experience brownish discharge, which is a result of the substances used by the doctor during the examination, and it's typically not a cause for concern.

Many expectant mothers may lose up to 500 grams of body weight just before the onset of labor due to hormonal regulation reducing the body's water content. This could be a sign for diligent mothers who closely monitor their weight 'charts'.

Mothers may experience minimal weight gain, or even lose weight in the late stages of pregnancy. This is normal, as the amniotic fluid decreases, and it doesn't impact the baby's weight. During this period, mothers may feel fatigue and prefer rest over eating.

Normally, a mother's cervix is always sealed shut by a plug, often likened to a bottle cap. This plug plays a protective role for the fetus, preventing external factors and foreign agents from causing harm and infecting the amniotic sac.

As the pregnancy nears its end and the fetus descends deeper into the pelvic region, the plug tends to detach, leading to the phenomenon known as mucous plug detachment or cervical effacement, allowing the fetus to be pushed out. This plug is usually white or light yellow, jelly-like, and sometimes, when it detaches, it may contain a bit of pinkish blood, commonly referred to as 'bloody show'. Mothers may gear up mentally to welcome the baby within 1-2 days.

During pregnancy, under the influence of the hormone relaxin, the ligaments of the joints become softer and more relaxed than usual. As the due date approaches, expectant mothers perceive this more clearly because the joints widen, indicating that the pelvic bones are expanding in preparation for the baby's arrival.