10 Signs of Labor
Below are the 10 signs of labor:
Penny Simkin has been a Childbirth Educator, doula, author and physical therapist for nearly 40 years. She co-founded Doulas of North America (DONA) alongside several other renowned childbirth and newborn experts in 1992. She has authored several books on childbirth for both parents and birth professionals and speaks nationwide on a variety of topics pertaining to childbirth. Today she continues her support of the birth community through childbirth education, birth counseling and labor support in addition to her many speaking engagements.
During the course of her career in birth, Penny developed and published (Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn; Simkin, Whalley, Keppler) the 10 signs of labor as an aid to help women identify the indicators given by your body to signal impending onset of labor.
Possible signs of labor:
1. Backache – Vague, low, nagging; may come and go
2. Cramps in lower abdomen – Like menstrual cramps; may be accompanied by discomfort in the thighs
3. Soft bowel movements – Several in several hours; may be accompanied by intestinal cramps or digestive upset
4. Nesting urge – An unusual burst of energy resulting in great activity and a desire to complete preparations for baby
Preliminary signs of labor:
5. Non-progressing contractions – Tend to remain about the same length, strength, and frequency. These pre-labor contractions may last for a short time or continue for hours before they go away or begin to progress (see below)
6. Bloody show – Passage of slippery blood-tinged mucus from vagina
7. Leaking of amniotic fluid from vagina – Caused by a small rupture of membranes
Positive signs of labor:
8. Progressing contractions – Become longer, stronger, and/or closer together with time; are usually described as “painful” or “very strong” and are felt in the abdomen, back, or both
9. Gush of amniotic fluid from vagina – Caused by a large rupture of membranes
10. Dilation of cervix – Opening of the cervix in response to the progressing contractions
Penny Simkin has been a Childbirth Educator, doula, author and physical therapist for nearly 40 years. She co-founded Doulas of North America (DONA) alongside several other renowned childbirth and newborn experts in 1992. She has authored several books on childbirth for both parents and birth professionals and speaks nationwide on a variety of topics pertaining to childbirth. Today she continues her support of the birth community through childbirth education, birth counseling and labor support in addition to her many speaking engagements.
During the course of her career in birth, Penny developed and published (Pregnancy, Childbirth and the Newborn; Simkin, Whalley, Keppler) the 10 signs of labor as an aid to help women identify the indicators given by your body to signal impending onset of labor.
Possible signs of labor:
1. Backache – Vague, low, nagging; may come and go
2. Cramps in lower abdomen – Like menstrual cramps; may be accompanied by discomfort in the thighs
3. Soft bowel movements – Several in several hours; may be accompanied by intestinal cramps or digestive upset
4. Nesting urge – An unusual burst of energy resulting in great activity and a desire to complete preparations for baby
Preliminary signs of labor:
5. Non-progressing contractions – Tend to remain about the same length, strength, and frequency. These pre-labor contractions may last for a short time or continue for hours before they go away or begin to progress (see below)
6. Bloody show – Passage of slippery blood-tinged mucus from vagina
7. Leaking of amniotic fluid from vagina – Caused by a small rupture of membranes
Positive signs of labor:
8. Progressing contractions – Become longer, stronger, and/or closer together with time; are usually described as “painful” or “very strong” and are felt in the abdomen, back, or both
9. Gush of amniotic fluid from vagina – Caused by a large rupture of membranes
10. Dilation of cervix – Opening of the cervix in response to the progressing contractions