A Labor in Waiting

Labor is the series of uterine contractions that dilate (open) and efface (thin) your cervix for birth. Your due date is a guide to when labor will begin, but babies often come days or weeks before or after due dates. Even so, labor need not take you by surprise. In the last weeks of pregnancy, you or your healthcare provider may notice changes that mean labor is near.

Your Body Prepares

• Physical changes often signal that your baby will soon be born:

• Discharge from your vagina may increase and become thicker. You may notice a pink or brownish discharge called the bloody show.

• The mucous plug may break down over a few weeks or all at once. Losing the plug doesn't mean that labor will start right away.

• You may feel Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor). These irregular contractions start to soften and thin the cervix. Many women mistake these contractions for true labor.

Your Baby Moves into Position

Babies often move down between the pelvic bones (descend) before birth. If this is your first pregnancy, this may happen 2 to 4 weeks before labor. With repeat pregnancies, the baby may not "drop" until labor begins. The baby usually moves down head first. When the baby drops, you may find it easier to breathe. You may also feel more pressure on your bladder, causing you to urinate more often.

Conditions that Require Special Care

If your baby is not in a safe position for birth, or if there is a problem with the placenta, you may need special care. A cesarean may also be needed. Common problems include:

• Cephalopelvic disproportion (CPD): Baby's head is too big for the pelvis.

• Breech position: Baby is positioned with feet or buttocks first.

• Transverse position: Baby lies horizontally across the pelvis.

• Placental abruption: Placenta separates from the uterus.

• Placenta previa: Placenta blocks the cervix.