When I was in early labor with my first son, I spent quite some time upstairs in our computer room googling, “how to know you’re really in labor” or, “signs of true labor,” or “the difference between false labor and real labor,” or, “how do I know I’m in labor,” or, “how to know I’m in labor.” I would do this between contractions and then when I had a contraction I would think, “Wow! This is definitely it!” Then, it would ease, and I’d start googling again, certain I must just really be experiencing “false labor.” One of my biggest fears was arriving at the birth center and only being two centimeters dilated (or possibly not in labor at all!). So, in honor of my former self, I offer a list of some ways to to gauge whether you are experiencing true labor:
- Your contractions fall into a regular pattern. And, that pattern involved contractions that are lasting longer, feeling stronger, and occurring closer together.
- If when you walk around or otherwise increase your activity, the contractions also increase.
- And if changing positions and drinking plenty of fluids also do not cause the contractions to ease…
- The sensation begins in your lower back and spreads like a band around your belly causing a peak of tightness and discomfort in the front and then fades away again.
- You have been feeling some gastrointestinal upset and may be experiencing diarrhea also.
- You have pinkish or blood streaked, mucousy discharge.
- Your membranes have ruptured (keep in mind that labor only begins in this way for roughly 10% of women. So, if your waters have not released, do not be discouraged thinking that you must not be in “real labor.” Many women do not experience their waters breaking until they are pushing or are starting to feel like pushing).
Some “symptoms” that what you are experiencing is instead practice labor, pre-labor, or “false labor” (I do not usually use the phrase “false labor” because I think it is dismissive of women’s experiences. All contractions are doing something and so I refer to them as “practice” rather than “false.” Another good phrase to use is “pre-labor” contractions):
- The contractions are irregular (no pattern) and are not increasing in frequency or intensity.
- If you change positions or drink two large glasses of juice, water, or tea, the contractions subside.
- The contractions center in your lower abdomen and do not involve your back.
- The contractions go away if you take a walk, take a shower, or lie down.
This is also a popular question in birth classes. Because labor is a new event for you, it can be hard to know what to expect until it actually happens! There is a helpful pdf handout here with some additional signs and information.
Oh, and by the way, when I did finally go to the birth center, I was 10 centimeters dilated and started pushing about 30 minutes later.
I got pretty frustrated at those “How to know if it’s really labor” lists. According to part of the lists (contractions strong, close together, involving the entire uterus, not just part, not changing with activity, etc.), I labor for months off and on, and according to other parts (”regular” contractions), I have not really been in labor, and I’ve had 3 babies now!
As regular as my contractions get, (they can be pretty regular in practice labor–love that you don’t use the word “false!”–like about 2-5 minutes apart) but sometimes on labor day, they can be 4-15 minutes apart within the same few hours. So it was never very validating that it was real labor, even hours before my babies were born. I just had to wait it out, and I pretty much figured it out before the baby’s head was crowning.
Those lists drive me crazy, though. My body must not have read that textbook!