Baby boy labour pain symptoms

8  Signs That Labor is Near

As you near the end of your pregnancy, you are likely anxious to meet your new little one and are feeling the discomfort of the last days of pregnancy (See 16 Ways to Help Labor Progress and Understanding The Stages of Labor).

Here are signs that labor is near to watch for as you anticipate your baby’s arrival.

1. Dropping

Some time during the final few weeks one of the signs that labor is near you may notice is that your baby has moved down lower in your abdomen.

Signs of labour at 38 weeks

Most first-timers notice their babies dropping within two weeks of delivery. However,  some mothers “drop” as many as four weeks before D-day (delivery day). Second-time mothers often find their babies do not drop lower until labor begins.

This is because mom’s pelvic muscles have already been stretched, and no warm-up is needed. Baby’s head settling into the pelvis is also called “lightening” (because the lower-riding load seems smaller and lighter).

Another term is “engagement” (since baby’s head engag

how to know if labour is near discharge

how to tell if labour is imminent