As countless movies, television shows, friends and family members have shown us, the signs of labor should be obvious. Between your water dropping and some excruciating contraction pain, your baby’s journey from tiny fetus to fully-grown newborn won’t be signaled without some serious symptoms.
But however surprising it may seem, there are some tell-tale signs of labor that many women can miss if they’re unaware. Here are a few classic (and some surprising) signs of labor.
Contractions
Most women experience false contractions, known as Braxton-Hicks, before the real thing sets in. Or, you might experience a feeling similar to menstrual cramps as labor approaches. How can you tell the difference between Braxton-Hicks and real contractions when it comes to serious signs of labor? Although Braxton-Hicks can occur frequently as often as every 10 to 20 minutes they generally won’t increase in intensity or frequency as time goes on.