Soon, you'll experience the amazing process of childbirth! Find out the signs of labor and learn about your options for giving birth. Once you reach the third trimester, you should talk to your doctor about labor and delivery. Learn your options for pain relief. Find out how to reach her if you go into labor. And ask her at what point in labor should you call. Before you reach the last few weeks of pregnancy, you should visit the hospital or birthing center. Find out if you can pre-register so that your insurance information is already in the computer when you arrive.

Signs of Labor

Many women, especially with their first babies, think they are in labor when they're not. This is called false labor. Do not feel embarrassed if you go to the hospital thinking you're in labor, and then you get sent home.

If you think you are in labor call your doctor. Call your doctor if you experience any of the following :

Contractions that come at regular and increasingly shorter intervals. Contractions will become stronger over time.

You have persitant lower back pain. You might also feel cramps as if you were premenstrual.

Your water breaks in a large gush or a trickle.

You have a brown or red-tinged mucous discharge. This is most likely your mucous plug. Losing your mucous plug usually means your cervix is dilating and becoming thinner and softer. Labor could start right away or could be a few days away.