Cramping and Other Signs of Labor Pregnant People Should Know About

From cramps and aches to contractions and low back twinges, here's everything you need to know about the signs of early labor.

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As you near your due date, it's common to wonder if every little twinge you're experiencing is a sign that labor is starting. For example, is cramping a sign of labor? Pain in the lower back or pelvic area?

Thankfully, the body has a few pretty clear ways of telling you that you will be meeting your baby soon. Not every pregnant person experiences all of these—and some people experience almost no early labor symptoms!—but here's what to know about what might happen as you edge closer to the finish line.

What Is Early Labor?

Labor is characterized by a succession of progressively more intense uterine contractions that cause your cervix (the opening at the bottom of your uterus) to dilate and efface (thin out) and your baby to make its way down the birth canal.

Labor is a process. We usually think of labor as those few hours where our contractions become overpowering, one after another, and our baby is born. But that is the active phase of labor, and early labor looks a little different than this.

During early labor, which can last 12 to 24 hours, or even a little longer, your body is doing a lot of preparation—including cervical dilation and effacement. But the signs are more subtle than in active labor, when it's hard to concentrate on anything else but getting through your contractions. The symptoms of early labor can be so subdued that some parents don't even know it's happening.

True Signs of Labor

Some expectant parents experience most or all of the signs of early labor. But some parents don't experience many of them, or they experience them so close to the active phase of labor, that early labor isn't much of a "thing" for them. Here's what to know about what some of the possible signs are, and what it may feel like if you experience them.

Water breaking

Most of us think of the water breaking as the "classic" sign of labor starting, but only about 8 to 10% of parents will have their water break (membranes rupture) before contractions start. Water breaking can be experienced differently by different people—with some experiencing a big gush of water, like you see in the movies, and others experiencing more of a gentle trickle. Either way, if your water breaks, you will likely go into labor within the next 24 hours.

Cramping

One of the most common signs of early labor are cramps and contractions, says Meagan Moore, MD, an OB-GYN, at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California. These may feel like intense cramps, or what people often describe as worsening Braxton Hicks contractions, says Dr. Moore.

Or they may not feel like cramps at all. "While many anticipate painful uterine contractions as a sign of labor, some may only detect an increase in pelvic pressure as their first sign of labor," says Dr. Moore.

Losing your mucus plug

Your mucus plug plays a protective role during pregnancy, guarding the opening of the cervix against bacteria and germs. But as labor gets closer and the cervix softens and dilates, the plug begins to come out. This usually happens over a series of days. The mucus plug may look whitish, clear, pink, and might be accompanied by blood ("the bloody show"). Sometimes losing your mucus plug means labor is imminent—but often, you won't go into labor for a week or two later.

Lightning crotch

A lesser known, but common sign of labor is something known as "lightning crotch," explains Amy Wetter, MD, OB-GYN at Northside Women's Specialists, part of Pediatrix Medical Group, in Atlanta. This happens as your baby moves down lower into your pelvis, and is often felt as a sharp, shooting pain deep in the pelvis. Some parents describe it as a pain that comes out of nowhere, like a bolt of lightning, which is how this symptom got its name.

Lower back pain

Besides cramps and contractions, you may experience pain or pressure in your lower back. Often, this is a new onset of back pain, close to when labor starts, says Dr. Moore. "Very often the position of the baby will determine whether a patient will experience abdominal pain versus lower back pain," she explains.

Nausea and diarrhea

Some parents experience symptoms that resemble an upset stomach or tummy bug shortly before they give birth. You may experience fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and a sudden urge to use the bathroom during early labor, says Dr. Wetter. This is partly because your baby is pressing right on your rectum, she says. These symptoms often happen 24 to 48 hours before active labor starts.

Loose joints

The hormone relaxin makes ligaments loosen up throughout pregnancy and more of it is released closer to delivery. This is believed to be why many report feeling more relaxed joints prior to labor. 

Nesting

You may have heard of nesting, which is a deep desire to get your home ready for your baby—to set up their space, make sure everything is "just so," and settle down at home to get ready to meet your little one. Dr. Moore says this urge is something that often happens during early labor. Studies have found that it's common, and may have evolved in humans as a means of survival and protection.

True Labor vs False Labor

False labor can be painful and mistaken for real labor. How can you tell the difference? Pay attention to those contractions. With false labor, contractions don’t get closer together and are irregular. They’ll likely go away if you change position, walk around, or rest. During real labor, contractions are regular, get closer together, and get stronger. Also, nothing you do can stop them. 

Can You Be in Labor and Not Know It?

Yes, it's absolutely possible to be in early labor and not know it, says Dr. Moore. Many expectant parents expect traditional contractions as labor starts to get going, but not everyone experiences it this way.

"Increases in pelvic pressure or irregular contractions may be something experienced off and on for several weeks, making it difficult to know exactly when it is time to seek medical advice," she says.

This is partly why you are seen so often in those last few weeks of pregnancy. It's not uncommon for you to learn that you are closer to labor than you think you are after your provider examines you, Dr. Moore explains.

Are There Ways To Induce Labor at Home?

You may be anxious to get things going once you are at the end of your pregnancy—after all, many of us are seriously uncomfortable, and just want to meet our babies already. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), any kind of elective labor induction should happen after 39 weeks of pregnancy, and only among parents who are considered low risk.

Even then, it's not clear if some of the popular ways of getting labor going even work that well, says Dr. Moore. "While many of the recommendations are not supported by scientific studies, there are some methods that are safe and may be recommended by your practitioner," she says. Some may include:

  • Sexual intercourse. It's believed that prostaglandins in sperm released during penetrative sex can ripen the cervix.
  • Castor oil. Small studies show that it may be effective, but watch for diarrhea and stomach cramps. Castor oil may also cause dehydration which is why it's extremely important to consult with your health care provider before using it.
  • Membrane stripping. Also called "stripping membranes," this is when a health care provider uses their fingers to reach the cervix and sweep the thin membranes of the amniotic sac. This must be done in-office by your health care provider. While it can be effective, it may be uncomfortable.
  • Nipple stimulation. This has been used historically and research shows it may induce labor.

It's important to discuss any labor induction methods you are considering with your health care provider, because every pregnant person has different risks and needs. If you have any questions about when you should expect to go into labor, or your early labor signs, be sure to reach out to your doctor or midwife—that's what they're there for.

What To Do if You Think You’re in Labor

If you're not sure if you're in labor but are feeling symptoms, you should call your medical provider. They will let you know if it's time to head to the hospital or birthing center or not.

Keep in mind, during true labor your contractions are about 5 to 10 minutes apart and last about 30 to 70 seconds. They get stronger and closer together and it feels impossible to talk or walk when they are happening.

Updated by Anna Halkidis
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Sources
Parents uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Premature Rupture of Membranes (PROM)/Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM). Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

  2. Evidence of a nesting psychology during human pregnancy. Evolution and Human Behavior. 2013.

  3. Labor Induction. ACOG. 2022.

  4. Sexual intercourse for cervical ripening and induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2001.

  5. Castor oil for induction of labour: a retrospective study. J Matern Fetal Neonatal Med. 2018.

  6. Membrane sweeping for induction of labour. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2020.

  7. Effects of breast stimulation for spontaneous onset of labor on salivary oxytocin levels in low-risk pregnant women: A feasibility study. PLoS One. 2018.

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