As your due date approaches, it's common to wonder if every little twinge you're experiencing is a sign of early labor. For example, is cramping a sign of labor? What about nausea or lower back pain?

Pregnant women don’t always feel contractions solely in their belly. Indeed, about 25 percent experience back labor, which happens in their lower back, just above the tailbone. Back labor may be a ...

Several signs can indicate the start of labor, including many physical changes that occur as your body prepares for delivery. Congratulations, mama. You’re in the home stretch! If you’re like most ...

A pregnant person may feel better prepared for childbirth if they learn about what different types of contractions feel like. This includes symptoms of Braxton-Hicks contractions, prodromal labor, ...

A simple rule for when to go to the hospital for labor is the 5-1-1 rule for timing contractions. That said, it’s not always easy to recognize labor. Share on Pinterest Let’s hope you have a timer ...

Dilation and effacement are your body's way of getting ready for labor – your cervix gradually opens (dilates) and thins out (effaces) to help your baby make that grand entrance. This process can ...

During labor, the cervix changes from a tightly closed entrance to a fully open exit for the baby. This is known as dilation. Looking at a cervix dilation chart can help people to understand what’s ...