13 Signs of labor you never heard of before

Unusual signs of labor

1- Difficulty sleeping

Many women report difficulties in sleeping and changes in their sleeping patterns in the days preceding their delivery. This is a natural way in which the body is preparing for the upcoming sleepless nights you will have with your newborn when he, or she arrives.

2- Nesting

One of the unusual signs of labor is the weird urge to clean and tidy up around the house, before going into labor. If you are pregnant and expecting to deliver soon, and suddenly you feel the urge to clean your windows or wash your curtains, this might indicate you will go into labor soon.

Read Signs of labor and when to go to the hospital

3- Anxiety

If you feel stressed, nervous, and anxious don’t worry you don’t have any mental health issues. You are only experiencing one of the early signs of labor. These emotional signs might last for days and even weeks before your delivery. You are about to go through a major life-changing experience. Relax as much as you can, go for a walk, and practice yoga and meditation to ease some of the anxiety you are feeling.

4- Diarrhea

Don’t worry the Shawarma you had last night has nothing to do with the diarrhea you are experiencing now. This is just another sign labor is near. This is your body’s natural way of making room for your baby to travel down the pelvis, in preparation to come out.

5- Not wanting to go out

After being active and cheerful and going out and about, you now just want to stay put and not leave your house. You won’t even go to your favorite restaurant or the movies. Don’t worry this is perfectly normal just one more of the many unusual signs of labor.

6- Flu-like symptoms  

Aches, pains, congestion, and cough you might think you have the flu, but you just may be going into labor soon. These symptoms last for only. If they persist for longer you need to go see your doctor to get treatment for these symptoms.

7- Loss of appetite

After the appetite loss you experienced during the first trimester due to nausea and vomiting, you might experience it again before you have your baby. Don’t give in and consume light and nourishing foods like soups, salads, and fruit.

8- Weight loss

Due to the decreased appetite, diarrhea, and hormonal changes, some pregnant women report mild weight loss in the last few days or weeks before delivery. This loss is usually between half a kilo and a kilo and a half.

9- Lower back pain

Back pain and pregnancy go hand in hand; however, this pain may increase before labor. It might become more increase and can radiate to the thighs. If the pain persists, you need to go to the emergency room and check if you are going into labor.

10- Pelvic pressure

Your baby’s journey to the birth canal starts by descending into the pelvis in preparation to exit. This descent might limit your mobility and make you uncomfortable.

11- Strange dreams  

Do you dream you are traveling to space on a pink horse? Or that you are lost in a forest in Alice in Wonderland? Don’t panic you didn’t go crazy yet! These weird dreams are just some odd signs of labor. They happen because of the hormonal changes, stress, and anxiety you are experiencing before labor.

12- Acne

The alterations in hormone levels, changes in dietary habits, and stress can affect your skin during pregnancy, especially in the final days. All you need to do is clean your skin as usual, and this acne will disappear on its own if it doesn’t see your dermatologist for treatment.

13- Cramps

Also known as Braxton Hicks, they are false contractions that you can feel as abdominal cramps. These are just the preamble of the labor process. If those contractions last longer and are closer in the interval you should go to the ER and get checked to see if the labor had started or not.

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