Braxton's Hicks..

I have been having some regular Braxton's Hicks of recent. Though I can safety declare that they are not pre-labour signs as yet but it can get quite worrying cos the supposedly edd for our dear ms pinu is 3rd Feb. And because of this worry, I decided to start my Maternity Leave (ML) to start on 16 Jan 2012 (when I am about 37 weeks preg)..

On top of this, from my last visit at 32 weeks preg, my gynae also gave me the admission letter which is an indication to say that I can be admitted so as long as one of the 5 signs of labour appears. Here are the 5 signs:

• Your baby "drops."

If this is your first pregnancy, you may feel what's known as "lightening" a few weeks before labor starts. You might sense a heaviness in your pelvis as this happens and notice less pressure just below your ribcage, making it easier to catch your breath.

• You note more Braxton Hicks contractions.

More frequent and intense Braxton Hicks contractions can signal pre-labor, during which your cervix ripens (see below) and the stage is set for true labor. Some women experience a crampy, menstrual-like feeling during this time.

• Your cervix starts to change.

In the days and weeks before delivery, changes in the connective tissue of your cervix cause it to soften. What's more, Braxton Hicks contractions may do some of the preliminary work of thinning and perhaps opening your cervix a bit. (If you've given birth before, your cervix is more likely to dilate a centimeter or two before labor starts, but keep in mind that even being 40 weeks pregnant with your first baby and 1 centimeter dilated is no guarantee that labor is imminent.)

When you're at or near your due date, your practitioner may do a vaginal exam during your prenatal visit to see whether your cervix has started to change.

• You pass your mucus plug or notice "bloody show."

You may pass your mucus plug — the small amount of thickened mucus that has sealed your cervical canal during the last nine months — if your cervix begins to efface significantly or dilate as you get close to labor.

The plug may come out in a lump or as increased vaginal discharge over the course of several days. The mucus may be tinged with brown, pink, or red blood, which is why it's referred to as "bloody show." Having sex or a vaginal exam can also disturb your mucus plug and cause you to see some blood-tinged discharge, even when labor isn't going to start in the next few days.

• Your water breaks.

When the fluid-filled amniotic sac surrounding your baby ruptures, fluid leaks from your vagina. And whether it comes out in a large gush or a small trickle, you should call your doctor or midwife.

Most women start having regular contractions before their water breaks, but in some cases, the water breaks first. When this happens, labor usually follows soon. If you don't start having contractions on your own within a certain amount of time, you'll need to be induced, since your baby's more likely to get an infection without the amniotic sac's protection against germs.

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