When you’re pregnant, you always want to be ready for the big day. This is particularly true when you are already in your third trimester.
They want to be fully prepared when they go into labor.
But for first-time moms, this can be difficult. They don’t have any experience that will tell them when it’s time.
And as a result, they only rely on the information they have read or what their doctors tell them.
Some women end up going to the hospital because they feel that they are having contractions.
But once there, they are sent back home because it was a false alarm.
If you are an expecting mom, there are some surefire signs that your body is going into labor.
And one of these is experiencing flu like symptoms before labor.
If you feel like you’re coming down with the flu, it may be a sign that you are about to go into labor.
This is something that’s completely normal to experience, especially if you are a week or two away from your expected due date.
Read more about this symptom as an indicator of going into labor so you don’t panic when you suddenly start feeling fluish.
Flu like Symptoms Before Labor
Some of the flu like symptoms before labor that you may feel include sneezing, body pain, headache, and runny nose.
But there are also some women who have encountered a mild cough.
While these symptoms vary for each woman, they are pretty normal to experience just before going into labor.
And they will usually disappear in just a few days.
You can take this time as your body telling you to get your hospital bag ready and waiting by the door since labor can happen any day now.
1.) What Flu-Like Symptoms Do You Feel?
Some of the flu-like symptoms that you may experience just before you go into labor include the following:
- Sneezing
- Body aches
- Runny nose
- Headaches
- Mild cough
- Body aches
- Fatigue
- Changes in bowel movements
You will usually feel these symptoms for a few days.
But if you are really worried about these symptoms, it may be best to call your doctor; especially with the COVID-19 pandemic still going on.
2.) How Soon Does Labor Start After These Symptoms
There is no definite date on when you could go into labor after you start feeling flu like symptoms before labor. It could happen a week or two before your due date.
As your body prepares for your coming baby, your hormones also change. This is why you experience these symptoms.
If you start to feel like you have a cold or flu and you’re in your ninth month of pregnancy, you can get a consultation with your doctor just to be sure that you’re okay.
3.) Do You Need To Call The Doctor?
Having flu-like symptoms while you’re pregnant can be very unpleasant. But they don’t usually warrant calling your doctor.
They usually go away on their own in just a few days and do not progress or worsen.
If these symptoms become intense or don’t disappear over the next few days, however, it may be time to give your doctor a call.
This is particularly true if you are experiencing chills, fever, or vomiting.
Subtle Signs You are in Labor
Now that you know flu-like symptoms can be a sign of going into labor, let’s talk about the other symptoms that you may experience.
It’s important to know that many of the early signs of labor are similar to pregnancy symptoms.
This is why it can be difficult to determine when labor actually begins.
But knowing what you need to look out for can be a big help. Here are some of the subtle signs that you are going into labor:
1.) Nesting
Another indication that labor is approaching is nesting.
This is when you experience an abrupt burst of energy after several months of being physically exhausted.
Most women get a lot of stuff done when they are nesting. They are motivated to prepare everything they need for their baby’s arrival.
Nesting doesn’t always lead to labor right away. There are some who experience this a few weeks before they go into labor.
2.) Nausea & Diarrhea
If you think morning sickness only happens during the first trimester, think again.
There are some women who undergo gastrointestinal upset late in their pregnancy too.
When you experience nausea and diarrhea in the final weeks of your pregnancy, it is usually because your baby is already growing and your uterus is crowding into your GI tract.
At the same time, your hormones may let your muscles loosen and relax when labor is approaching.
This is why many consider diarrhea as a sign of going into labor.
3.) Lightening
There are some instances where your friends or loved ones will tell you that your baby has dropped.
This occurrence is known as lightening and usually means that your baby is preparing for delivery and has settled onto your pelvis.
The American Pregnancy Association says that this usually happens a few days or weeks before going into labor.
Lightning will also make you breathe easier since there’s less pressure on your diaphragm so you can use that as an indicator too.
4.) Back Ache
Most women experience lower back aches upon reaching the 37th week of pregnancy.
This is the time when your baby’s head will settle down your cervix. And because of this, the additional pressure will push towards your spine and nerves and make you feel pain.
You may also feel back aches that are increasing in intensity when you are going into labor.
When accompanied by contractions, it is an indication that you are in labor and you need to head to the hospital right away.
5.) Expulsion of the Mucus Plug
Another sign that you are about to go into labor is when your mucus plug gets expelled.
You will see a thick, mucus-like membrane that could either be released all at once or gradually from your body.
This is what doctors call the mucus plug. It helps block bacteria from entering your uterus.
When your mucus plug is expelled, it means that your cervix has started to thin out and open up.
It can be a sign that labor can happen in a few hours, days, or weeks.
6.) The Bloody Show
Yes, that’s really what it’s called.
Now that your mucus plug has been expelled, the surrounding blood vessels may also burst. And this can lead to some bloody discharge.
Doctors usually see this discharge as a sign that labor is near– from minutes or two weeks away.
If the bloody discharge is about the size of a quarter, it’s pretty normal to experience the bloody show.
However, if you are experiencing heavy bleeding, you need to call your doctor right away.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do I feel sick before labor?
When you are pregnant, it is normal for your immune system to be weaker.
Because of this, you are more susceptible to getting sick when you are pregnant.
Does labor feel like you have the flu?
Not entirely, but you may have flu-like symptoms just before you start going into labor.
This is particularly true if you experience these symptoms one or two weeks before your expected delivery date.
You will usually feel nausea, diarrhea, fatigue, or back aches. And these symptoms usually just go away on their own after a few days.
How did you feel right before going into labor?
Going into labor is different for every woman. Most women, however, feel like they have strong menstrual cramps, low back pain, or diarrhea.
One of the common signs that you are going into labor is when you have lower back pain that radiates into your legs.
And when you change positions, the pain doesn’t go away.
If this happens, you should head to your hospital right away.
Nazeli Gevorgyan studied at Yerevan State Medical University and is an Obstetrics/Gynecology resident