Before you go into labor, you may notice some signs that your body is getting ready for childbirth.
Your baby may move lower or "settle" in your pelvis.
You may have Braxton Hicks, or "practice," contractions that get stronger and more painful.
When early labor starts, you may at first have mild to moderate contractions that last 30 to 45 seconds.
They may be about 5 to 20 minutes apart, and may even stop for a while.
This early stage of labor may last for hours, or it may last a day or more.
You'll know you're in the most active part of labor when your contractions start to get longer, stronger, and closer together.
Contractions will come more often, usually every 2 to 3 minutes.
And they'll last for about a minute.
You'll feel your contractions even when you change positions or are walking or moving around.
After a while, you may find it harder to talk during a contraction, so you might have to stop to focus on your breathing.
Every woman's labor is different.
You can't predict when your labor will start or how long it will last.
One woman can have all the signs that her body is ready to deliver, yet she may not have the baby for weeks.
Another woman may have no advance signs before she goes into active labor.
Make sure you've planned ahead with your doctor or midwife so you'll know when to call or go to the hospital or birth center.