Describe the signs that indicate that labor is near

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Several signs indicate that labor is near:
• Prelabor contractions. These are felt in the upper part of the uterus and are often called false labor or prelabor because they remain brief and unpredictable for several weeks.
• Lightening. About two weeks before birth, lightening occurs—the baby's head drops low into the uterus. Placental hormone changes cause the cervix to soften, and it no longer easily supports the baby's weight.
• Bloody show. A sure sign that labor is only hours or days away is the bloody show. As the cervix begins to open, the plug of mucus that sealed it during pregnancy is released, producing a reddish discharge. Soon after, uterine contractions become more frequent, and mother and baby enter the first of three stages of labor—dilation and effacement of the cervix.