First Time Mom? Here's What Labor Is Actually Like

The internet is full of birth stories that are either terrifying or suspiciously perfect. Neither extreme is helpful when you are trying to prepare for your first labor. What you actually need is an honest, practical picture of what labor looks like for most first-time mothers.

Here it is -- stage by stage, without sugarcoating and without horror stories.

Before Labor: The Signs

Labor rarely starts like it does in movies. There is usually no single dramatic moment. Instead, you may notice several signs in the days or weeks before labor begins: