Active labor is characterized by more intense and regular symptoms, including:
- Regular contractions: Contractions become more regular, intense, and closer together, typically lasting 30 to 70 seconds and occurring every 5 to 10 minutes. - Water breaking: The rupture of the amniotic sac, commonly known as the water breaking, can occur as a gush or a steady trickle of fluid. - Strong back pain: Some women experience intense lower back pain that does not subside between contractions. - Pelvic pressure: The baby’s head descending into the birth canal can cause increased pelvic pressure.
