When it's nearly time for your baby to be born, your body will get ready for labour. Your baby will move down, pressing on your pelvis, so the upward pressure on your ribs will ease. Mood swings are common and you may feel a surge of energy.
Labour is different for every woman and every birth. The first signs may happen within a few hours of each other, or they may be more spread out.
For many women, labour lasts a long time. If it is your first pregnancy, labour may last between 12 and 24 hours. However, if you have had a baby before, it will probably be shorter, around seven hours.
Continue to next section: Signs of labour