the she-quel. Braxton Hicks contractions happen with all pregnancies to help your body prepare for labor. They might feel like a mild muscle spasm, tightening in your baby bump, or menstrual cramps.

Labor -- it's a journey! And it's different for every mom-to-be. Here's how it might unfold for you. You'll call your doctor when you start having contractions or notice other clues your baby's on ...

you know you're close to term, and the contractions get more frequent, they get stronger, they get closer together, and then labor just kicks in and they become regular and strong. And most women ...