Diarrhea might be a sign of labor. But it also might not be! (Isn’t that annoying?) Many people have looser stools in early labor because their body is releasing more prostaglandins¹ , a hormone that can cause your bowels to contract. Prostaglandins also help to soften and prepare your cervix for labor. This is why so many people have diarrhea in the hours, days, or sometimes even weeks before labor starts. 

Softer stools may also occur because your baby’s head descends lower into the pelvis late in the third trimester, pushing down on your rectum and bowels. Loose stools can also be from increased sensitivity to foods or lactose during pregnancy. 

So while many people do experience diarrhea before going into labor, and it can be a sign of labor, it doesn’t mean that labor is definitely around the corner.