Signs labour is coming
What to look for as your body prepares, and when to call
Last updated
You cannot predict the day labour starts, but the body gives signals as it prepares. Some appear weeks ahead, like the baby dropping lower; others, like a bloody show or waters breaking, usually mean labour is hours to days away. Here is what each sign means and when to call your midwife or maternity unit.
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Signs that labour is weeks away
Lightening: the baby drops
2 to 4 weeks beforeThe baby moves lower into the pelvis. Breathing gets easier and bladder pressure increases. First-time mothers tend to notice it earlier.
Braxton Hicks get stronger
Weeks beforePractice contractions become more frequent and stronger. Unlike labour, they are irregular and stop when you change position or rest.
Nesting
Days to weeks beforeA sudden urge to clean, organise and prepare. There is no evidence it predicts timing, but many women report it.
Signs that labour is days or hours away
Mucus plug or bloody show
Hours to days beforeA thick, sometimes blood-tinged discharge as the cervix changes. It should be pink or light red. Bright red bleeding needs a call to your maternity unit straight away.
Waters breaking
Any timeThe amniotic sac ruptures as a gush or a slow trickle. Only about 15% of women have their waters break before contractions start. Contact your provider when it happens and note the time, colour and smell.
Regular contractions
Active labourTrue contractions are regular, get stronger over time and do not stop when you move. They usually start 15 to 20 minutes apart and get closer.
Lower back pain
Hours to days beforeA persistent, dull lower back pain in waves. It is different from the usual late-pregnancy ache and often means labour is close.
Loose stools
24 to 48 hours beforeThe hormones that ripen the cervix also affect the bowels. A natural clear-out a day or two before labour is common.
When to call your midwife or maternity unit
- Contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour (the 5-1-1 rule).
- Your waters break. Note the time, colour and smell.
- You have bright red bleeding.
- You notice reduced fetal movement.
- You have a severe headache, vision changes or sudden swelling.
Things to have ready
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See your own odds, day by day
Enter your due date for probabilities fitted to NHS and CDC birth data.
Frequently asked questions
What are the early signs that labour is coming?
Early signs include the baby dropping lower (lightening), stronger Braxton Hicks contractions, losing the mucus plug or a bloody show, lower back pain, loose stools, a burst of energy and cervical changes. They can appear days or weeks before active labour.
How do I know if labour is 24 to 48 hours away?
Regular contractions that get stronger and closer together, a bloody show, waters breaking, persistent lower back pain and loose stools often come within a day or two of labour. None of them gives an exact time.
Can you predict when labour will start?
Not the exact day. Probability calculators estimate the chances from gestational age and personal factors: about half of women deliver by the due date and about 80% by 41 weeks. Signs tell you it is getting close; the odds tell you how close.