Signs of labor: how to know it is really starting
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
The main signs of labor are contractions that become regular, longer and stronger, a "show" (the mucus plug, often pink), your waters breaking, backache, and an urge to empty your bowels. Braxton Hicks contractions stay irregular and fade with rest. Call your midwife or labor unit when you think labor has started, and straight away if your waters break or you bleed.
The six signs to know
| Sign | What it looks or feels like | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Contractions | Tightening of the womb that comes and goes, often like strong period pains; it gets longer, stronger and closer together | Time them; call when they are regular (see below) |
| A show | Sticky, jelly-like pink mucus, in one blob or several pieces | Nothing urgent; call straight away if you lose more blood |
| Waters breaking | A slow trickle or a sudden gush you cannot control | Call your midwife or provider now; use a pad, not a tampon |
| Backache | A heavy, aching feeling low in the back | Warm bath, movement, a back rub |
| Urge to empty your bowels | Caused by your baby's head pressing on your bowel; looser stools are common | Stay hydrated |
| Lightening | Your baby drops lower; breathing feels easier, you pee more often | No action; it can happen weeks or hours before labor |
Sources: NHS, ACOG, MedlinePlus. You may notice several of these, or none, before labor begins.
True labor or Braxton Hicks?
Practice contractions can be uncomfortable and even painful, which makes them confusing. ACOG and MedlinePlus describe the differences this way:
| True labor | False labor (Braxton Hicks) | |
|---|---|---|
| Pattern | Regular, getting closer together | No pattern, not getting closer |
| Length | About 60 to 90 seconds each as labor builds (ACOG) | Usually short |
| With rest or a change of position | Keep going | Often stop |
| Strength | Steadily stronger | Weak, or start strong then fade |
| Where you feel it | Often starts in the back and moves to the front | Usually only at the front |
ACOG's simple test: time your contractions and see whether they continue when you rest and drink water. If they fade, they are not true labor. Sometimes only a vaginal exam can tell, so call if you are unsure.
Is this normal? When to call
Call your midwife, maternity unit or provider
- You think you are in labor, or you are not sure
- Contractions are regular and come every 5 minutes or more often (NHS)
- MedlinePlus adds regular, painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for 60 minutes
Call urgently, day or night
- Your waters break
- You have vaginal bleeding (more than the pink streaks of a show)
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labor
- A contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes, or you have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes (NHS)
- Constant, severe pain with no relief between contractions (ACOG)
- The waters are smelly or coloured
If you feel a strong urge to push and think your baby is coming now, call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US. In the UK, call 111 if you cannot reach your midwife or maternity unit.
For your partner or birth partner
- Keep your phone charged and the maternity unit number saved.
- Time contractions from the start of one to the start of the next, with our contraction timer.
- Know the urgent signs above, and make the call if she cannot.
- Bring snacks and drinks, run a warm bath, rub her lower back: all suggested by the NHS for early labor.
- Have the hospital bag and the car seat ready.
Early labor at home: what helps
The start of labor (the latent phase) can take hours or sometimes days, and the NHS says you will probably be advised to stay at home during this time. ACOG agrees that admission can be delayed in the latent phase when you and your baby are well. One reason: in a US study of nearly 9,000 women, those admitted in the latent phase had more cesarean births, more oxytocin and more interventions than those admitted in active labor, though the authors could not say whether early admission caused this (Bailit et al., 2005).
At home, the NHS suggests you:
- walk or move about if you feel like it
- drink fluids and have a snack
- use the breathing and relaxation exercises you learned, with your birth partner
- ask your partner to rub your back
- have a warm bath
Keep your hospital bag by the door and start timing with our contraction timer. Our page on contractions and when to go in explains the patterns in detail.
If your waters break before labor starts
The NHS explains that most people go into labor within 24 hours of the waters breaking; if not, you will be offered an induction because the risk of infection rises slightly. Until then, tell your midwife immediately if your baby moves less or the fluid changes colour or smell, and take your temperature every 4 hours while awake as your midwife advises.
Questions parents ask
Can labor start without contractions?
Yes. Your waters can break before contractions begin. The NHS says it is usual to go into labor within 24 hours; call your midwife as soon as you think your waters have broken.
How long after losing the mucus plug does labor start?
It varies. The NHS says labor may follow quickly or take a few days, and some people never notice a show at all.
How do I know if my waters have broken or it is urine?
Amniotic fluid is usually clear and pale and keeps leaking. Wear a pad, not a tampon, so your midwife can check the colour, and call them: they can confirm it.
Why was I sent home from the hospital?
In the early (latent) phase, guidance from both the NHS and ACOG is that you can usually labor at home if you and your baby are well, as admission this early has been linked with more interventions.
Sources
- NHS — Signs that labour has begun checked October 13, 2026
- ACOG — How to Tell When Labor Begins (FAQ) checked October 13, 2026
- MedlinePlus — Am I in labor? checked October 13, 2026
- Bailit JL et al. Outcomes of women presenting in active versus latent phase of spontaneous labor. Obstet Gynecol 2005 (PMID 15625145, DOI 10.1097/01.AOG.0000147843.12196.00) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.