Signs of Labour: How to Know When It’s Time

It is 3 a.m., you are lying very still, and you are timing something you are not sure counts. Was that a contraction, or was that dinner? Almost everyone spends a night or two like this, quietly certain that every other woman can tell the difference and you cannot.

Real labor contractions settle into a rhythm and keep building. They get longer, stronger and closer together, and they carry on whatever you do. Practice ones usually wander off when you move, drink a glass of water or lie down. That difference usually does most of the work, with one exception: before 37 weeks, contractions are worth a call whether they ease off or not. The rest of this page is the other signs, the ones that turn up out of order and confuse everybody.

And before the night arrives, one thing worth putting in your pocket: going in, being checked and being sent home again is one of the most ordinary evenings on any labor ward. So is calling twice. Neither one is getting it wrong.

The clearest sign: real contractions

True labor contractions get into a rhythm and keep building. They grow longer, stronger, and closer together, and they don’t stop when you change what you’re doing. That last part is the tell, more than the pain itself.

A handy way to track them is the wave pattern: time how long each one lasts and the gap between them. Our free contraction timer logs each one and does the math for you, so you can watch the pattern build at a glance. If they’re tightening up and intensifying over an hour or two, your body means business. If they wander off when you walk around, drink water, or lie down, that’s usually practice, not the main event.

Real labor vs practice contractions

Same tightening, two completely different jobs. This is the fastest way to place what you are feeling right now.

Clue	Real labor	Braxton Hicks (practice)
Rhythm	Regular, gets closer together	Irregular, no real pattern
Strength	Builds and intensifies	Stays the same or fades
When you move	Keeps going	Often eases off
Where you feel it	Often back and lower belly	Usually just the front

Other early signs to watch for

• Your waters break. It can be a dramatic gush or a slow trickle. Note the time, color, and smell, because your provider will ask.
• The “show.” A blob of thick, sometimes pink-tinged mucus (the plug that sealed your cervix) can come away days before or hours before labor.
• A nagging low backache or period-like cramping that won’t settle.
• The nesting urge, a sudden burst of energy to clean and organize.
• Loose bowels or feeling off, as your body clears the decks.
• Baby drops lower, sometimes easing your breathing but adding pelvic pressure.

Not everyone gets every sign, and they don’t arrive in a tidy order. You might lose your mucus plug and then wait days, or your waters might break with no warning at all. So the useful question is never which sign came first. It is whether this is a moment to pick up the phone, and the list below answers that faster than any of the clues above.

When to call your provider or head in

A common guide for contractions is the 5-1-1 rule: contractions about 5 minutes apart, each lasting around 1 minute, holding that pattern for 1 hour. Our free contraction timer watches for that 5-1-1 pattern for you and flags it when you hit it. But your own midwife or hospital may give you different instructions, so follow theirs first.

Call your provider or go in right away if any of these happen:

• Your waters break, especially if the fluid is green, brown, or smells unpleasant (this can signal the baby needs checking).
• You have any vaginal bleeding that’s more than light spotting.
• Your baby’s movements slow down or change from their normal pattern.
• You have a bad headache, vision changes, sudden swelling, or pain under your ribs (these can be signs of a serious blood pressure problem).
• You’re less than 37 weeks and think labor may be starting.
• You feel feverish, very unwell, or something just feels wrong. Trust that instinct.

When in doubt, call. No one on the other end of the phone will think you’re overreacting, and they would always rather hear from you early.

What to do while you wait it out

In early labor, the best moves are usually the gentle ones. Rest if it’s night, stay lightly fed and hydrated, take a warm bath, and move around when contractions let you. Keep your bag by the door and your provider’s number somewhere you can reach without getting up. When gentle stops being enough, our guide to coping with contractions takes it from there, counter-pressure through to an epidural.

If you want to know what comes after these first signs, our guide to the stages of labor and birth walks through the whole day. And if you’re still counting down, our third trimester guide helps you prep calmly.

This is one of the very few nights where being early costs you nothing.

Frequently asked questions

What are the first signs that labor is starting?

Common early signs include regular contractions that get stronger, a bloody show, your waters breaking, and a persistent low back ache.

How do I know if it is real labor or Braxton Hicks?

Real contractions get longer, stronger, and closer together and do not ease when you move, while Braxton Hicks are irregular and settle with rest or water.

When should I go to the hospital?

Follow your provider's guidance, often the 5-1-1 pattern at term, but go sooner if your waters break, you have bleeding, or your baby's movements change.

Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It does not replace care from a doctor or midwife. Always follow the specific guidance from your own healthcare team about when to contact them or come in. If you think you may be experiencing a medical emergency, contact your local emergency services right away.

Sources

• American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. “How to Tell When Labor Begins.” 2023.
• National Health Service (NHS). “Signs that labour has begun.” 2024.
• Mayo Clinic. “Signs of labor: Know what to expect.” 2023.