Early Signs of Approaching Labour

Waters breaking? Contractions? Both are potential signs of labour but sometimes the signals are more subtle. You might find it hard to tell whether you're at the start of labour or not. To help, we've written about the most common signs of labour. Plus, we provide information on when you can expect to go into labour, the differences between real and false labour, and when to call your doctor or midwife.

What Is Labour?

More commonly referred to as childbirth, labour is the special time when your baby departs from their warm and cosy home in your uterus and enters the outside world. It’s entirely normal to feel excited yet anxious about this process. The experience of giving birth is unique for every woman and you shouldn’t compare yours to others. That being said, labour does typically follow a general pattern for most women. Learning more about the process can help prepare you for the big day and give you peace of mind.

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When Will I Go Into Labour?

Although your estimated due date is usually set to 40 weeks from the first day of your last menstrual period, your baby may not arrive bang on time. To start with, your due date is just an estimate, even if the date was adjusted after a dating scan. Most pregnancies last between 37 and 42 weeks and only 5 percent of babies are born right on their due date. If your pregnancy isn't yet full term, be aware of the potential signs of preterm labour until you reach 38 weeks pregnant.

You may find that you pass your due date and your little one shows no signs of making an appearance. If you have not gone into labour naturally by 42 weeks, your doctor or midwife may decide you need to be induced to mitigate any risks for you or the baby.

Stages of Labour

Childbirth consists of three stages:

1. Start of labour. During this phase, contractions make your cervix gradually open (dilate). When labour begins, your cervix will soften to help it open. This occurs during the latent phase and you may experience irregular contractions over the course of several hours, or even days before established labour begins. It can be a good idea to eat, drink and sleep during this phase if you can, to stock up on energy for the next stages.

2. Pushing and delivering your baby. This stage is typically shorter than the previous stage. However, it requires the most work from you, as you’ll be pushing your baby out. Once you’ve baby has been born, you’ll usually be able to hold them immediately and enjoy some magical skin-to-skin time together.

3. Delivering the placenta. This is the shortest stage of labour when your uterus contracts and the placenta comes out through your vagina. There are two ways to manage this stage of labour, either with treatment to speed it up (active) or with no treatment so this stage happens naturally (physiological). Your midwife or doctor will discuss these options with you when you’re pregnant or during early labour.

What Are the Early Signs of Labour?

Although every mum-to-be and every pregnancy is different, you may notice some of these signs of labour:

• Backache. You might feel a heavy ache in your back area. Backaches can happen a little before labour starts or at the onset of labour. You might also feel something similar to heavy period pain around this time.

• Mucus discharge. You might notice a thick, pinkish or blood-streaked discharge, called a show. This is the mucus plug that sealed your cervix during pregnancy. It often appears a little before labour begins or during early labour. Don't worry if you don't see it; it's not always noticeable.

• Contractions. Contractions can come on slowly, often starting with a feeling of discomfort, then becoming light, irregular contractions. Then, as labour progresses, contractions become stronger, longer and more frequent. Do your best to keep calm and monitor the length, frequency and regularity of your contractions. If they start to come regularly you'll know that you're experiencing real labour contractions not Braxton Hicks contractions. When contractions start coming every 5 minutes and last 60 seconds or more, that's when it's probably a good time to call your midwife for advice on what to do next.

• Waters breaking. The amniotic sac around your baby will rupture during labour, or sometimes before, releasing the amniotic fluid inside. This is commonly called your waters breaking. You could experience a gush of water or just a trickle. This is one of the key signs of labour and you should tell your doctor or midwife when this happens. You'll probably go into labour within 24 hours of your waters breaking – if you're not already in labour. Your midwife will be able to advise you on the best course of action once your waters have broken.

• Nausea. This is also a sign of labour, as is vomiting and diarrhoea.

How Can I Tell Real and False Labour Signs Apart?

It's not unusual for first-time mums-to-be to head to the hospital too early when it's just a false alarm. Braxton Hicks contractions can easily be mistaken for real labour contractions, particularly as these false labour contractions can often feel stronger – like true labour contractions – toward the end of the third trimester. The table below will help you tell the difference. If in doubt, your midwife will be able to assess your symptoms.

What Should I Do When I Go Into Labour?

Early labour can be unpredictable. It may be hours or even days before your labour progresses, especially if this is your first baby. At the start of labour, you may not need to go to the hospital or birth centre just yet. If your midwife or doctor says it's OK, you could be more comfortable staying at home a little longer. If you haven't already, now's the time to get your hospital bag packed.

Realising you're in labour can bring feelings of excitement, disbelief or apprehension. Try to stay calm and focused. You might want to arrange to have your partner or friend stay with you to help record labour symptoms, keep you company and get you to the hospital when the time comes. You may also want to try some labour comfort measures such as:

• Getting up and going for a walk

• Trying some relaxation or breathing techniques that you might have learned in your prenatal classes

• Changing positions

• Taking a shower or a bath

• Having something to eat and drink

• A pain killer like Paracetamol may be safe to take, but always check with your doctor or midwife first. How do you think you'd like to manage the pain? Take our labour pain management quiz to tell us more.

When Should I Call My Midwife?

It's recommended you call your doctor or midwife for advice if you notice your contractions are lasting for 60 seconds or more and come every 5 minutes; if your waters break; if you're unsure whether you're in labour; or if you're worried about anything at all.

Always call your doctor or midwife right away if:

• you notice bright red bleeding

• your waters break and the water is smelly or coloured

• you think your baby is moving less than usual

• you are in constant pain

• you think you are going into preterm labour, which is when you go into labour before 37 weeks of pregnancy.

The Bottom Line

You never know when your baby will finally arrive, so it's a good idea to have your hospital bag packed, your baby's nursery completed and a stock of nappies ready to go earlier on in the third trimester. It might also help you feel more prepared when you notice those early signs of labour if you've read some more labour advice and tips. You can do this!