16 Signs of Labor — Here’s What to Expect When It’s Go-Time

Many pregnant moms have wondered how labor will feel, how long it will last, and how to know whether it's the real deal or a false alarm.

Every birth is different, so it’s hard to predict the answers to all those questions. But knowing the signs of labor to look out for — and which stage of labor they're likely to develop in — can help clue you in to when you'll meet your baby.

Key Takeaways

• Labor doesn't usually start all at once. There are often early signs, like your baby dropping, cramping, or a nesting urge that show up days (or even weeks) beforehand.
• When contractions become stronger, longer, and more regular — especially paired with symptoms like a bloody show or water breaking — you're likely in early or active labor.
• Can't tell if you're really in labor? Trust your gut and don't hesitate to call your doctor — it's totally okay to double-check, even in the middle of the night!

What is labor?

Labor is the process of childbirth involving both contractions of the uterus and cervical dilation, and ending with the delivery of the baby. In other words: It’s show time.

As you get closer to your due date, you may notice some subtle physical signs that labor is a few weeks or days away. Then you may see signs of early labor anywhere from hours to days before you transition into active labor and baby arrives. 

Signs labor is a few weeks or days away

Nothing is a sure thing with labor symptoms, and how soon labor starts can vary widely.

“For some women, pre-labor symptoms can lead to labor the next day, and weeks later for others,” says Shannon Smith, M.D., a board-certified OB/GYN and partner at Brigham Faulkner OB/GYN Associates in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board. 

It can be helpful to track your symptoms with the My Journal tool on the What to Expect app to see any patterns, but always check with your doctor to be sure you actually are in labor.

Here are some telltale signs labor is on the horizon: Trusted SourceAmerican College of Obstetricians and GynecologistsHow to Tell When Labor BeginsSee All Sources ^[1]

Baby drops

For some moms, the baby drops, or descends into the pelvis, a few weeks before labor begins. Your baby is getting into position to make his exit, ideally with the head down and low and not in the breech position.

Don’t worry if you don’t feel anything, though: Sometimes it’s not easy to tell when your baby drops, and other times, baby won’t drop until labor begins.

You might feel like you’re waddling more than ever at this point — and now that baby’s head is pushing down on your bladder, you may be experiencing even more frequent urination.

The good news is that you have a bit more breathing room, since your little one is moving away from your lungs.

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Cervix begins to dilate

Your cervix, too, is preparing for birth: It starts to dilate (open) and efface (thin out) in the days or weeks before you deliver. At your weekly check-ups in the home stretch of your pregnancy, your provider may measure and track dilation and effacement via an internal exam.

But everyone progresses differently, so don’t be discouraged if you’re dilating slowly or not at all.

Cramps and increased back pain

You may feel some cramping and pain in your lower back and groin as labor nears, especially if this isn’t your first pregnancy. Your muscles and joints are stretching and shifting in preparation for birth.

Loose-feeling joints

You may notice that the joints all over your body feel a bit less tight and more relaxed. That’s because the pregnancy hormone relaxin is making your ligaments loosen up a bit — nature’s way of opening up your pelvis for your little passenger to make his way into the world.

Diarrhea

The same hormones that can start the process of labor can also trigger bowel movements, leading to prelabor diarrhea (as if the ongoing pregnancy diarrhea you may have experienced wasn’t bad enough!).

Though annoying, it’s completely normal. Just be sure to stay hydrated and take heart in the fact that this is a good sign.

For some women, pre-labor symptoms can lead to labor the next day, and weeks later for others.

Dr. Shannon Smith, a partner at Brigham Faulkner OB/GYN Associates in Boston and a member of the What to Expect Medical Review Board

Weight gain stops

Pregnancy weight gain often levels off at the very end. Some moms-to-be even lose a couple of pounds.

This is normal and won’t affect your baby’s birth weight. He’s still gaining, but you’re dropping due to lower levels of amniotic fluid, more bathroom breaks and maybe even increased activity.

Fatigue

It can be hard to get a good night’s sleep during the last days and weeks of pregnancy, thanks to your super-size belly, along with your compressed bladder and other organs. Just pile up the pillows and take naps when you can, if at all possible.

Nesting instinct

Some moms-to-be get an urge known as the nesting instinct as their baby’s birthday nears and can’t resist the compelling urge to clean and organize everything in sight. Just try not to overdo it!

Lightning crotch

Lightning crotch strikes many moms-to-be toward the end of pregnancy, as their due date nears. It can feel like a sharp, shooting pain in the vagina or pelvic area that comes and goes in a flash — a few seconds or so — possibly because your growing baby kicked a nerve or is putting more and more pressure on your pelvis. 

Signs of early labor

You’re likely in early labor if you’ve noticed the following signs: Trusted SourceCleveland Clinic10 Signs Labor May Be BeginningSee All Sources ^[2]

Strong contractions

You’ll know you’re experiencing actual labor contractions rather than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions) by the pain’s frequency, intensity and location.

Contractions during early labor:

• Are spaced at regular intervals — for example, once every 20 minutes — but become more frequent as time goes on

• Last for 30 to 45 seconds each

• Get stronger over time and don’t ease up, even when you change positions

Bloody show and loss of your mucus plug

A day or two before labor, you may start seeing thicker vaginal discharge that looks red, brown or pink — the telltale “bloody show” that’s a good indication that labor is imminent.

This bloody discharge appears because the mucus plug — the cork sealing off your uterus from the outside world — has usually become dislodged. When this happens, it may come out in one large piece or lots of little ones. Some women don’t notice losing it, though, and others don’t lose it at all before delivery.

Cramping

You may feel like you’re having strong menstrual cramps, stomach upset, or lower abdominal pressure.

Water breaking

When your water breaks, this means that the amniotic sac that surrounds and cushions your baby has been ruptured. This usually occurs in active labor, but it can also happen in early labor.

It's easy to mistake amniotic fluid (which is pale and straw-colored) for urine (which is yellowish). One way to tell the difference between the two is by wearing a pad: If the pad stays dry after an hour, it’s most likely urine; if the pad is wet, it’s most likely amniotic fluid. If you have questions, check in with your doctor.

Signs of active labor

The symptoms of active labor tend to more frequent and intense than those of early labor, and can include:

Stronger, more frequent contractions

During active labor, the contractions will become more intense, frequent, and longer.

Contractions during active labor:

• Are spaced about 5 minutes apart (although they can be as close as 3 minutes apart)

• Last for 40 to 60 seconds each and won’t go away if you change positions

• Stronger and more intense. You may not be able to walk or talk through labor contractions once they’ve progressed.

Belly and lower back pain

You and could have pain in your lower abdomen or in both the lower back and abdomen that radiates down into the legs. You may also feel nauseated.

Water breaking

In the movies, water breaking is a sign of early labor. And while it’s certainly possible for your water to break in early labor (or even prematurely), it’s more likely to happen during active labor, after other symptoms have already begun.

When the amniotic sac becomes ruptured, you may feel a stream of liquid or a slow, steady trickle. Still, it can be hard to notice or tell the difference between amniotic fluid (which is pale in color and is either odorless or slightly sweet-smelling) or urine (which is yellowish and smells like ammonia).

Signs of preterm labor 

Preterm labor is when labor occurs before week 37.

“The symptoms of preterm labor are similar to those of early labor,” says Dr. Smith, and can include:

Contractions

You may feel regular contractions every 10 minutes or more. These will be different than the practice Braxton Hicks contractions, though, in that they don’t subside when you change positions.

Change in vaginal discharge

There may be bloody vaginal discharge in your underwear or vaginal bleeding. 

Cramping

You may feel abdominal cramps or menstrual-like cramps that may be accompanied by diarrhea.

Back pain

A constant, dull backache is a possible sign of labor.

Water breaking

When your water breaks, it can feel like a gush of liquid or a slow trickle. Since it can be hard to tell the difference between amniotic fluid and urine by their colors, try giving it a smell: urine smells like ammonia, whereas amniotic fluid smells slightly sweet or like nothing at all.

If you’re experiencing any of these symptoms and you haven’t yet reached your 37th week, call your practitioner. 

Am I going into labor? Should I call the doctor?

Still feel like you won’t know when to announce “It’s time!” and get ready to meet your baby? Try not to stress about it. You’ll be seeing your doctor or midwife frequently now, and they'll help you spot all the important clues.

If you think you're going into labor, your practitioner has likely told you what to do when you think you're experiencing regular contractions (e.g. "Call me when they’re coming about five minutes apart for at least an hour").

Labor contractions won’t all be exactly spaced, but if they're becoming pretty consistent, more painful and longer (usually around 30 to 60 seconds each), it’s time to check in with your doctor.

If you aren't sure if you’re actually in labor, get on the phone. Your provider can explain what’s going on and have you come in if there's any uncertainty. 

Don’t feel embarrassed or worry about calling outside of office hours, either: Your practitioner knows it comes with the job.

You should always call your doctor or midwife if:

• You experience any bleeding or bright red discharge (not brown or pinkish).
• Your water breaks — especially if the fluid looks green or brown. This could be a sign that meconium, or your baby's first stool, is present, which can be dangerous if your baby ingests it during birth.
• You experience blurred or double vision, a severe headache or sudden swelling. These can all be symptoms of preeclampsia, which is characterized by pregnancy-induced high blood pressure and requires medical attention.

Can I be in labor and not know it?

Every labor, like every pregnancy, is different. For most women, labor will follow along a somewhat predictable path, even as they progress (or sometimes, don’t progress) at a different pace. And most often, a mom’s contractions will help guide her along the way, sending her packing to the hospital when things start getting real.

Will you know labor when you feel it? Will those contractions tell you what you need to know? Chances are, yes.

“If you’re not sure, you’re probably not in labor,” says Dr. Smith.

Still, if you're unsure, call your practitioner and get your cervix checked out, so you can run what you’re feeling or experiencing by a professional.

Got a gut feeling (or your partner does) that it’s labor, even though your sources — and even your doctor or midwife or the triage nurse at the hospital — tell you it’s likely not? Still get it checked out.

Natural ways to help labor along

Not in labor just yet ... but full-term and itching to get things moving along? There are a few natural tricks that may help induce labor that you can try at home yourself, including walking, sex, spicy food and acupuncture.

That said, there's not a lot of research to back any of these methods up, and you should always talk to your doctor first before trying anything intended to expedite baby's birthday.

No matter what, as you near the homestretch, your baby will make it known when he's ready to meet you. So try to just enjoy these last days and weeks of calm before you're a full-fledged parent!