Early Labour (Video)
Hi, my name’s Jo, I’m one of the midwives for Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust. I’m going to try and explain how you can tell you’re in labour, and how you might know when labour has started.
The real thing that indicates labour is contractions. Contractions make your uterus push down on your baby and pull up on the cervix, or the neck of the womb. They usually begin quite gradually and develop over time.
It’s normal in pregnancy to get practice contractions—we call these Braxton Hicks. They don’t actually get you any closer to having your baby, unfortunately, but they are a sign that the uterus is getting ready.
Braxton Hicks tend to be mild, erratic, and irregular. You might have one or two in an hour, then nothing; then the next hour, three or four; and then nothing more until the next day. They also tend to stay fairly steady, so each one might last around 15–20 seconds.
Labour contractions begin fairly short and mild, but they get longer, stronger, and more intense over time—that’s how you can tell the difference. Braxton Hicks can start anywhere in the uterus and are just quite chaotic tightenings that don’t make a difference to the cervix. True contractions usually begin at the top and push the baby down.
Labour contractions grow over time. Sometimes they can change quite quickly, especially if it’s not your first baby. The contractions might just be felt in your back for most of the labour, depending on your baby’s position. So sometimes you can think it’s not labour at all and just a bit of backache—but it might be.
For most women, by the time contractions last a full minute and there are about three minutes between them, you’re in the active phase of labour. Getting to that point can take any amount of time. What’s really important to remember is that as long as you and your baby are okay, it doesn’t matter how long it takes.
It’s important to keep doing normal things—eat, drink, and rest—and just see what happens.
Sometimes contractions are the first thing you notice. For other mums, you might notice a mucousy “show”. There’s a jelly-like plug that sits in the cervix, and this can become dislodged. This might happen quite early on, so it could still be a while before labour starts, but it can be a sign that things are beginning to change.
The cervix is usually tightly closed before labour starts, and the mucus acts as extra protection for you and your baby. The mucus itself is thick and can be clear, pink, or brown, and sometimes streaked with blood. This can be normal, but if you see any fresh red blood loss during pregnancy, please contact a midwife so they can make sure everything is okay.
Another sign of labour is your waters breaking. Your baby sits inside a bag of membranes containing around a litre of fluid. Your baby practises breathing and swallowing this fluid, and it is sterile.
The liquid itself is as runny as tap water. It’s usually clear, but it can be slightly pink, brown, or green. The membranes will burst at some point. This most often happens after you’ve been having contractions for a while, but it can be the first sign of labour.
You might wake up and notice some wetness, or feel a popping sensation followed by fluid trickling. Once the waters have broken, the liquid may keep coming, but it can be stop-start.
If you’re unsure, you can put a pad on—if it’s watery, it’s likely to be your waters. If your waters break, please contact a midwife, whether that’s your community midwife or the hospital.
The waters act as a barrier against infection, so once they’ve broken, we need to make a plan with you about what happens next. For most mums, labour will follow, but it’s important to have that conversation and understand your options.
In early labour, most mums are fine to stay at home. However, please contact a midwife if:
You have any fresh red bleeding
Your waters have broken
You notice a change in your baby’s movements
Your baby should continue to move regularly. If your baby seems quieter, try the usual things that make you notice movements. If you’re still concerned, contact the maternity assessment centre.
Also, if you have signs of labour before 37 weeks, it’s important to come into hospital. Sometimes we can stop labour or take steps to support your baby if they are born early.
Towards the end of pregnancy, it’s helpful to start thinking about labour and preparing. Labour can begin at any time, so having a plan is useful. Let someone know, but you don’t need to tell everyone—you want to stay calm and relaxed.
A supportive partner is really helpful. You might want to create a calm environment—put the TV on, potter around, check your hospital bag—and try not to focus too much on timing things early on. Apps can sometimes make you more aware of contractions and increase anxiety.
Labour can develop quickly, or it might involve a long night or even a couple of nights of on-and-off contractions. Both are normal. What matters is that you and your baby are well.
Keep eating, drinking, resting, and going to the toilet regularly. You can take paracetamol in the usual way if you normally tolerate it. A warm bath can also be very helpful.
As contractions get stronger, you might find it uncomfortable to keep still. It’s normal to feel tense, or to hold your breath or breathe quickly—but this isn’t helpful.
Try to focus on slow, steady breathing. Imagine a candle flame in front of you that you must not blow out. Breathe out gently and steadily. It might feel a bit unusual, but it can really help.
Between contractions, you should feel more comfortable again, so try to relax and move around.
This is also a good technique for birth partners—breathing together can help you both stay calm and focused.
Changing position can help if discomfort increases—try:
Standing and leaning on a surface
Leaning over a chair or sofa
Kneeling and leaning forwards
Movement, rocking, swaying, and music can all help your body produce endorphins—your natural pain relief.
Remember, do not panic. If you feel unsure or worried at any point, contact your midwife or the hospital—they are there 24/7 to support you.
Labour often gets off to a better start if you stay at home during the early phase.