Signs Labor Is Near: How to Know Your Baby Is Coming Soon

The last few weeks of pregnancy have a way of making time feel strange. Days drag. Every twinge makes you wonder. You find yourself Googling “signs of labor” at 2 AM while your baby practices kickboxing on your bladder. You’ve packed your hospital bag, installed the car seat, and washed every tiny onesie three times — and still, you wait.

Here’s what nobody tells you clearly enough: your body doesn’t go from “pregnant” to “in labor” like a light switch flipping on. Labor is a process, and it typically begins days or even weeks before the actual contractions that bring your baby into the world. Your body sends signals — some subtle, some impossible to miss — that things are moving in the right direction.

This guide covers every major sign that labor is approaching, what each one means, how to tell the difference between false alarms and the real thing, and when to call your provider or head to the hospital. By the time you finish reading, you’ll feel a lot more confident about recognizing what your body is telling you.

---

Understanding the Timeline: Early Labor vs. Active Labor vs. True Labor

Before we dive into individual signs, it helps to understand that “labor is near” means different things at different stages.

Prelabor (also called latent phase or early labor) can begin days to weeks before active labor. This is the phase where your cervix is softening, thinning, and beginning to dilate — often without any dramatic symptoms.

Active labor is the phase most people picture when they hear the word “labor.” This is when contractions become regular, strong, and increasingly close together, and the cervix is dilating from about 6 cm to 10 cm.

True labor vs. false labor (Braxton Hicks) is the distinction that confuses almost everyone. We’ll break this down in detail.

The signs below are roughly organized from earliest (things that can happen weeks out) to most immediate (things that mean labor has started or is hours away).

---

Early Signs That Labor Is Approaching (Days to Weeks Before)

---

1. The Baby Drops (Lightening)

What it is: In the final weeks of pregnancy — typically around weeks 36–38 for first-time mothers, and sometimes not until labor actually begins for women who’ve given birth before — the baby descends deeper into the pelvis in preparation for birth. This is called lightening or engagement, and it’s exactly what it sounds like.

What it feels like: You may notice that your belly looks and sits lower than it did before. You might be able to breathe more easily because the baby is no longer pressing up into your diaphragm. At the same time, the increased pelvic pressure can make walking more uncomfortable, and you may feel like you constantly need to urinate because the baby’s head is sitting directly on your bladder.

Some women say they feel as though they are “waddling more” after lightening. Others describe a sensation of heaviness or fullness deep in the pelvis.

What it means: The baby is getting into position. In first-time mothers, engagement often happens 2–4 weeks before delivery. In women who’ve given birth before, the baby may not engage until labor actually begins — so don’t panic if you’re on your second or third pregnancy and haven’t felt the drop yet.

Important: Not all babies engage before labor. Some descend during labor itself. Lack of engagement doesn’t mean anything is wrong.

---

2. Increased Braxton Hicks Contractions

What it is: Braxton Hicks contractions — often called “practice contractions” — are irregular tightenings of the uterus that most pregnant women begin to notice from around week 20 onward. In the final weeks of pregnancy, they typically become more frequent, more noticeable, and sometimes quite uncomfortable.

What they feel like: Braxton Hicks typically feel like a tightening or hardening of the entire abdomen that comes and goes. They are generally painless or mildly uncomfortable, and they tend to ease off when you change position, walk around, or drink water. They are irregular — there’s no consistent pattern to how often they come or how long they last.

How to tell them apart from real contractions:

This is the question every pregnant woman asks, and the honest answer is that it can be genuinely difficult early on. Here’s the clearest guide:

Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular — they don’t follow a consistent timing pattern. They tend to go away when you move, change position, or hydrate. They don’t get progressively stronger, longer, or closer together. They are usually felt only in the front of the abdomen.

True labor contractions are regular and become increasingly so over time. They continue regardless of what you do — moving around, changing position, or drinking water doesn’t stop them. They get stronger, last longer, and come closer together as time passes. They are often felt in the lower back as well as the abdomen, and the pain radiates.

The classic rule of thumb is the 5-1-1 rule: contractions that come every 5 minutes, last at least 1 minute each, and have been following that pattern for at least 1 hour. At that point, call your provider or head in.

What increased Braxton Hicks mean: Your uterus is warming up. Think of them as training runs for the main event.

---

3. Your Cervix Begins to Change

What it is: In the weeks before labor, your cervix undergoes three important changes: it softens (called ripening), thins out (called effacement, measured as a percentage), and begins to open (called dilation, measured in centimeters from 0–10).

How you find out: You won’t feel this happening — it’s detected by your provider during a cervical check at your prenatal appointments, typically beginning around week 36 or 37. Your provider may say something like “You’re 1 centimeter dilated and 50% effaced” — meaning the cervix has opened 1 cm and is halfway thinned out.

What it means: Cervical changes in the final weeks are encouraging signs that your body is preparing — but they are not reliable predictors of exactly when labor will begin. Many women walk around at 3–4 centimeters dilated for two or three weeks before labor starts. Others go from zero dilation to active labor within hours. Cervical checks give information, but not a timeline.

What you may feel: Some women feel pelvic pressure or mild cramping after a cervical check. Between appointments, you might notice increased pelvic pressure or low backache as the cervix changes — but many women feel nothing at all.

---

4. The Nesting Instinct Surges

What it is: Many women experience a sudden, powerful urge to clean, organize, prepare, and arrange everything in their home in the final days or weeks before labor. Nurseries get rearranged. Cupboards get reorganized. Baseboards get scrubbed at 11 PM. This is the nesting instinct, and it’s real, widely documented, and biologically interesting.

What it means: While the nesting instinct isn’t a precise predictor of imminent labor, many women report that an intense, sudden wave of nesting energy — particularly if it comes after a period of fatigue — preceded their labor by a day or two. Some researchers believe it may be triggered by the same hormonal shifts that initiate labor.

What to do about it: Honor it, but don’t exhaust yourself. Deep cleaning the oven at midnight when you’re 39 weeks pregnant is not setting you up well for labor. Get things prepared, but rest when you can. Your body is going to need that energy very soon.

---

5. Increased Vaginal Discharge

What it is: In the final weeks of pregnancy, many women notice an increase in vaginal discharge. This is normal and is related to the cervix softening and preparing for labor. The discharge is typically white or clear and may be slightly thicker than usual.

What to watch for: If the discharge becomes yellow, green, or has a strong odor, contact your provider — it could indicate an infection. If you notice a sudden large gush or steady trickle of clear fluid, that may be amniotic fluid and should be reported immediately (more on this below).

---

Signs That Labor Is Very Close (Hours to Days Before)

---

6. Losing the Mucus Plug

What it is: Throughout pregnancy, your cervix is sealed by a thick plug of mucus that acts as a barrier, protecting the uterus from bacteria and infection. As the cervix begins to soften, thin, and open in the final days and weeks before labor, this plug is gradually dislodged and expelled. This is called losing the mucus plug.

What it looks like: The mucus plug can look different for different women. It may come out all at once — a glob of thick, jelly-like mucus that can be clear, yellowish, brownish, or tinged with pink or red. Or it may come out gradually over several days, and you might not notice it at all. Many women see it when they wipe after using the bathroom.

What it means: Losing the mucus plug means your cervix is changing and labor is on its way — but “on its way” could mean hours or it could mean a week or two. For most women, losing the mucus plug is followed by labor within days, but it is not a sign that labor has started or that you need to rush anywhere.

Important note: Regeneration is possible. The mucus plug can partially regenerate after being lost, particularly if labor doesn’t start immediately. Don’t be confused if you lose it and then don’t go into labor for a week.

---

7. Bloody Show

What it is: Bloody show is related to the mucus plug but slightly different and typically a more immediate signal. It refers to a pinkish, reddish, or brownish-tinged discharge — the result of small blood vessels in the cervix breaking as it dilates and effaces. It’s often mixed with mucus.

What it looks like: A small amount of pink or blood-tinged mucus, usually noticed when wiping. It can look like light spotting mixed with discharge.

What it means: Bloody show is generally a sign that significant cervical changes are happening and that labor is typically 24–72 hours away, though it can be shorter. For many women, bloody show is one of the most reliable signs that labor is genuinely close.

When to call your provider: If you experience heavy bleeding — more than a light spotting — call your provider or go to the hospital immediately. Heavy bleeding can indicate a problem like placental abruption and needs immediate evaluation. Bloody show is light; heavy bleeding is an emergency.

---

8. Water Breaking (Rupture of Membranes)

What it is: The rupture of the amniotic sac — what everyone calls “water breaking” — is probably the most dramatic and well-known sign of labor. Movies have made it seem like it always happens as a spectacular gush in a public place, but the reality is usually more subtle and more varied.

What it actually feels like: For about 15% of women, the water breaks before contractions begin. Of those, it may feel like a dramatic gush of warm fluid — the amniotic sac holds about a liter of fluid, so a full rupture can produce a significant amount of liquid. But more commonly, it is a slow trickle or a steady leak of clear or pale yellow fluid that continues to seep because the baby’s head isn’t fully blocking the opening.

How to tell it from urine: This is a very common question because the sensation can be similar, and urinary leakage is extremely common in late pregnancy. Amniotic fluid is typically clear or slightly yellowish and has a distinctly different smell from urine — some women describe it as slightly sweet or having no odor at all. Unlike urine, the leaking doesn’t stop when you tighten your pelvic floor muscles. If you’re not sure, put on a pad and lie down for 30 minutes. If fluid continues to accumulate, it’s likely amniotic fluid.

What to do: Call your provider immediately when your water breaks, even if you don’t have contractions yet. Most providers want to know right away. If the fluid is green or brown — indicating meconium (the baby’s first stool) in the fluid — go straight to the hospital. If the fluid is clear, call your provider and follow their guidance. Many will advise you to come in within a few hours even without contractions, because once the membranes rupture, the risk of infection increases with time.

Important fact: Contrary to what many people expect, water breaking before contractions is less common than movies suggest. In the majority of labors, contractions begin first and the water breaks during active labor — sometimes only moments before birth.

---

9. Persistent Lower Back Pain

What it is: Many women experience a new kind of back pain in the days and hours before labor begins — different from the general pregnancy back ache that’s been with them for months. This is often described as a dull, persistent, cramp-like pain in the lower back that doesn’t go away when you change position or rest.

What it may indicate: This type of back pain — particularly when it comes in waves, building and subsiding — can be a sign of early labor, especially if the baby is in a posterior position (facing your front instead of your back, sometimes called “sunny side up”). Posterior labor, or back labor, is notoriously painful and is often characterized by intense back pain during contractions rather than or in addition to abdominal pain.

What to do: If the back pain is rhythmic and coming in waves, start timing it. If it’s constant and unrelenting along with other signs, call your provider.

---

10. Gastrointestinal Changes — Diarrhea, Nausea, or Loose Stools

What it is: In the hours or days before labor begins, many women experience loose stools, diarrhea, nausea, or upset stomach. This is not a coincidence — it is believed to be caused by the same prostaglandins that trigger uterine contractions also stimulating the bowel.

What it means: Think of it as your body emptying itself in preparation for labor — nature’s version of clearing the stage. Many women find that a bout of digestive upset in the final days of pregnancy is shortly followed by labor beginning.

What to do: Stay hydrated. Don’t ignore it, but don’t panic either. If it’s accompanied by other signs of labor, you’re likely in the early stages. Make sure your hospital bag is where you can grab it quickly.

---

11. A Sudden Energy Surge — or Total Exhaustion

What it is: In the day or two before labor begins, many women experience one of two opposite extremes: a sudden, unexpected burst of energy — that intense nesting urge mentioned earlier — or a complete, bone-deep exhaustion unlike anything they’ve felt before.

What it means: Both are your body’s way of signaling that something is shifting hormonally. The energy burst is believed to be triggered by a final surge of hormones preparing the body for the physical work of labor. The exhaustion may be the body demanding rest before the marathon ahead.

What to do: If you get the energy burst, use it wisely. Finish your last-minute preparations, but don’t run a 5K. If you’re hit with exhaustion, sleep. Whatever your body is asking for, give it. Labor is physically demanding, and you’ll want every bit of reserve you have.

---

Signs That Labor Has Started

---

12. Regular, Progressively Intensifying Contractions

What it is: True labor contractions are the definitive sign that labor has begun. Unlike Braxton Hicks, they follow a pattern — and that pattern changes over time in a very specific way. They get longer, stronger, and closer together. This progressive intensification is the key feature that distinguishes true labor from false labor.

What they feel like: Labor contractions feel different from anything you’ve experienced before. They often begin as a sensation similar to menstrual cramps — a cramping tightness low in the abdomen — and build from there. In active labor, contractions are typically described as waves of intense pressure or pain that begin low in the abdomen or back, peak, and gradually ease. During a peak contraction, many women find it impossible to talk through the pain.

How to time them: Download a contraction timing app or simply note the time when each contraction starts. Record the duration (how long each one lasts from start to finish) and the interval (the time between the start of one contraction and the start of the next). Most providers use the 5-1-1 rule for first-time mothers: contractions every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, for 1 hour. For women who have given birth before, the threshold is often sooner — 10 minutes apart or even the first sign of regular contractions — because second and subsequent labors often progress more quickly.

When to call your provider: Call when your contractions follow the 5-1-1 pattern, or whenever you feel uncertain or concerned. You cannot bother your care team by calling too early. That is what they are there for. If at any point your instinct tells you something is wrong, call immediately regardless of the contraction pattern.

---

13. Cervical Dilation Progressing Rapidly

What it is: If you’ve been having cervical checks and your provider notes that you’ve dilated from 1–2 cm to 4–5 cm between appointments, or you go in for an evaluation during early labor and find significant dilation is occurring, labor is underway.

What it means: Active labor is generally considered to begin at 6 cm dilation. Before that, you’re in the latent phase, which can last hours or days. Once you hit 6 cm and contractions are regular and strong, things typically start moving more quickly.

---

When to Go to the Hospital: A Clear Guide

This is often the question that causes the most anxiety, and the answer depends on your individual situation and your provider’s guidance. That said, here are the general guidelines:

Go immediately if:

• Your water has broken and the fluid is green, brown, or has a foul odor
• You have heavy vaginal bleeding (more than a light show)
• You feel the baby moving significantly less than normal
• You have a sudden severe headache, vision changes, or severe upper abdominal pain
• You feel the urge to push
• You have any sense that something is seriously wrong

Call your provider and follow their guidance if:

• Your water breaks and the fluid is clear
• Contractions are following the 5-1-1 pattern (or the pattern your provider gave you specifically)
• You have bloody show accompanied by regular contractions
• You are a VBAC candidate — many providers want to know earlier with VBAC

Monitor at home a little longer if:

• Contractions are irregular and stop and start
• You have lost your mucus plug but have no other signs
• You have mild Braxton Hicks that ease with water or position change
• Your water hasn’t broken and contractions are still far apart

Always remember: When in doubt, call. No care team has ever been frustrated with a patient who called to check in. Your safety and your baby’s safety are the only priority.

---

What About Induction? Signs That May Never Come

It’s worth acknowledging that for many women — particularly those who are induced — the neat progression of signs described in this article may not unfold naturally. You may go to your 39-week appointment perfectly comfortable with no signs of imminent labor and be advised that induction is medically indicated. Or you may choose elective induction at 39 weeks.

In that case, labor begins not with a mucus plug or water breaking but with a phone call telling you to come in at a specific time. That is just as valid a way to have a baby. Not every labor announces itself with signs and signals. Some labors begin in a hospital room, scheduled and planned, and that does not make them any less real or any less remarkable.

---

A Word on Anxiety and the Waiting

The final weeks of pregnancy are, for many women, one of the most emotionally complex periods of their lives. You are simultaneously eager and terrified. Ready and not ready. Exhausted by waiting and afraid of what the waiting ending will bring.

That ambivalence is completely normal. In fact it’s almost universal. Almost every woman who has ever stood at the threshold of labor has felt exactly what you are feeling right now — that mix of anticipation and uncertainty that is unlike anything else in human experience.

Trust your body. It has been preparing for this for nine months. Trust your care team. And trust yourself — because when the moment comes, you will know what to do.

You are closer than you think.

---

Quick Reference: Signs of Labor at a Glance