"Is this it?" is the most common question of late pregnancy — and the most uncertain. Real labour can start subtly over hours or arrive with one unmistakable contraction. This guide explains every sign, the difference between true and false labour, the 5-1-1 rule for when to leave for the hospital, and the warning signs that mean to call right away regardless of contractions.
Pre-Labor Signs (Days to Weeks Before)
In the final two to four weeks before labour, your body starts preparing. Many of these signs come and go:
- Lightening — the baby drops into the pelvis, easing rib pressure but increasing pelvic pressure and frequent urination.
- Nesting urge — a sudden burst of energy and the impulse to clean, organise or pack.
- Cervical changes — softening, thinning (effacement) and slight opening (dilation), detected on a pelvic exam.
- Weight stable or small loss — 1 to 2 kg lost is normal in the final week as fluid balance shifts.
- Loose stools — the body releases prostaglandins that often soften bowels.
- Increased Braxton-Hicks — irregular practice contractions that ease with movement or hydration.
Early Signs of Labor (Hours to Days Before)
Mucus Plug ("Show")
A thick plug of mucus seals the cervix through pregnancy and comes away as the cervix softens, sometimes weeks before labour. What it looks like, colour by colour, and how to tell it from discharge or waters is in our mucus plug guide.
Bloody Show
A small amount of pink or red-tinged mucus often appears as the cervix opens. It means the cervix is opening, and labour may follow within hours or take a few more days. Heavy bleeding is not normal — call your provider.
Mild Cramps and Backache
A persistent low backache, period-like cramps or a heavy ache low in the pelvis can be the very start of labour contractions. They often come and go before settling into a regular rhythm.
GI Changes
Nausea, loose stools, vomiting and a feeling of "off-ness" are common in early labour as your body releases prostaglandins.
Real Labor vs. Braxton-Hicks
The single most useful comparison in late pregnancy. If practice contractions are the thing you are actually trying to rule out, our full guide to Braxton Hicks vs real contractions covers the triggers, the twenty-minute test and how to time an hour properly.
| Braxton-Hicks (false) | Real labor | |
|---|---|---|
| Frequency | Irregular, unpredictable | Regular, getting closer together |
| Duration | Variable, often less than 30 sec | 30 to 70 sec, getting longer |
| Intensity | Stays the same or weakens | Steadily intensifies |
| Location | Front of belly only | Lower back wrapping to front |
| Effect of activity | Eases with rest, walking, hydration or warm bath | Continues regardless of what you do |
| Cervix changes | No | Yes — opens and thins |
Water Breaking — What to Do
Membranes can rupture as a sudden gush or a slow trickle. Amniotic fluid is usually clear or pale straw-coloured, odourless and continues to leak. Once your waters break:
- Note the time, colour and amount.
- Put on a maternity pad — not a tampon.
- Call your maternity unit even if contractions have not started.
- Most providers want labour established within 24 hours due to infection risk.
Call immediately if the fluid is green, brown or yellow (meconium-stained), if it has a foul smell, if you see blood, or if you cannot feel the baby moving normally afterwards.
The 5-1-1 Rule
For a first-time mother with an uncomplicated pregnancy, the standard guideline is:
5-1-1: Contractions are 5 minutes apart, each lasting 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next.
For second and subsequent babies, many providers advise 7-1-1 (7 minutes apart) or going in as soon as contractions are strong and regular — second labours can be much faster. If you live more than 30 minutes from the hospital, go earlier.
When to Go to the Hospital
🏥 Head in if any of these are true
- 5-1-1 (or your provider's specific rule) is met
- Your waters have broken
- Contractions are too painful to talk through
- You feel rectal pressure or an urge to push
- You are GBS-positive and labour has started (early IV antibiotics needed)
- You are scheduled for a planned caesarean and labour starts
When to Call Immediately (Regardless of Contractions)
Phone your maternity unit straight away if you experience: heavy vaginal bleeding (more than spotting), green or brown amniotic fluid, decreased fetal movement (see our kick-counts guide →), severe persistent headache or vision changes (possible preeclampsia), severe one-sided abdominal pain, fever above 38°C, or any symptom that just feels deeply wrong.
Before 37 weeks, regular tightenings, period-type pain or a new low backache are preterm labour until proven otherwise — call the same day rather than timing them.
The 3 Stages of Labor
Labour has three stages: the first opens your cervix to 10 cm, the second is pushing and birth, and the third delivers the placenta. The first stage takes longest: it starts with a latent phase of irregular contractions and becomes established labour once your cervix opens steadily. What happens in each stage, how long each lasts and the pain relief available at each point are in our guide to the stages of labour.
Make sure your bag is ready: Hospital Bag Checklist → · Third Trimester Guide →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my water broke?
Water breaking can be a sudden gush or a slow trickle that you cannot stop. Amniotic fluid is usually clear or pale straw-coloured and odourless. Once your waters break, contact your maternity unit — most providers want you assessed within 24 hours.
What is the 5-1-1 rule?
5-1-1 means contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute each, for at least 1 hour. For a first-time mother having an uncomplicated pregnancy, this is typically when to head to the hospital. Your provider may give you slightly different guidance — follow theirs.
When should I go to the hospital with my second baby?
Second and subsequent labours are usually faster. Most providers recommend the 7-1-1 rule (7 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) or going in as soon as contractions are strong and regular. If you live far from the hospital, go earlier rather than later.
What if my contractions stop?
Prodromal labour — early contractions that start and stop over hours or days — is common. If contractions ease with rest, hydration or a warm bath, you are likely not in active labour yet. True active labour contractions intensify and get closer together regardless of what you do.