Every labour is different. For some women, the signs are unmistakable; for others, labour creeps in over days. This page covers the three classic signs (a show, contractions, and your waters breaking), what each one feels like, and when to phone us.
If you think you could be in labour, the first thing to do is relax and stay calm. For most women, the best place for early labour is at home.
A “show” is when the plug of mucus from your cervix (the entrance to your womb) comes away. It looks like egg white, is elastic in consistency, and may have a brownish or blood-tinged appearance.
What to do: A show can happen on the day you go into labour, or up to a week before. You don’t need to phone us straight away if you have a show on its own and feel well, but do mention it at your next contact with the maternity unit.
Important: Bright red bleeding is never normal in pregnancy. If you see fresh bright red bleeding, phone us straight away.
When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some women, contractions feel like extreme period pains. You may have had milder tightenings during late pregnancy; these are called Braxton Hicks contractions and are usually painless.
As true labour progresses, your contractions become longer, stronger, and more frequent. During a contraction, the muscles tighten and the pain increases. If you put your hand on your abdomen, you will feel it getting hard.
What to do: Once contractions become fairly regular, write down the time between each contraction, and how long each contraction lasts. We use this to decide when you should come in.
This means the amniotic sac around your baby has ruptured. It can feel like a sudden gush, or a slow trickle that keeps coming.
What to do: Put on a sanitary pad and phone the hospital. We need to know that your waters have gone, check the colour of the fluid, and make a plan with you. Do not use a tampon.
Phone us straight away if: the fluid is green or brown (this can indicate your baby has passed meconium), the fluid is bloodstained, or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant.
Initially, contractions will be short (typically 30 to 40 seconds long) and irregular. Some are quite mild, like a period pain; others can be sharper. Once contractions are roughly five minutes apart and a minute or more in length, labour is said to be “established.”
While you are in early labour at home, the most useful things you can do are:
Your contractions are coming every five minutes, lasting longer than 40 seconds, and have been getting stronger for at least two hours.
Your membranes rupture (your waters break), and the fluid is clear. Put on a sanitary pad and come to the hospital.
You notice any vaginal bleeding. Bright red bleeding is not normal.
You feel your baby’s movements have reduced or changed.
You are worried, even if none of the above apply. Trust your instincts.
If you have been advised to ring the Labour and Birthing Suite early because of a complication with your pregnancy, please do so straight away. Tell us about the complication at the start of the call.
