Signs That Labor Is Coming Soon: What to Watch for and When to Call Your Midwife

One of the most common questions I hear from clients, especially first-time moms, is what are the signs that labor is coming soon?

It makes perfect sense for moms to want clear instructions about what to look for as their baby’s arrival nears. The dilemma? Every woman’s experience of labor is different.

Some women have numerous warm-up signs in the days leading up to labor, while others wake from a deep sleep with their first contraction and are off to the races. Neither experience is better than the other — they’re simply different paths to the same beautiful destination.

That said, familiarizing yourself with common signs that labor is near may help you feel more prepared and at ease as your baby’s arrival approaches.

What Are the Signs That Labor Is Coming Soon?

While there’s no single, universal sign of impending labor, many women notice physical and emotional changes in the days or weeks leading up to birth. Here are some of the most common signs that labor is coming soon:

• Cramping and Pressure: Women may experience mild cramping and increased pelvic pressure as their body prepares for labor.
• Changes in Vaginal Discharge: An increase in mucus, sometimes tinged with blood (known as the “bloody show”), can indicate labor is approaching soon — though how soon isn’t always clear. It could mean hours, days, or even weeks!
• Burst of Energy: Women may feel an unexpected boost in energy or an urge to clean and organize before labor (sometimes called the “nesting instinct”).
• Loose Bowels: As their body produces prostaglandins in preparation for labor, women may experience diarrhea or loose stools in the days before labor begins. Many women worry about having accidental bowel movements during labor, but the body often cleans itself out ahead of time!
• Emotional Shifts: It’s common to feel extra emotional or weepy as labor approaches. Some women become frustrated, feeling like they’ll be pregnant forever. These emotions sometimes produce a deep surrender within, helping the body to relax and labor to begin.
• Frequent Contractions: While some women experience irregular contractions for weeks prior to labor, true active labor is defined as contractions that become progressively stronger, longer, and closer together, accompanied by changes in the cervix.

Understanding Contractions

Contractions are your body’s way of gradually preparing for birth, and they can begin days or weeks before actual labor starts. Some women experience frequent “warm-up” contractions, while others have none, or hardly notice those they do have. What’s most important to remember is that labor isn’t defined by contractions alone, but by contractions that progress and create change.

One of the key differences between Braxton Hicks contractions, or “warm-up” contractions, and active labor is progression. While Braxton Hicks can range from unnoticeable to quite uncomfortable, they don’t tend to increase in frequency or intensity over time. True labor contractions get progressively stronger, longer, and closer together, and they result in cervical change.

With your first baby especially, we encourage moms to ignore any mild, early contractions as long as possible. There’s no need to watch the clock from the very beginning. Timing contractions too soon can put you on an emotional clock and create unnecessary stress.

When labor truly begins, contractions become stronger, closer together, and more productive. Here’s how to time them:

• Duration: Time from the start of one contraction to the end of that same contraction. In active labor, contractions typically last around a minute.
• Frequency: Time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. In active labor, contractions are typically less than five minutes apart.

Moms I work with often worry that they won’t know they’re in labor. Fortunately, while early labor is often pretty manageable, active labor is hard to miss, though there are always exceptions. In most cases, early labor is easy to ignore, and there’s usually a clear shift when active labor begins.

If you have questions or are unsure whether you’re in labor, trust your instincts, and don’t hesitate to call your midwife. We frequently have multiple conversations with moms during the days leading up to labor to help them decipher what’s happening. Since no two labors are exactly alike, this both provides comfort and confidence for mom and insight for the midwife.

What to Do in Early Labor

Early labor is the general term for the stage of labor that precedes active labor. And, as mentioned, the best things you can do in this stage are to ignore it for as long as possible and nourish yourself. Your body is doing important work, but this isn’t usually the time to speed things up. Instead, focus on gentle preparation for the effort to come.

Some helpful activities during early labor include:

• Resting as much as possible
• Drinking plenty of water, including electrolytes
• Eating light, nourishing foods
• Taking a warm bath
• Baking or cooking (if that relaxes you)
• Taking short walks, alternating with rest
• Watching a movie, listening to music, or doing another calming activity

Labor is something to be received, not forced. The last thing you want is to exhaust yourself or disrupt the process before active labor even begins.

I often recommend that if you wake during the night with contractions, resist the urge to turn on all the lights and start making plans. Instead, feel the excitement, let it wash over you, and then try to get back in bed, gently breathing through the waves as they come and go. There will come a point when you can’t lie down anymore, but until then, capitalize on that early, restful time.

When to Call Your Midwife

As a midwife, I’m here for my clients at every stage of their journey. Whether you’re experiencing Braxton Hicks contractions or think you’re approaching active labor, always call your midwife if you have any questions or uncertainty. We’re here to support you and help you determine what’s happening with your body.

Specific circumstances in which we want moms to call us include:

• Your water breaks or you think it has broken (since it isn’t always straightforward!)
• Your contractions become strong, regular, and progressive, especially when they are five or fewer minutes apart
• You have any unusual discharge or bleeding
• You notice decreased movement from your baby (babies may move less during labor, but you should still feel movement)

If anything feels off or you’re unsure, it’s always better to reach out. We’d rather have you call with a false alarm than wait too long when you truly need support. You and your baby’s well-being are our top priorities!

Signs That Labor Is Coming Soon: Final Thoughts

Since the signs that labor is coming soon vary so widely, it’s natural to feel a little uncertain and seek out a roadmap for the experience.

But labor unfolds differently for every woman, and women often have wildly different experiences with each baby! This is part of the beauty, mystery, and journey of your birth story unfolding.

If in doubt, always reach out to your midwife. We’re here to walk this journey with you. And above all, trust your body, trust your baby, and trust the process.