Childbirth: Signs of labour

Certain signs and symptoms may indicate that you’ll soon be giving birth. The first signs can appear anywhere from three to four weeks to a few hours before going into labour. Your baby may also arrive without warning. All of these situations are perfectly normal.

Your baby drops

If it’s your first pregnancy, your baby will likely drop two weeks before delivery. In subsequent pregnancies, this may not happen until the onset of labour.

Signs of your baby dropping:

• Reduced pressure from the bottom of your uterus on your diaphragm. You may feel a lightening that makes breathing easier.

Do you have a birth plan? A birth plan allows you to map out your preferences for labour and delivery.
 

• Leg cramps or aches caused by pressure on your pelvic nerves.
• Swelling in the legs caused by decreased venous return.
• More frequent urges to pee, as your baby is now pressing on your bladder.

Your energy levels rise or dip

You may feel fatigue. This can be due to many factors, such as fitful sleep, hormonal changes, and weight gain.

On the other hand, some women report a sudden burst of energy 24 to 48 hours before labour. The cause of this spike is unknown. If this is the case for you, don’t overexert yourself before labour begins!

Your vaginal secretions change

You may notice that your vaginal secretions are heavier or thicker than usual. This is due to increased blood flow in your vagina’s membrane.

Normal vaginal secretions look and feel like raw egg whites and generally leave a whitish film after drying. If they’re pink, that means that your cervix has begun dilating and you’ve started or are about to start labour.

Vaginal secretions that contain blood, are liquid, smell bad, or have an unusual colour are abnormal. Your vaginal area should not be itchy or painful. If you exhibit any of these symptoms, see your health care provider as soon as possible.

You lose your mucus plug

The mucus plug seals your cervical canal during pregnancy. It helps maintain a safe environment throughout pregnancy by blocking bacteria and viruses. As the cervix thins and opens, the plug comes loose and passes out of the vagina.

A mucus plug resembles thick gelatin and may be yellowish or tinged with pink or brown blood. When the plug detaches, microscopic blood vessels rupture and give the mucus a pinkish hue.

The time between losing the mucus plug and going into labour varies for each mother and delivery. It can happen anywhere from several weeks to 24 to 48 hours before the birth, or even during labour. A mucus plug may also break away gradually.

Other signs that you may be going into labour

Other signs may also mean that you’re about to go into labour:

• More bowel movements or softer stools than usual due to the release of prostaglandins. These hormones are produced to ripen the cervix, but they can also affect your intestines.
• Lower back pain caused by stretching of the ligaments near your uterus. These pains will gradually subside after giving birth.
• Relaxation of your pelvic joints due to a hormone called relaxin. This can lead to persistent pain in the lower back and near the sacrum.
• Weight loss of up to 1.5 kg in the days leading up to labour. This is caused by the body eliminating more water due to hormonal changes and increased energy.

Contractions

Our downloadable guide will help you calculate the duration and frequency of your contractions.

Contractions are usually a sign that you’re in labour and will soon deliver your baby. However, you may also experience Braxton Hicks contractions, also known as false labour pains.

Real contractions come at regular intervals and intensify as labour progresses. They dilate, thin, and soften the cervix. In contrast, false contractions are irregular and fade with rest.

It’s not always easy to tell true and false contractions apart. When in doubt, speak with your health care provider.

For more information, read our fact sheet Are These Real Contractions?.

When should you go to your birth location?

You should go to your birth location in the following cases:

• Your water breaks or it trickles continuously.
• You experience vaginal bleeding.

What should you bring to your birth location? Use this list to make sure you don’t forget anything.
 

• Your contractions are regular (30 seconds or longer, every 5 minutes) and have been painful for at least 1 hour. You may want to leave a little earlier if the birth location is more than 30 minutes from your home, if you’re pregnant with your second child, or if you’ve had a fast labour previously.
• You’re uncomfortable or very anxious during labour. However, after a medical assessment, you may be sent home if labour hasn’t progressed enough.

If you’re not sure what to do, call your hospital’s birthing unit or your midwife.

Things to keep in mind

• There are many possible signs that labour is about to start.
• A single sign does not necessarily mean that you’re in labour. Other signs must also be present.
• The distinction between real and false labour is not always obvious. When in doubt, speak with your health care provider.

Scientific review: Anouk Landry, nursing staff manager for the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, CHU Sainte-Justine Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team Updated: April 2026

Photo: 123 rf/13613337