The main signs that labour is near (tanda bersalin semakin hampir) are contractions that become longer, stronger and more frequent, a "show" of pink mucus, backache, an urge to go to the toilet, and your waters breaking. Early labour can last hours or even days, and you will usually be advised to stay at home until contractions are regular and coming every 5 minutes or more often. Call your hospital or midwife straight away if your waters break, you have vaginal bleeding, your baby is moving less than usual, you are less than 37 weeks pregnant, or contractions last longer than 2 minutes. If you feel a strong urge to push, call an ambulance.
Tanda bersalin semakin hampir: what are the signs of labour?
According to the NHS, there are several signs that labour might be starting:
| Sign | What it means |
|---|---|
| Contractions or tightenings | Your womb tightens and relaxes. Labour contractions get longer, stronger and closer together over time. |
| A show | The plug of mucus from your cervix comes away as sticky, jelly-like pink mucus. |
| Backache | A backache or a heavy, aching feeling often comes on in labour. |
| An urge to go to the toilet | Caused by your baby's head pressing on your bowel. |
| Your waters breaking | The bag of fluid around your baby breaks, and you feel a trickle or gush of fluid. |
You may not notice all of these signs; for example, some women have no show at all.
What do labour contractions feel like?
When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. For some women, contractions feel like very strong period pains; see our guide to senggugut. If you put your hand on your bump, you will feel it getting harder during a contraction and softening as it passes.
Contractions push your baby down and open the entrance to your womb (the cervix). As labour progresses, they become longer, stronger and more frequent.
Braxton Hicks or real labour? Many women have "practice contractions" towards the end of pregnancy, called Braxton Hicks. According to the NHS:
| Braxton Hicks (practice contractions) | Labour contractions | |
|---|---|---|
| Pain | Uncomfortable but usually painless | Become more painful, like strong period pains |
| How long | Do not last long | Become longer |
| How often | Do not happen very often | Come more and more often |
| Pattern | Do not build up | Build up in strength over time |
What is a show?
During pregnancy, a plug of mucus seals your cervix. Just before labour starts, or in early labour, it may come away and pass out of your vagina. This is called a show.
- It is sticky, jelly-like and pink, because it contains a small amount of blood.
- It may come away in one blob or in several pieces.
- Labour may follow quickly, or it may take a few days.
If you are losing more blood than this, it may be a sign that something is wrong, so phone your hospital or midwife straight away.
What happens when your waters break?
Your baby grows inside a bag of fluid called the amniotic sac. When it is time for your baby to be born, the sac usually breaks and the fluid drains out through your vagina. This usually happens during labour, but it can also happen before labour starts. You may feel a slow trickle or a sudden gush that you cannot control.
- Amniotic fluid is usually clear and pale, and may be a little bloodstained at first. It can be hard to tell from urine.
- If your waters break before labour starts, call your hospital or midwife, and use a pad (not a tampon) so the colour of the fluid can be checked.
- Get urgent help if the waters are smelly or coloured, or you are losing blood.
Most women go into labour within 24 hours of their waters breaking. If labour does not start, you will usually be offered an induction, because without the fluid there is a small increased risk of infection for your baby. Until then, the NHS advises taking your temperature every 4 hours while you are awake and telling your midwife if it is raised (usually above 37.5°C), and avoiding sex, which may increase the risk of infection. Having a bath or shower is fine.
To prepare, keep a pad with you when you go out in late pregnancy, and put a protective sheet on your bed.
What is early (latent) labour?
The start of labour is called the latent phase. Your cervix softens, thins and starts to open. According to the NHS:
- contractions may be irregular, and range from slightly uncomfortable to more painful, with no set pattern;
- it can take many hours, or even days, and is usually the longest stage of labour;
- you will probably be advised to stay at home, and if you go to hospital too early you may be sent home for a while.
Established labour begins when your cervix has opened to about 4 cm and contractions are stronger and more regular. In a first pregnancy, it usually takes 8 to 18 hours from established labour to being fully open (10 cm), and often around 5 to 12 hours in a second or third pregnancy.
When should you go to the hospital?
Call your hospital labour ward or midwife for advice if:
- you think you are in labour;
- you are having regular contractions coming every 5 minutes or more often;
- you are unsure or worried about anything.
It helps to have your hospital bag and antenatal record ready in the last weeks of pregnancy, and to know how you will get to the hospital.
How can you cope at home in early labour?
The NHS suggests these ways to cope in early labour:
- eat and drink to keep your energy up; isotonic drinks may help;
- if labour starts during the day, stay upright and gently active, which helps your baby move down and your cervix open;
- if labour starts at night, try to stay comfortable and sleep if you can;
- use the breathing and relaxation exercises you have learned;
- ask your birth partner to rub your back;
- have a warm bath or shower;
- take paracetamol as directed on the packet; it is safe to take in labour.
Back pain in late pregnancy and labour is common; for back pain at other times, see our guide to sakit pinggang.
When is it urgent?
Call your hospital or midwife urgently, according to the NHS, if:
- your waters break;
- you have vaginal bleeding;
- your baby is moving less than usual;
- you are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labour;
- any of your contractions last longer than 2 minutes;
- you are having 6 or more contractions every 10 minutes.
Call an ambulance (999 in Malaysia) if you think your baby is coming now and you have a strong urge to push.
Your baby's movements. You should feel your baby move right up to and during labour. There is no set number of kicks to count; what matters is your baby's usual pattern. If your baby is moving less than usual, you cannot feel movements, or the pattern changes, contact your hospital straight away. Do not use a home heartbeat monitor (doppler) to reassure yourself, as it is not a reliable way to check your baby's health.
For earlier stages of pregnancy, see our guides to early pregnancy signs and folic acid in pregnancy.
After your baby is born, your care team will check them regularly for jaundice in the first few days. To learn what to look for at home, see our guide to kuning bayi.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
What are the signs that labour is near (tanda bersalin semakin hampir)?
Signs that labour might be starting include contractions or tightenings, a show (a plug of sticky, pink mucus coming away from the cervix), backache, an urge to go to the toilet as the baby's head presses on the bowel, and your waters breaking. Labour may follow quickly or take a few days.
How do I know if contractions are real or Braxton Hicks?
Braxton Hicks are practice tightenings that are usually painless, do not last long, do not happen very often and do not build up. Labour contractions become longer, stronger and more frequent over time, and may feel like strong period pains. Your bump feels hard during each contraction and softens as it passes.
When should I go to the hospital?
Call your hospital or midwife for advice if you think you are in labour or your contractions are regular and coming every 5 minutes or more often. In early labour you may be advised to stay at home, as this stage can take hours or even days. Call urgently if your waters break, you bleed, or your baby moves less than usual.
What should I do if my waters break?
Call your hospital or midwife, even if you have no contractions, and use a pad rather than a tampon so the colour of the fluid can be checked. Amniotic fluid is usually clear and pale. Call urgently if it is smelly or coloured, or if you are losing blood. Most women go into labour within 24 hours.
Is a show the same as bleeding?
No. A show is a sticky, jelly-like pink mucus that may come away in one blob or several pieces, and it is pink because it contains a small amount of blood. If you are losing more blood than this, it may be a sign that something is wrong, so contact your hospital straight away.
What can I do at home in early labour?
In the early (latent) stage, eat and drink to keep your energy up, stay upright and gently active during the day, rest or sleep if labour starts at night, use breathing exercises, have your partner rub your back, take a warm bath or shower, and take paracetamol as directed on the packet if needed.
What if I am less than 37 weeks pregnant and have signs of labour?
Contact your hospital or maternity unit urgently if you are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labour. Also get urgent advice if your baby is moving less than usual at any stage of pregnancy, as this can be a sign of a problem.
Disclaimer
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for advice from your doctor, midwife or hospital. Always follow the advice of your own maternity team. Health supplements are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
