Signs That Active Labour Is Starting
- Birth Keeper Team
- Feb 23
- 4 min read
A gentle guide to what your body may be telling you
One of the most common questions in late pregnancy is also one of the hardest to answer clearly:
“How will I know when labour is starting?”
The truth is that labour rarely begins with a single, dramatic moment. For most people, it unfolds gradually, through subtle changes, sensations, and rhythms that build over hours or days. This can feel confusing, especially if it’s your first baby, or if you’ve been taught to expect a clear “on/off” switch.
This guide explores the early signs of labour, the role of Braxton Hicks contractions, and when it might be time to call your midwife or birth keeper, so you can move into birth feeling informed, calm, and connected to your body.
Early Signs Labour May Be Beginning
1. Changes in the Cervix (Without You Knowing)
Before labour becomes obvious, your cervix begins to soften, thin, and open. This internal work can happen quietly over days or weeks. You may not feel it directly, but you might notice:
A sense of heaviness or pressure low in the pelvis
A feeling that “something is shifting”
Increased awareness of your body and its sensations
This is normal and often a sign that your body is preparing.
2. The Mucus Plug or “Show”
Some people notice the release of the mucus plug—a thick, jelly-like discharge that may be clear, pink, or streaked with blood.
This can happen:
Days before labour begins
Or shortly before contractions establish a rhythm
Losing your mucus plug is a sign that the cervix is changing, not necessarily that labour is imminent. On its own, it usually isn’t a reason to call your midwife unless advised otherwise.
3. Nesting or a Sudden Surge of Energy
You may feel a burst of energy, clarity, or urgency to organise, clean, or prepare. This “nesting” instinct is common in the days before labour and is often followed by a deep need to rest.
Trust both impulses. Birth requires energy and surrender.
4. Emotional Shifts
Many people experience emotional changes as labour approaches:
Feeling inward-focused or quiet
Becoming more sensitive or tearful
A strong desire to withdraw from social interaction
This turning inward is a natural part of the transition toward birth.
Braxton Hicks: Practice Contractions Explained
Braxton Hicks contractions are often described as practice contractions, and they can begin weeks—or even months—before labour.
What Braxton Hicks Feel Like
Tightening or hardening of the belly
Often irregular and short-lived
Usually not painful, though they can be uncomfortable
They may ease when you change position, rest, hydrate, or take a warm bath
Braxton Hicks are your uterus rehearsing. They help tone the muscles and prepare your body, but they do not usually cause the cervix to open.
Braxton Hicks vs Early Labour
A helpful way to tell the difference:
Braxton Hicks
Irregular
Don’t build in intensity
Often stop with rest or hydration
Early Labour Contractions
Become more regular over time
Gradually get stronger and longer
Continue regardless of position or activity
If you’re unsure, that uncertainty itself is common. Labour doesn’t always announce itself clearly at first.
Signs that Active Labour May Be Starting
As labour establishes itself, you may notice:
Contractions that come in a pattern and grow stronger
Needing to stop and breathe through sensations
Lower back pressure or cramping similar to strong period pain
Diarrhoea or nausea
A sense of focus, seriousness, or “this is real now”
Many people describe a moment when they stop wondering if they are in labour and begin responding to labour.
When Might You Call Your Midwife or Birth Keeper?
Your midwife or birth keeper is there to support you. Not just in active labour, but in the uncertainty beforehand.
If you are planning a home birth, it's a good idea to call your midwife, birthkeeper, or doula as soon as you think something is beginning. Call them if you think your waters may have broken, or if you are worried about something, or to let the midwifery team know that you are planning to give birth at home and that they may be needed later. That said, they will often encourage you to rest during early labour if everything is progressing normally.
If you are planning a hospital birth, then you do not need to call the hospital until you think active labour has begun, unless you have been advised by your midwife or hospital consultant to do otherwise. If you are planning to use the hospital birth pool, it's sometimes a good idea to ring in advance so it can be prepared for you.
You might consider calling if:
Contractions are regular, strong, and getting closer together
You are finding it hard to talk through contractions
Your waters have broken
You notice bleeding that is more than a light show
You feel unsure, anxious, or need reassurance
Importantly, you are always allowed to call if something doesn’t feel right, even if you can’t name why.
Trusting your instincts is part of birth wisdom.
A Final Word: There Is No “Wrong” Beginning
Labour does not follow a single script. Some births begin gently, others suddenly. Some unfold over days, others move swiftly. Comparing your experience to others can create unnecessary doubt.
Your body knows how to birth.Your baby knows how to be born. And support is there when you need it.
If you are preparing for birth and want a space to explore these questions more deeply, through story, reflection, and shared experience, this kind of knowing is exactly what we hold and honour in our work.
You can join the in-person or online pregnancy group at the Sacred Birth Centre, which is an initiative of Mamma Village. Both classes are free, or you can donate to support the centre. You can call the Sacred Birth Centre on 01458 781104 and ask to speak to someone or email us at info@sacredbirthcentre.org. We also have in-house birth keepers and independent midwives who are happy to have an informal chat, and we can arrange an appointment for you. To join our in-person group, just drop in on a Wednesday from 10 am to 12.30 pm. To join our online group, register once here.
You are not alone as you cross this threshold.
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