7 Signs Labour Is Approaching

The last stretch of pregnancy often comes with small changes that make you wonder if labour is getting close. While every body and every birth is different, many women notice a pattern of unmistakable signals as the body prepares for delivery.

Here are seven reliable signs that labour may be approaching — explained simply, without the panic or overthinking that online searches usually bring.

1. Your Baby Drops (Lightening)

One of the earliest signs is when your baby settles lower into your pelvis. This is called lightening.
It may happen gradually or suddenly, and you might notice:

• More pressure in the pelvis
• More frequent bathroom trips
• Slight changes in the shape or height of your bump

This shift simply means your baby is getting into position.

2. You Lose Your Mucus Plug (or Notice a Bloody Show)

Throughout pregnancy, a thick mucus plug seals the cervix and protects your baby from bacteria.
As the cervix softens and opens, the plug may come out.

What it may look like:

• A thick, jelly-like clump
• Clear, white, yellowish, or slightly pink
• Sometimes streaked with old blood (the “bloody show”)

This sign indicates cervical changes — a normal, healthy part of pre-labour.

3. Contractions Become Regular and Stronger

Braxton Hicks contractions are irregular and usually ease with rest.
Labour contractions behave differently.

They tend to:

• Become rhythmic
• Gradually increase in strength
• Come closer together
• Continue even if you change positions or hydrate

A consistent pattern of intensifying contractions often signals that labour is starting.

4. Increased Vaginal Discharge or Leaking Fluid

A noticeable increase in discharge can happen as your cervix prepares for labour.
Some women also experience a trickle or gush of fluid if their water breaks.

Discharge that’s thicker or heavier than usual is common in late pregnancy, and leaking fluid may be one of the clearer indicators that labour could be near.

5. Persistent Lower Back Pain or Pelvic Pressure

As the baby moves deeper into the pelvis, you may feel:

• A constant low backache
• Heaviness or pressure near the pelvic floor
• Discomfort that radiates into the hips or thighs

This pressure often reflects the baby’s position and the cervix beginning to change.

6. Loose Stools or Digestive Shifts

Many women experience loose stools, a lighter stomach, or more frequent bowel movements before labour begins.
This happens because hormone changes help relax the muscles — including those in the digestive system — as the body prepares for birth.

It’s one of the less glamorous signs, but also one of the more reliable ones.

7. A Subtle Shift in Mood or Energy

This isn’t general fatigue — it’s a distinct change many women notice just before labour.

You may feel:

• A sudden drive to organize or “nest”
• Or a quiet, inward-focused calm
• A sense of emotional readiness

These internal shifts are often linked to hormonal changes that happen right before active labour.

A Final Word

These signs don’t always appear in the same order, and not everyone experiences all of them.
Some may show up days before labour, others just hours before.

Think of them as your body’s way of saying:
“We’re getting closer.”

Your body has been preparing for this moment for months — these signs simply reflect that transition beginning.