Contractions and signs of labor
Key Points
Learning the signs of labor can help you feel ready for your baby’s birth.
Signs of labor include a mucus discharge, your water breaking and strong and regular contractions.
If you think you’re in labor, call your healthcare provider.
Not all contractions mean you're in true labor. Learning the difference between true and false labor can help you know when it’s the real thing.
What is labor?
Labor (also called childbirth) is the process of your baby leaving the uterus (womb). You’re in labor when you have regular contractions that cause your cervix to change. Contractions are when the muscles of your uterus get tight like a fist and then relax. Contractions help push your baby out of your uterus. Your cervix is the opening to the uterus that sits at the top of the vagina. When labor starts, your cervix dilates (opens up).
Learning the signs of labor can help you feel ready for labor and birth. If you have any signs of labor, call your healthcare provider.
What are signs that labor may be starting?
You may be starting labor if you have any of these signs:
- Your baby drops or moves lower into your pelvis. This is called lightening. It means that your baby is getting ready to move into position for birth. It can happen a few weeks or even just a few hours before labor begins.
- You have a mucus discharge. A plug of mucus forms at the cervix during pregnancy. This mucus plug gets pushed into your vagina when your cervix begins to dilate. When this happens, you may notice an increase in vaginal discharge that’s clear, pink or slightly bloody. Or you may see thick mucus if you lose the plug all at once. These signs can happen a few days before labor starts or at the beginning of labor. If you have bright red bleeding or if the bleeding is heavy, tell your provider right away.
- Your water breaks (called rupture of membranes). Your baby has been growing in an amniotic sac filled with amniotic fluid inside your uterus. If the amniotic sac breaks, you may feel a big rush of water from your vagina. Or you may feel just a trickle. Call your provider if your water breaks.
- You have contractions. This can feel like pain in your belly and lower back. The pain may feel like menstrual cramps. When you’re in true labor, your contractions last about 60 or 90 seconds. They get stronger and closer together over time. They get so strong that you can’t walk or talk during them.
If you think you’re in labor, call your healthcare provider, no matter what time of day or night. Your provider can tell you if it’s time to head for the hospital. To know for sure whether you’re in labor, your healthcare provider measures your cervix. Before labor, your cervix is about 3.5 to 4 centimeters long. When it’s fully dilated for labor, it’s 10 centimeters.
What are false labor and Braxton Hicks contractions?
Not all contractions mean you’re in labor. You may have contractions on and off before true labor starts. These contractions are called false labor or Braxton Hicks contractions. You may feel them for many weeks before true labor begins. Learning the differences between true labor contractions and false labor contractions can help you know when you’re really in labor.
It can be hard to tell the difference between true labor and false labor. False contractions are usually less regular and weaker than true contractions. But false contractions can still be painful. When you first feel contractions, time them to help tell the difference:
- Write down how much time it takes from the start of one contraction to the start of the next.
- Make a note of how strong the contractions feel.
- Notice whether they continue when you rest, drink water or move around.
- Keep a record of your contractions.
If you think you’re in labor or you’re not sure, call your provider. Sometimes the only way to tell the difference between true and false labor is for your provider to look for changes in your cervix.
What is preterm labor?
Preterm labor is labor that happens before 37 weeks of pregnancy. Preterm babies (born before 37 weeks of pregnancy) can have health problems at birth and later in life. If you’re not to 37 weeks of pregnancy and you have signs or symptoms of preterm labor, call your provider. Getting help quickly is the best thing you can do. Learn about risk factors for preterm labor and what you can do to help reduce your risk.
What are stages of labor?
There are three stages of labor:
- Stage 1 starts with contractions. Your cervix becomes thinner and dilates. Stage 1 can last for days or hours.
- Stage 2 is when you push and your baby is born.
- Stage 3 is the time between the birth of your baby and the delivery of the placenta. The placenta supplies your baby with food and oxygen through the umbilical cord during pregnancy.
Learning about the stages of labor can help you know what to expect during labor and birth.
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Last reviewed: December 2025