Early signs of labour
Early signs of labour
Read time: 4 minutes
If you’re keenly awaiting signs of your baby’s imminent arrival, you may be surprised to learn that many women don’t realize they’re in labour straight away. Believe it or not, it can be hard to determine if you’re really in labour during the early stages, or whether it’s a false alarm.
Read on to learn more about the common signs of early labour, how long early labour lasts and what to do if you think you’re in labour.
You should call your midwife unit immediately if you experience any of the following1:
- Your waters break
- You’re bleeding
- Your baby isn’t moving as often as usual
- You think you may be in labour and you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant
How long does early labour last?
This is usually the longest stage of labour. It can take hours or in some cases days before you’re in established or ‘active’ labour and are having regular contractions.
What should I do if I think I'm in labour?
The first thing to do is relax. Staying calm will enable your body to release oxytocin more easily – the hormone that helps you to cope with labour and helps your labour to progress.
Your midwife has probably told you there’s no need to contact them until you’re having regular contractions that are lasting 60 seconds and are 5 minutes apart1. But of course, there’s no harm in calling them if you have any concerns or need some extra reassurance.
You should also call your midwife if:
- Your waters break
- You’re bleeding
- You notice your baby isn’t moving as often as usual
If your labour starts at night
it’s a good idea to rest and try and get some sleep if you can so you can conserve some energy for when you’re in established labour.
If your labour starts during the day
staying upright and active can help things progress.
Tuning into your breathing, having a warm bath or shower or even some gentle massage are all good ways to help you stay relaxed and help ease any pain. Now’s a good time to start using your TENS machine if you have one in order to feel maximum benefit from it2. It’s also safe to take some paracetamol to ease any aches and pains1.
It's also important to try to eat and drink, if you can, so that you have more energy when in active labour. Try some of our recommended snacks and foods for labour. It’s important to listen to your body and only eat if you feel like it – if you’re feeling nauseous, food’s probably best avoided.
Last reviewed: 27th April 2020
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Questions about feeding and nutrition?
Our midwives, nutritionists and feeding advisors are always on hand to talk about feeding your baby. So if you have a question, just get in touch.