Signs of Labor: When to Go to the Hospital

As your due date nears, every twinge makes you wonder: is this it? Labor usually builds gradually, and for a first baby the early phase can last many hours. Knowing which signs mean "keep resting at home" and which mean "time to go" helps you stay calm and arrive at the right moment.

Look for these signs together, not just one:

• Regular contractions that get stronger, longer and closer together over time and don't ease when you change position.
• Your waters breaking — a gush or a steady trickle of fluid. Note the time, color and smell.
• A "show" — the pinkish, jelly-like mucus plug coming away.
• A low, period-like ache or pressure in your back and pelvis.

Practice (Braxton Hicks) contractions are irregular, don't get closer together, and usually settle when you rest or move. Real labor contractions keep coming and build a rhythm.

A widely used guide for a first, low-risk pregnancy: head to the hospital when contractions are about 5 minutes apart, each lasting around 1 minute, and this pattern has continued for at least 1 hour. Call your maternity unit first — they may ask you to come in sooner based on your history, distance or how you're coping. Momly's built-in contraction timer can track the pattern for you.

Contact your doctor or maternity unit straight away, at any hour, if you have:

• Vaginal bleeding (more than a light show).
• Your waters break and the fluid is green, brown or foul-smelling.
• A noticeable drop in your baby's movements.
• A severe or constant headache, changes in your vision, or sudden swelling of the face and hands.
• Severe, constant tummy pain, or you simply feel that something is wrong.

When in doubt, call — maternity units would always rather hear from you early. This article is general information and does not replace the guidance of the team caring for you.