# Signs of Labour UK — When to Call Your Midwife | Clever Mum > How to recognise the signs that labour has started, the difference between early and established labour, and exactly when the NHS says to call your midwife. * [ Home ](/) * › [ Pregnancy ](/pregnancy/) * › Signs of Labour: What to Expect and When to Call Your Midwife Pregnancy # Signs of Labour: What to Expect and When to Call Your Midwife [ EW ](/authors/emma-whitfield/) By [ Emma Whitfield ](/authors/emma-whitfield/) · Pregnancy & Baby Writer Published 11 July 2026 · Updated 12 August 2026 Quick answer — What are the first signs of labour starting? The main signs of labour starting are regular, strengthening contractions, your waters breaking, a "show" (mucus plug loss), and lower back or period-type pain. Call your midwife or maternity unit when contractions are regular and roughly 5 minutes apart, if your waters break, or any time you're worried — you do not need to wait for a fixed pattern before ringing. Who should skip this Skip this if you are more than eight weeks from your due date and still packing — use the hospital bag checklist first. Skip it if your own maternity unit has given you a personalised “call us if…” card: that card wins. This page is for recognising labour at term. Labour rarely looks like films. The useful signs are regular, strengthening contractions, waters breaking, a show, and pain you can no longer talk through. Call your midwife or maternity unit when contractions are regular and roughly 5 minutes apart, if your waters break, if baby movements change, or any time you are unsure — you do not need a perfect pattern before you ring. Early labour can last hours or a day; that is normal, especially with a first baby. ## Who should skip this signs-of-labour guide? Skip this if you are more than eight weeks from your due date and looking for a packing list — use the [hospital bag checklist](/pregnancy/hospital-bag-checklist-uk/) and the [trimester to-do list](/pregnancy/pregnancy-to-do-list-by-trimester/) first. Skip it if you already have a personalised plan from your own maternity unit (induction date, planned caesarean, or a "call us if…" card): that card beats a national article. This page is for recognising labour at term, not for writing a birth plan. ## What are the early signs labour may be starting? A show, lower-back or period-type pain, Braxton Hicks becoming more frequent, and a change in energy. These can start hours or days before established labour. The NHS signs-of-labour page is the source ([NHS — signs that labour has begun](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/), checked 12 August 2026). * **A "show"** — the mucus plug comes away, sometimes tinged pink or with a little blood. This can happen days before labour properly starts, or right at the beginning. * **Lower back ache or period-type cramps** — often the first thing people notice, easy to mistake for a bad period. * **Tightenings (Braxton Hicks) becoming more frequent or stronger** — the line between these and real early contractions can be blurry at first. * **A change in energy** — a sudden burst of nesting, or unusual tiredness. None of these on their own means "go to hospital now". They mean start timing, eat, rest, and know where the bag is. ## What are the signs of established labour? Regular, strengthening contractions that get longer, stronger and closer together; waters breaking; and pain you cannot talk through. That last one is a practical midwife marker, not a bravery test. * **Regular, strengthening contractions** — early labour is irregular and manageable; established labour settles into a pattern. * **Waters breaking** — a gush or a slow trickle, which should be clear or pale straw-coloured. This can happen before contractions start or well into labour. Only around 1 in 10 labours starts with waters breaking. * **Increasing pain that you cannot talk through** — if you can no longer hold a conversation through a contraction, labour has usually moved on. ## When should you call your midwife or maternity unit? Call straight away if your waters break, if contractions are regular and roughly 5 minutes apart lasting about 60 seconds, if you are bleeding, if baby movements reduce, or if you are simply not sure. Maternity units expect uncertain calls. Your own unit may have given you a slightly different "3 in 10 minutes" rule at booking — follow that where it disagrees with a national 5-1-1 shorthand. SituationActionContractions regular, ~5 min apart, ~60 secondsCall triage / your unitWaters break (any colour)Call — urgently if green, brown or blood-stainedBright red bleeding (not a pink-streaked show)Call immediatelyBaby movements slow or changeCall immediately, day or nightSevere headache, vision changes, sudden swellingCall immediatelyStrong regular contractions before 37 weeksCall immediatelyYou are not sureCall anyway — that is what the line is for Green or brown-tinged fluid can mean the baby has passed meconium and needs prompter assessment. Once waters have gone, most units want the baby born within 24–48 hours because the infection barrier has opened, so labour is induced if it does not start on its own. ## How do you tell early labour from established labour? Early labour (the latent phase) can last many hours, even a day or two, especially in a first pregnancy. Most maternity units will suggest staying at home during early labour: move around, eat light snacks, use a TENS machine or a bath, and come in once contractions are established rather than at the very first twinge. Arriving exhausted and hungry from treating early labour as a race is the most preventable miserable start. Time from the **start of one contraction to the start of the next** (frequency), and separately note how long each lasts. Real labour contractions get longer, stronger and closer together over hours; Braxton Hicks stay irregular and often fade if you move, change position or have a bath. A notes app and a clock work; a contraction-timer app is optional. ## What should you do if you think your waters have broken? Note the time, the colour and the amount, put on a pad (not a tampon), and call your maternity unit — you will usually be asked to come in for a check. A trickle you are not sure about is still worth a call. Do not wait for a Hollywood gush. If you are being induced, pack the night before you go in: inductions often run long, and the car top-up bag in the [hospital bag checklist](/pregnancy/hospital-bag-checklist-uk/) matters more than the labour zone. ## What is the useful mindset for the final stretch? Early labour is something to get through comfortably, not a test you pass by arriving at the hospital fast. Alternate activity with rest, eat when you can, and treat the first hours as a chance to stay home. If you want one next action: save your maternity unit's triage number in your phone tonight, then tell your birth partner where the bag is. ## Which gear is worth getting right? Shortlists we actually research — rankings can't be bought, and every pick links to retailers we've verified. [ Best-of guide ### Best Newborn Essentials & Baby Registry UK The essential newborn products for a UK baby registry — sleep, feeding, nappy and travel starter kits compared, with safer-sleep guidance built in. 5 picks compared ](/best/best-newborn-essentials-baby-registry-uk/)[ Best-of guide ### Best Car Seats UK — i-Size & R129 The best i-Size (R129) car seats in the UK — rotating toddler seats, infant carriers and budget picks compared, with fitting guidance. 6 picks compared ](/best/best-car-seats-uk/) ## What questions come up most? What are the first signs of labour starting? The earliest signs are usually a "show" (losing the mucus plug), lower back ache or period-type cramping, and Braxton Hicks tightenings becoming more frequent. These can start hours or even days before established, regular contractions begin. When should I call the midwife about labour? Call when contractions become regular and are roughly 5 minutes apart lasting about 60 seconds each, if your waters break, if you notice bleeding or reduced baby movements, or any time you are unsure — maternity units expect and welcome uncertain calls. What colour should waters breaking be? Clear or pale straw-coloured fluid is normal. Call your maternity unit urgently if the fluid is green, brown or blood-stained, as this can indicate the baby has passed meconium and needs prompter assessment. How long does early labour last? Early (latent) labour can last several hours and, particularly in a first pregnancy, sometimes a day or two. It is normal to spend most of this phase at home, moving around and staying comfortable, before contractions become established. ## Sources & further reading * [ Signs that labour has begun ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/signs-of-labour/) — NHS * [ What happens during labour and birth ](https://www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth/what-happens/) — NHS ## On this page * [ 1 Who should skip this signs-of-labour guide? ](#who-should-skip-this-signs-of-labour-guide) * [ 2 What are the early signs labour may be starting? ](#what-are-the-early-signs-labour-may-be-starting) * [ 3 What are the signs of established labour? ](#what-are-the-signs-of-established-labour) * [ 4 When should you call your midwife or maternity unit? ](#when-should-you-call-your-midwife-or-maternity-unit) * [ 5 How do you tell early labour from established labour? ](#how-do-you-tell-early-labour-from-established-labour) * [ 6 What should you do if you think your waters have broken? ](#what-should-you-do-if-you-think-your-waters-have-broken) * [ 7 What is the useful mindset for the final stretch? ](#what-is-the-useful-mindset-for-the-final-stretch) ## At a glance Call when contractions are Regular, ~5 min apart, 60 sec long Waters breaking colour Should be clear or pale straw Early labour can last Hours, sometimes 1–2 days Unsure? Call anyway — that is what the line is for Our promise Health-adjacent points cite NHS or equivalent guidance. This article is general information, not medical advice — see our [editorial policy](/editorial-policy/). ## Keep reading [ Pregnancy ### Hospital Bag Checklist UK: What to Pack (and When) UK hospital bag checklist: pack by 36 weeks. What to take for labour, you and baby, what NHS wards provide, and who can skip this list. ](/pregnancy/hospital-bag-checklist-uk/)[ Pregnancy ### Pregnancy To-Do List: What to Sort Each Trimester A calm, trimester-by-trimester UK pregnancy checklist — appointments, paperwork, buying decisions and the things everyone forgets until week 39. ](/pregnancy/pregnancy-to-do-list-by-trimester/)