Written by

Roxanne Albert, BSN, RNC-OB

December 27, 2025

Signs of Labor Approaching Soon: 10 Things to Watch For

Birth, Birth Preparation

If you’ve reached the final weeks of pregnancy, it’s completely normal to start looking for signs of labor approaching soon. Contractions are the most obvious signal, but your body actually sends many other clues in the 24–48 hours before labor begins — and knowing what to watch for can make all the difference in how prepared and confident you feel.

The key thing to understand is that these signs are most meaningful when they show up together. One sign on its own doesn’t tell you much. Multiple signs at the same time? That’s your body speaking clearly.

Let’s walk through the 10 most common signs, what they actually mean, and which changes are not reliable predictors on their own.

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1. Contractions

Contractions are the clearest sign that labor is either approaching or already underway — especially when they start to change over time. True labor contractions get closer together, increase in intensity, and last longer as they progress.

That consistent pattern of change is what you’re looking for. Contractions that stay the same distance apart, feel about the same intensity, and don’t build? That’s more likely prodromal labor (more on that in a moment). But contractions that are clearly evolving? That’s a strong indicator baby is on the way.

2. Cervical Effacement (Softening & Thinning)

Effacement is the softening and thinning of the cervix that happens as your body releases prostaglandins in preparation for labor. Research gives us some useful benchmarks here:

If the cervix is less than 50% effaced at 37 weeks, pregnancy is more likely to go past 40 weeks and 5 days
If the cervix is more than 50% effaced, labor may occur earlier

That said, a cervical exam is just a snapshot in time. Effacement alone doesn’t guarantee labor is imminent — but paired with other signs, it adds a helpful piece to the picture. Always discuss cervical check results with your provider so you can interpret them in the context of your full clinical picture.

3. Diarrhea or Loose Stools

This one surprises a lot of people, but diarrhea or loose stools in the 24–48 hours before labor is extremely common. The same prostaglandins that soften and thin the cervix also stimulate the bowels — so your body is essentially clearing itself out in preparation for birth.

It may not be glamorous, but it’s a completely normal part of how your body gets ready. If this happens alongside other signs on this list, take note.

4. Losing the Mucus Plug (Especially With Bloody Show)

The mucus plug sits inside the cervix and can come out as the cervix begins to dilate and change. Here’s the important distinction, though: losing the mucus plug alone doesn’t mean labor is near. The mucus plug can regenerate, and some people lose it weeks before labor begins.

What matters more is whether there’s bloody show along with it. Bloody show — a pink or blood-tinged discharge — suggests that thinning, softening, and dilation are actively happening together. That combination is a much stronger signal than the plug alone.

5. Increased Vaginal Discharge

Toward the end of pregnancy, rising estrogen levels cause an increase in vaginal discharge. This discharge is typically milky white, thicker than water, and not soaking through your clothing. That last point is key — because amniotic fluid, by contrast, is usually clear, watery, and may soak through clothing or continue to leak.

If you’re unsure whether you’re experiencing increased discharge or your water breaking, don’t hesitate to call your provider. It’s always worth checking.

6. Lightening (Baby Dropping)

Lightening is when baby descends deeper into the pelvis — sometimes called “baby dropping.” For some people, this happens weeks before labor. For others, it happens days before. You may notice it’s suddenly easier to breathe, but you’re making more frequent trips to the bathroom.

For some people, this happens weeks before labor
For others, it happens days before labor

On its own, lightening isn’t a reliable predictor of when labor will start. But when it shows up alongside other signs on this list, it can suggest labor is getting closer.

7. Increased Lower Back Pain

As baby settles deeper into the pelvis, new or increased lower back pain is common — especially if you haven’t had much back discomfort throughout pregnancy. This can happen as baby’s position and engagement begin to trigger labor-related changes in your body.

Back pain alone doesn’t mean labor is imminent. But if it’s appearing alongside lightening or other signs, it’s worth paying attention to.

8. Prodromal Labor (Start-and-Stop Contractions)

Prodromal labor is one of the more frustrating signs — because it feels real, but doesn’t follow through into active labor. These contractions may be painful or uncomfortable, disrupt your sleep, and start and stop over hours or even days. Unlike true labor, they don’t steadily intensify or get consistently closer together.

If you’re in prodromal labor, a few strategies that may help: stay hydrated and top up your electrolytes, take a warm bath, empty your bowels, and consider whether baby’s position might be contributing. Sometimes prodromal labor resolves on its own with rest. Sometimes it slowly transitions into active labor. Either way, it’s your body doing real preparation work — even if it doesn’t feel that way at 3am.

9. Nesting Urges

Nesting gets a reputation as a cliché, but it’s one of the most consistently reported signs in the 24–48 hours before labor. This might look like a sudden, irresistible urge to clean, organize, or completely rearrange a room — or a powerful need to have everything in its place before baby arrives.

It may feel almost compulsive. If you find yourself reorganizing the pantry at midnight or refolding all the baby clothes for the third time, your body may be telling you something. Try to balance that energy with rest — you’re going to need it.

10. Emotional Shifts or a Sense of Calm

Not everyone experiences nesting as physical energy. Some people report the opposite — a deep sense of calm, emotional clarity, or a feeling of peace and readiness that settles in before labor begins. This is sometimes described as the “calm before the storm.”

If you suddenly feel a quiet certainty that everything is ready and you are too, pay attention to that. It can be a meaningful signal that labor is approaching, even if nothing else on this list has shown up yet.

Signs That Are Not Reliable Predictors

A few common changes are worth noting here because they’re frequently misread as definitive signs of labor — when on their own, they’re not:

Cervical dilation alone — you can be 1 cm or even 5 cm and still be weeks away from labor
Mucus plug without bloody show — the plug can regenerate; it doesn’t confirm labor is near
Back pain alone — common throughout pregnancy and not a reliable labor indicator by itself
Baby dropping alone — lightening can happen weeks before labor for first-time moms especially

These signs become much more meaningful when they appear in combination, not in isolation. Context matters more than any single sign.

Prodromal Labor? Check these out!

Spotting the Signs of Labor Approaching Soon

Labor signs aren’t foolproof — and honestly, many people only realize what was happening after they’re holding their baby. But understanding what your body is doing in those final days can help you feel more prepared, more confident, and less caught off guard when things start moving.

If you’ve noticed several of these signs at once, trust that your body knows what it’s doing. Labor will unfold in its own time — and you are more ready than you think. Want to go even deeper on the science of birth and labor? Our childbirth education courses walk you through exactly what’s happening in your body so nothing feels like a mystery.