24 Dec, 2025
How To Know That Labor Is Near (My 5 Sure Signs That Labour Is Coming Soon)
Pregnancy ,

Before your water breaks, you should have known that labor is near. Many women wait till their water breaks before they can agree that labor is near. In my first year in school, an incident taught me and my female classmates how to know that labor is near. This was long before we even started going on obstetrics and gynaecology posting.

It happened that we were in an exam hall writing the first semester, end of introductory examinations, formally called PTS then. One of us was pregnant, she knew her baby would be due by the month end little did she know she was in for some surprise and drama (her baby came two weeks earlier than due date).

Her water broke while she was before a computer screen, clicking and answering the mind-tingling questions on the history of nightingale that made up about two third of the two hundred questions on foundation of nursing that day. There was chaos when she let out a loud cry. Everything stopped for a moment. The priest who was the administrator was alerted by the invigilators. She was urged to abandon the exam, helped out of the exam hall and hurried to the college’s maternity.

Image showing the normal position of the baby in the mother at 9 months

This was my first experience of how labor comes like a thief. I would eventually grow to see other several scenarios in the market, church and public transport. Perhaps if my coursemate and these other people can read the signs that labour is coming soon, they would have taken caution, stayed at home or in the hospital or make the necessary preparation leading up to birth and that’s why you need to read The Ultimate Hospital Bag Checklist For Labor And Delivery (first time moms wish they knew this)

Enough of the yapping, It’s high time we get to the dig. What really are the signs that show labor is near? Well, we are almost there. Below are my five signs that labour is coming soon.

HOW TO KNOW THAT LABOR IS NEAR (5 SIGNS)

Your Baby Moves Lower

You may ask, what does that mean? Huh! How does a baby move lower? Usually a few days before labor begins, the baby moves lower in the womb, but there is a caveat. You will begin to urinate more often because of the pressure exerted on the bladder by the baby’s weight.

Imagine pressing onto an air filled balloon loosely tied at its end. Pressing onto it will make the air inside escape quicker than normal as when it is not being pressed. Therefore, when suddenly your frequency of urine output increases as your estimated due date nears, it’s best to prepare ahead as it’s perhaps your baby’s head pressing onto the bladder and reducing its fill time.

READ: Does Walking Help Labor Start? (The 1 Reason Nurses Ask You To Walk During Early Labor)

You Begin To See Some Thick Mucus

When compared to our first sign, this second one occurs just hours before the labor begins and not days. A short time before the labor begins, some thick mucus (jelly) may come out or some mucus may come out for up to twelve to twenty-four hours before labour begins. Sometimes, it is tinted with blood. This is very normal.

The first time I saw mucus indicating labor imminence was during my community posting at a primary health center. The woman had reached her due date and complained of contraction pains. The officer in charge (OIC) nurse conducted a vaginal examination on her and came out after she dipped her fingers into the woman was this slimy yellowish, viscous stuff that stuck to her gloves. She called it ‘show‘. Upon further questions she said it comes from the cervix. The woman body is just one hell of a marvel.

Sudden Tightening Of The Womb That Happens Hours Apart

According to my personal stats that I keep and do from observations. This one is the most common reason why women stay several days in the pre natal ward leading up to their day of delivery. The moment they feel the first labor pain or very strong contraction, they swiftly appear in the hospital like Barry Allen as in the Flash tv series.

Image showing how to know that labor is near
During contractions, the womb tightens and lifts up like this and cause the cervix or ‘door of the womb’ to open up a little more each time.

Look, I’m not saying or trying to put this behavior in a bad light. It’s a very good thing to do and comes with many advantages. Contractions that happens hours apart is just trying to signal you that your delivery is just days away and that you should prepare.

At first, a long time usually passes between contractions; sometimes, several minutes or even hours. When the contractions become stronger, regular and more frequent, labor is beginning.

Practice Contractions/False labor

Some women have a few practice contractions weeks before labor. This is normal. On rare occasions, a woman may have false labor. This happens when the contractions are coming strong and close together, but then stop for hours or days before childbirth actually begins. Sometimes walking or an enema (medication inserted into the vagina) will help calm the contractions if they are false or bring on childbirth if they are real. Even if it is a false labor, the contractions help to prepare the womb for labor.

Image showing one of the signs that labour is coming soon
Between contractions that lasts hours or days apart, the womb is relaxed like this

Your Bag Of Water Ruptures

And now, we are here. The generic one. The one most people take as a confirmation and one of those signs that labour is coming soon. You see, we in the clinical setting don’t call it bag of water. I did that so you may understand where I’m coming from. It’s formally and medically called the amniotic sac — that holds the amniotic fluid (water) that soothes and makes the babies environment in the womb optimal.

So, your ‘bag of water’ that holds your baby in the womb ruptures with a flood of liquid sometimes after labor has begun is not one of those weird signs that labor is near. It is common and should be expected. If the water break before the contractions start, this usually means the beginning of labour. After the water breaks, you should keep yourself very clean. Walking back and forth or climbing some staircases up and down like I have seen women being instructed bring on labor more quickly.

And there you have it. A student nurse’s five signs that labour is coming soon. So, when next your due date draws closer and you begin to notice any of these signs, especially the second and fifth one, act, postpone that trip, skip that exam meanwhile meet the necessary authorities presiding it and remember your body knows what to do. These signs are your roadmap, not an alarm. Pack your bag, trust your instincts, and know that medical help is ready when you are. Labor waits for no one. Goodluck on this beautiful journey.

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Kalisia
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