There are several signs that labour might be starting. These include:

  • Contractions
  • Your waters breaking
  • A ‘show’, when the plug of mucus from your cervix comes away, backache, loose stools, nausea or vomiting.

Call triage on 020 8934 2802 for guidance if:

  • You think you’re in labour
  • Your contractions are coming at least every 5 minutes.

Call triage on 020 8934 2802 straight away if:

  • Your waters break
  • Your baby is moving less than usual
  • You have vaginal bleeding
  • You’re less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you might be in labour
  • Any of your contractions last longer than 2 minutes
  • You’re having 6 or more contractions every 10 minutes

The triage telephone number is answered by a senior midwife 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They provide advice and an individual assessment over the phone to ensure you and your baby are well. They may invite you to attend the hospital for further assessment, or they may suggest that you stay at home.

If you are asked to attend, we aim to see you within 15 minutes of arrival for an initial assessment. Please bring your handheld notes with you.

Location: 1st floor of the main Maternity Unit. Follow the green signs.

When you have a contraction, your womb tightens and then relaxes. Contractions may feel like period-type cramps in the early stages. They may be irregular, stopping and starting over hours or even days. As labour progresses the contractions become longer, stronger and closer together. They will feel much more intense. 

Every labour is different. If this is your first baby we generally recommend staying at home until your contractions are regular, strong and coming at least every 5 minutes.

Second babies generally arrive more quickly than the first, so we may recommend coming in sooner.

For most women, labour takes several hours to become “established” - this means contractions are regular and coming at least every 5 minutes or more often.

For most women, the waters break during labour. Sometimes it happens before labour starts.

Call triage on 0208 934 2802. Come in straight away if there is blood in the waters, they are coloured green or brown, or they have an offensive smell.

The baby is growing inside a sac filled with amniotic fluid. When this sac breaks, the amniotic fluid is released and drains out through the vagina.

Waters breaking can feel like a sudden gush of water or a slow trickle. They are normally clear and pale. Occasionally they may be slightly pink.

If you think your waters have broken, put a sanitary pad in your underwear so it’s easy to see what colour they are and how much fluid is coming.

It’s usual to go into labour within 24 hours of the waters breaking. When you come in for an assessment you will be offered either to wait for up to 24 hours for labour to start naturally, or to be induced.

After 24 hours there is a small increased chance of infection for your baby - from about 1 in 200 to about 2 in 200.

While you are waiting for labour to start you can stay at home. Let us know if you start to feel unwell, develop a temperature, your baby moves less than usual or your waters become smelly or turn green or brown.

During early labour - when contractions are not yet regular or are more than 5 minutes apart - you are likely to benefit from remaining at home.

Evidence shows that the familiar environment of home may encourage production of the hormones needed to support the process of labour and birth.

The early phase of labour can last many hours. During this time the cervix becomes soft and thin and starts opening.

You might like to try working your way through this list during this time. Show it to your partner, so they can support you:

We aim to see all women for an initial assessment within 15 minutes of their arrival in triage.

Your care is then prioritised according to need. You may be asked to wait in the waiting area for ongoing care.

We will ask to check your blood pressure, pulse, temperature and respiratory rate. We will also ask you for a sample of urine.

A midwife will feel your abdomen, to check your baby’s position, and listen to your baby’s heart. They will observe how frequently your contractions are coming, how long they are lasting and how strong they seem.

The midwife may offer to perform a vaginal examination to check how open your cervix is. This examination will help inform them how far your labour has progressed.

The midwife will review your pregnancy notes. Let your midwife know if there is anything about your pregnancy or your birth plan that is important.

Once the assessment is complete, you will either be recommended to stay in hospital or to go home. This depends on how far labour has progressed and how you are feeling.