RECOGNISING SIGNS OF LABOUR Every pregnant woman is nervous and wonders how she will recognise when her labour starts. Well you are unlikely to mistake the signs of labour when the time really comes but if you are in doubt you can contact your doctor and take advice. Listed below are the usual signs that labour is beginning. Contractions will start to come regularly, will last for more than 30 seconds and begin to feel stronger. Gradually they will become longer, stronger and more frequent. Backache or the aching, heavy feeling that some women get during their periods. A show-this is the plug that seals the womb comes away either before labour starts or early in labour. It comes out of the vagina, which is a small amount of sticky pink mucus with a little blood. The water breaking-the bag of water in which the baby is floating may break before labour starts. If the water breaks you will notice either a slow trickle from your vagina or a sudden gush of water that you cant control. Nausea or vomiting. Diarrhoea.