Am I in Labor?

Understanding the Difference Between Pre-Labor and Early Labor

“Is this it?”

It’s one of the most common questions at the end of pregnancy—and one of the most confusing. Sensations change. The body feels different. Something is happening… but what?

Understanding the difference between pre-labor and early labor can help you feel more confident, calmer, and better able to support your body and your baby.

First: a reassuring truth

There isn’t always a clear line between pre-labor and early labor. Birth unfolds gradually, not in neat stages. What matters most is not labeling what’s happening, but responding wisely to what your body is doing.

That said, there are some helpful distinctions.

What Is Pre-Labor?

Pre-labor (sometimes called prodromal labor or “practice contractions”) is your body warming up. It can begin days—or even weeks—before birth.

What’s happening in your body

• Hormones are shifting

• The cervix is softening, thinning, and moving forward

• The baby is settling deeper into the pelvis

• Braxton Hicks contractions may increase

This work is real, even if it doesn’t yet lead directly to birth.

Common signs of pre-labor

• Contractions that are irregular

• Contractions that don’t get closer together or stronger

• Sensations that change or stop when you:

  • Lie down

  • Take a warm bath or shower

  • Rest or sleep

• Tightness often felt mainly in the lower belly or groin

• Losing the mucus plug (this can happen long before labor)

• Feeling excited, restless, or unsure

• Being able to talk normally through contractions

Pre-labor often fades with rest—and sometimes even disappears during the day.

What to do during pre-labor

• If at night — go to sleep!

• If during the day — continue with your day.

• Eat, drink, and nourish yourself.

• Avoid over-monitoring or timing contractions.

• Protect your energy and emotions.

• Don’t call everyone telling them you are in labor ;)

Pre-labor is not a signal to act—it’s a signal to prepare and conserve.

What Is Early Labor?

Early labor (also called the latent phase) is the beginning of labor itself. This is when the cervix begins to efface and dilate in a more consistent way.

What’s happening in your body

• Contractions are coordinating more effectively

• Oxytocin levels are rising

• The cervix is thinning and opening

• Baby continues to engage and descend

Labor has begun—even if it’s still gentle.

Common signs of early labor

• Contractions that:

  • Continue even when you rest

  • Gradually become longer, stronger, and more regular

  • Don’t go away with a bath or shower

• Sensations felt in the belly and the back

• Needing to pause and focus during contractions

• Feeling inward-focused, but still present between waves

• Contractions that slowly build a rhythm over time

Early labor may still feel manageable—but it’s persistent.

What to do during early labor

• Stay home if you can and if it feels safe

• Create a calm, private environment

• Rest between contractions

• Move gently and intuitively

• Eat and drink if you feel like it

• Use warmth, water, and breath

• Begin protecting your oxytocin space

This is when less stimulation and more instinct support labor best.

A helpful comparison

Pre-Labor

• Irregular contractions

• Stop with rest/ shower

• No clear progression

• Body is preparing

Early Labor

• Contractions continue despite rest

• Slowly become longer and stronger

• A rhythm begins to form

• Cervix is changing

Neither is “better” or “worse.”
Both are part of the same unfolding.

What about waters breaking?

• For most people, waters break later in labor, not at the beginning

• If they do break early:

  • Fluid should be clear or straw-colored

  • Labor often follows naturally

  • Be patient

  • Contact health provider immediately if waters are greenish or brownsish

Waters breaking does not automatically mean “active labor.”

The most important question isn’t “Is this labor?”

A better question might be:

“What does my body need right now?”

Rest?
Warmth?
Movement?
Reassurance?
Quiet?

Responding to those needs—rather than trying to label the moment—is often what allows labor to deepen naturally.

A final word

Every labor is different. Some move quickly from pre-labor to active labor. Others ebb and flow for a while. None of this predicts the strength, beauty, or success of your birth.

Trust your body.
Trust your baby.
And remember: pre-labor and early labor are not false starts—they are the beginning of birth.