Take your time with this information
Symptoms
The following signs and symptoms before 37 weeks of pregnancy could mean you are going into preterm labour:1
Regular contractions - tightening or pain in the abdomen that comes and goes
Abdominal cramping or pain - similar to period pain
A feeling of pressure in the pelvis or lower belly
A “show” – when the plug of mucus that seals the cervix during pregnancy comes away and passes out of the vagina
Your waters breaking – a gush or trickle of clear or watery fluid from the vagina
Vaginal spotting or light bleeding
Lower back pain that is new, persistent, or unusual for you
Call your midwife or maternity unit if you’re less than 37 weeks pregnant and you have any of the above symptoms, as you may be in early labour.1
If you have symptoms of preterm labour or you're worried about how you feel, contact your healthcare professional right away. Your healthcare professional can find out if you're in preterm labour or rule it out. Ruling it out could ease your mind.1