Your hospital bag is packed. Your belly feels huge. You sneeze, and suddenly, you're wondering, "Was that my water breaking?" Late pregnancy can feel like a game of "is this it?" every single day. Every cramp, every twinge, every bathroom trip becomes a clue in the mystery of: "How do I know when labor is near?"

Good news—your body usually gives you early signs that labor is just around the corner. Some are obvious, others not so much. So let's break down the real, honest signs that your baby might be on their way—before your due date even hits. These are real-life, mama-tested signs of labor that people notice—and what they feel like.

5 Signs Labor Is Approaching Soon

1. You Feel Like You Can't Stop Cleaning

This urge is called the nesting instinct—and it's no joke. You might find yourself organizing baby clothes by color at 3 a.m., wiping down baseboards, or scrubbing your fridge like it personally offended you. Why it happens? Your body knows it's go-time. Nesting is one of those subtle but powerful signs that a baby is coming before your due date.

2. You're Having Back Pain That Feels Different

You've probably had back pain for weeks, but this feels new. It might be low, dull, and constant, or come and go in waves like menstrual cramps. It is often your uterus preparing for labor—tightening and releasing as it gets ready to push that baby out. Bonus tip: If the pain keeps coming at regular intervals, you might be having early contractions (yes, even before your water breaks!).

3. You lose your mucus plug:

Your mucus plug blocks the cervix during pregnancy to keep bacteria out. As labor gets close, your cervix begins to soften and open—and that plug? It starts to come out. It can look like a clear or slightly pink discharge, a thick and jelly-like discharge, or a little blood-tinged (this is often called the bloody show). It might come out all at once or over several days; either way, it's one of the key signs of labor creeping in.

4. You’re going to the Bathroom A Lot

Suddenly, you're peeing constantly. Or maybe you're having more bowel movements than usual. Some women even report a bit of diarrhea right before labor. That's because your body is clearing itself out. It's prepping for birth by emptying everything it can. Annoying? Yes. But it is also a good hint that labor could be right around the corner.

5. You Start Feeling Real Contractions (Not Braxton Hicks)

You've probably had Braxton Hicks by now which feels like tight, uncomfortable, fake-out contractions. But when is it the real deal? It feels different. Here is how you can tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and real contractions:

6. Braxton Hicks are irregular, but contractions come in a pattern. 

7. Braxton Hicks, go away with water or when you relax, but real contractions get stronger with time. 

8. Braxton Hicks are mostly painless, but contractions are painful. 

So, when you're wondering how to know when labor is near, pay attention to what your body is saying. These little (or big) signs of labor can add up fast.