31 weeks pregnant: the three signs of labour and when to go
In this article
At 31 weeks pregnant, KKH suggests learning the three signs of labour, so you know when to go to hospital. From next week your check-ups speed up too: every two weeks from 32 to 36 weeks, then weekly after that.
The three signs of labour
- Your water bag breaks. It's usually less dramatic than on TV, KKH says, but it soaks your underwear and can leak down your leg. NUH describes it as a sudden gush or a steady trickle of clear fluid.
- A bloody show: a mucus discharge from the vagina, which may be pink or streaked with blood.
- Regular contractions that come closer together and get stronger, sometimes with an urge to bear down.
When to head in
| Hospital | When to come |
|---|---|
| KKH | With any of the three signs; its example is contractions coming 5 to 10 minutes apart |
| NUH | Contractions at intervals of 5 to 15 minutes, a show, or a ruptured water bag; go straight to the Delivery Suite for any bleeding that isn't a show |
Time your contractions: how long each lasts, and how many minutes apart they are. Our contraction timer does it on your phone. KKH's main advice is to stay calm. Our guide to the signs of labour covers false alarms.
What happens when you arrive
At KKH's Delivery Suite, midwives check you first and decide whether you go straight into a delivery room or see a doctor in triage. Then you may be admitted, sent to the antenatal ward, or told to go home for now.
Once you're in labour, two sensors are strapped to your tummy, one for your contractions and one for your baby's heart rate. KKH calls this continuous cardiotocography, or CTG. Strong contractions can reduce your baby's blood and oxygen supply, and the tracing helps the team keep watch.
The colour of any fluid matters too. Clear or light pink is normal. Thick, dark greenish-brown fluid means your baby has passed meconium, and the risk is breathing it in. Heavily blood-stained fluid can mean bleeding inside or the placenta separating early, which usually needs an emergency delivery.
At KKH you're asked not to eat during labour; sips of water or ice cubes are fine. Your husband is encouraged to stay with you, and your mother or sister can come instead if you tell the nurse in charge. Our guide to preparing for labour has a checklist.
What's due in Singapore at 31 weeks
| Week 31 at a glance | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Trimester | Third trimester |
| Learn | The three signs of labour, and your hospital's route |
| Visits | Every 2 weeks from 32 to 36 weeks, then weekly |
| Vaccine | Whooping cough by 32 weeks; RSV from 32 to 36 weeks |
| Scan | Growth scan, if not done yet (28 to 32 weeks) |
| Coming up | GBS swab at 35 to 37 weeks |
When to go to the hospital now
Before 37 weeks, any of the three signs, regular tightening, fewer movements, bleeding or pre-eclampsia signs mean going in now.
From 22 weeks, KKH asks you to go straight to its Delivery Suite, at Level 2 of the Women's Tower, for water-bag leakage, vaginal bleeding or signs of labour. At NUH, the Delivery Suite is Ward 22, on Level 2 of the Main Building. Booked somewhere else? Go to your own hospital's delivery suite, or call its O&G clinic if you're unsure.
Frequently asked questions
How far apart should contractions be before I go to hospital?
KKH gives 5 to 10 minutes apart as an example; NUH lists intervals of 5 to 15 minutes. Go sooner if your water bag breaks or you bleed.
What does a bloody show look like?
A mucus discharge from the vagina that may be pink or streaked with blood, KKH and NUH say.
Can I eat during labour?
KKH advises not eating during labour, though sips of water or ice cubes are encouraged.
31 weeks pregnant is how many months?
About seven months, counted from the first day of your last period.
Week by week. Previous week: 30 weeks pregnant. Next week: 32 weeks pregnant. Every week from 4 to 40: pregnancy week by week.
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