How long before labour properly started did you first start to have 'signs'?

[KelaS]

Hi all.

I am 40 weeks today, and no sign of labour starting whatsoever - I know it could still be ages and although its frustrating, I can wait. But, I have some plans tomorrow morning, and I am just curious as to whether or not I am likely to have the baby between no and then. So, my question is; how long before things started properly did you start getting signs that it might be soon? If nothing is happening now, am I likely to be in hospital within the next 24 hrs or not? I know every labour is different etc, just wondering what other people's experiences were.

[clouisewood]

Hi. I was induced so can't really comment. I would say just to carry on as normal though. I spent far too much time at home and avoided making plans just incase anything happened. I ended up being 40+15 when DD was born. Good luck. Hope you don't have to wait too long!!

[RuthChan]

I had braxton-hicks contractions for about 4 days before the birth.
Everyday they came, I wondered whether this might be it, but everyday they stopped by the evening.
On the day she was born, I woke up at 5:30am with a different kind of contraction and immediately knew that this was it!
The contractions went on all day, but never got any harder or closer together.
Then at 7:00pm they suddenly got stronger and I knew that I should start thinking about going to the hospital.
DD was born at 12:35am.

I'm not sure how standard my experience was, but I'd say that you'll know in good time when it's time to prepare for things.
Until then, I think you can continue as normal.
The day of DD's birth I continued doing everything as normal throughout the contractions. It wasn't until they got stronger in the evening that I felt it was time to settle down and prepare myself.
Good luck with it!!

[bohemianbint]

I had a show at about 2am. Then some waters went a few hours later. The lot went at 8am. Contractions started around 10am and DS was born at 1pm!

[KelaS]

Bohemianbint - did you have any inkling at all that something was happening before your show?

Thanks for all the replies; part of me thinks that I am sure I will have plenty of notice (and in fact can't quite believe that I will actually be having a baby any time soon!), but equally I am on tenterhooks any time I feel anything at all; slight backache, muscle twinge when I move funny etc.

[MrsEi25]

i had a show about 3 weeks before the birth and spent the next 3 weeks obsessing over every twinge i only knew it was actually happenin when my waters broke in bed at 9am i thought i was weeing myself so jumped up out of bed and flooded the bedroom floor i was 41+4 and due to be induced the following day (the day DD was born au naturale) i wish i had spent the final 3 weeks doing something but i didnt i was too scared that i might give birth on the bus or something similar dont search for symptoms just make plans and carry them pout and you will enjoy your last precious few days of freedom
good luck
xx ei xx

[MrsEi25]

that was meant to be carry them OUT not pout
xx ei xx

[Bky]

Absolutely no signs at all until I woke up about 1am with contractions, delivered at 11:05pm that night.

Felt completely normal when I went to bed that night, that was at 40+6.

[ILikeToMoveItMoveIt]

Much the same as Bky really. I woke up in the middle of the night with mild contractions, but they were early labour as I went back to sleep.

When I went to bed that night I had no inkling/signs of imminent labour.

I was 40+9 and most babies are overdue, so don't stop doing things that you have planned as the last few weeks/days are the longest

[lizziemun]

I didn't have any signs with either.

DD1 woke up at 39wks bleeding heavily got to hospital was already 9cm dilated.

DD2 was induced at 41+1wks although i had been having BH for 3 wks was only 1cm dilated.

[Surfermum]

I had no signs at all. I had painful contractions, 3 mins apart and lasting a minute from the very start. Confused the hell out of me as I had been told that that was when to phone the hospital, but got the impression that there was a few hours build up to that at least!

When dh phoned the hospital and was asked "how long has she been having contractions?" he said "about 20 minutes". They told me to have a bath and 2 paracetamol. I told dh to tell them to f off .

[bohemianbint]

KelaS - nope! I was a week overdue and I was getting really annoyed so me and DP had had sex earlier in the evening to see if that would work...I fell asleep, woke up around 2am and there was the show. So no real signs, but I would recommend a bit of how's your father if you want to speed things up, worked for us!

[nedmum]

The evening before my waters broke I was really really fidgety and restless and couldn't get comfy no matter what I did. Then, a couple of months later was watching The One Show, and Myleene was all fidgety looking. I said to DH "Myleene's going to have her baby" and sure enough she did the next day. So, that was a fairly clear sign for me. Unless I have psychic powers

[lulumama]

I had a sweep and a show the week before my due date. I had more of a show for the rest of the week, and a hindwater leak two days before my due date. I went to the hospital to be checked, told nothing doing, stopped off for a lamb kebab with extra chilli sauce, woke up in labour... DD arrived 01.15 on her due date .. wos the kebab wot did it !

[lulumama]

just make your plans, and get on with life, enjoy these last few days of excitement and not knowing!

[KelaS]

Well, have got everything done that I needed to do, so it can come whenever it likes now (looking sternly at bump whilst typing - are you listening in there????). Lots of sex and nipple stimulation for me over the next few days I think

[Wendyjayb]

I had a show 3 weeks before, but nothing to indicate i was in labour when it happened
I went for a routine check up as i was 10 days late and was sent for a blood test as i had protien in my water. They wanted to admit me and re-do the tests in the morning and when they examined me i was 6cm dialated so they broke my waters as ds arrived 4 hours later

[Cazzybaby]

Hi KelaS

I'm in the same boat as you, I'm due tomorrow had bit of a show friday bit more over the weekend loads of Braxton Hicks, and now nothing!!

Hope things start to happen for you soon

[PortAndLemon]

None at all, no inkling, not even one single solitary Braxton Hicks contraction -- I even have an email I wrote to my mother the previous evening saying that there were no signs whatsoever so I was confident I was going to go a couple of weeks overdue. Then my waters went early the next morning and labour kicked in after that.

[Minkus]

Im with PortAndLemon- no signs at all. (well unless you count the maniac cooking/freezing sessions I was so focused on in the previous week) No physical signs anyway.

Was off to bed at 11 when 39+1, went to the loo and waters broke, contractions started 1 hr later ds born at 03:18.

I agree with other posters though, make your plans otherwise you'll be v bored on the home straight.

I must admit I was a bit surprised I didn't have any braxton hicks, restlessness, backache, etc etc. Or maybe I did but as a first timer I just didn't recognise them as signs of impendng labour!

Good luck, hope your plans went well today and you are soon contracting away merrily!
x

[KelaS]

Well, it seems like a lot of people were kind of taken by surprise as it were, which is reassuring, as it means I might not have that long to wait. Of course, on the other hand, I'm going to be constantly expecting it to be any second now for the next god knows how long, which may get a little boring

Grrr I want my baby!!