Can you describe what your early labour/contractions felt like?

[Treesandbees]

I'm 37 weeks with DC2. Since last Wednesday I have had a combination of pain/nausea. Midwife said the baby was 2/5 engaged. I was induced with my DS so have no idea what early labour could feel like. I literally went from zero to 100 with him and there was no doubt I was in labour! This time I've had a combination of pelvis pain, very low backache, mild period pains, nausea and tightening across the top of my bump. Oh and killer heartburn!! Just feeling really rubbish to be honest . How did yours start?

[StandoutMop]

First one with period pains which intensified to be obvious contractions over a few hours.

Second time, I was woken by a quite definite contraction, but maybe slept through the earlier, grumblier phase?

Third one I had 24 hours of stop-start contractions, no rhythm or pattern to them but recognised them as contractions, not BH. Did then escalate quite quickly, so once they got going was only a couple of hours until baby born.

Fingers crossed for a smooth delivery for you, and that you are feeling less rubbish soon - think the end of pg is so grim so we welcome labour when it finally starts tbh.

[Lilydreams]

Just had baby today at 37+4!! Contractions started as period type pains every 20 minutes and quickly moved to 12-15 minutes then every 4/5 then every 3 with the odd longer apart one. They hurt a lot in my lower back too but never spread higher up bump just got more intense and then pressure feeling in bum began to accompany them- possibly why I didn't quite believe I was actually in labour especially as first baby and went from mild period pains at 0630am to arriving at hospital at 1.50pm and holding baby in my arms at 2.09pm!!! What a day!!!

[recall]

like period pains, mine were random, sometimes hours in between to begin with

[Roseybee10]

First baby mine were like period pains with bunk tightening at the same time and had a peak then waned off.
They started low in my bump but quickly moved to my back.

Second time was similar but I felt it more in bump and pelvis.

[Treesandbees]

Congrats Lily! Sounds like an ideal labour to me . So I ended up sleeping on the sofa as just felt awful. I think the baby is pushing on my stomach so feel sick/heartburn then have lower back pain. Nothing is 'developing' so don't think it's labour...just squashed ness ! Thanks everyone.

[GuybrushThreepwoodMP]

Started off with low dull backache for a day. Then had the runs for a couple of hours. Then back pain became really sharp and intermittent. Then regular and more sharp. Felt everything in my back and nothing in my tummy. Baby want back to back, it's just where I feel the pain (period pains there too).

[ApocalypseThen]

Mine were weird - I never had anything like what I was given to expect in antenatal classes. I just felt like I was about to have a massive poo, but a really hard one that was going to cause terrible pain and rectal damage. It came on suddenly. The contractions, at the start, had me on the loo thinking something was about to happen. Then it eased off a bit, and repeat.

[ShatnersBassoon]

With my second I felt like I was gearing up for a major and unpredictable poo episode.

The others were just like period pain at first.

[RugBugs]

With my second it was 10 days of back pain, period type pains, irregular contractions through the day that would ease at night. Went to bed one night and woke up at half 2 in definite labour.
On day 9 of the same with 3rd at 38+6.

[slightlyconfused85]

I was sure I needed a Poo but couldn't go! I then realised I needed a poo every 10 minutes ...then it all got closer together and more painful then I started getting a bloody show