Is there such a thing as a “feeling” you will go into labour soon?

[MrsRose2018]

So my waters broke at 25 weeks and miraculously and against all odds baby boy has held in there and I’m now 32 weeks!

I’ve got all the signs of going into labour soon - pressure, back ache, upset stomach - but they can all be explained by the fact that I’m just pregnant and I have IBS. Also the leaking of amnio which is your key sign is pretty meaningless in my situation.

I’m in the hospital twice a week for CTG monitoring and yesterday there was no signs of anything happening but I’m sat on my bouncy ball cos I cannot get comfortable and watching tv and I just have this “feeling” that there are rumbles in the jungle! Like... I know I’m not in labour now but I feel like I could go in the next week or so?

This could just be paranoid utter BS of a bored first time mamma but I’m just curious if any of you more seasoned pros have ever felt anything like this or it’s turned out to be true?

TIA :)

[MrsRose2018]

Oh I also have SPD which gives you a whole party of confusing pains 😂

[Nic165]

Dc1 - lost mucus plug at 39+6 but no other symptoms or feeling like labour was starting. Had a sweep that day and cramping started within a few hours (this was my only sign). Baby born the next day.

Dc2 - waters broke at 39+1. No symptoms at all prior to this. Baby born 6 hours later.

Currently 37+6 with dc3 and although I've been getting regular braxton hicks, I just don't feel like anything is imminent. Although going by my previous labours it seems it can happen without any prior warning!

Good luck and hope you get to meet your little baby soon!

[MrsRose2018]

@Nic165 thanks :)

No sign of plug yet but the MWs told me because of my PROM I may not even lose a proper plug so I've literally got no way of knowing 😂

Aww nearly 38 weeks! So close!! I'm getting so excited/impatient now

[K1999]

I just knew on the week building up to it. I felt 'off'

[MrsRose2018]

@K1999 right?! That "off" feeling!

Like I've had upset stomachs and back aches and pains all throughout this pregnancy - it's not been an easy one - but I just feel off/different today?

Like I said I could just be paranoid and impatient to meet my boy (because I sooooooo am) but yeh.. weird

[LillianFullStop]

I've got an ELCS booked in 6 days and I'm getting rumbles in the jungles too - frequent BH, sometimes with sometimes without cramping. Nothing regular though so I think it's just late pregnancy tingles (I hope)

Freaking out as it's my second so things could move very quickly!

[doughnutmuffin]

I had a pregnancy massage and reflexology on my feet at 37 weeks and lost my muscle plug that night. I had a terrible cold (unrelated) for 2 days then at 37+3 I had diarrhoea then went into labour, DS born 37+4

[MrsRose2018]

Aww @LillianFullStop I hope your baby hangs on a bit!! May I ask why you opted for an ELCS?

I want my bub to hang in there too! I'm to be induced at 37 weeks due to my waters breaking but he's still a bit too small for my liking to come come now!

I am happy for him to make his own way out in a few more weeks though as I really don't want to be induced x

[MrsRose2018]

@LillianFullStop sorry just to explain - as in if bub comes now is it a big health risk etc etc - I wasn't judging the ELCS! I thought about asking for one too before we settled on the induction in terms of delivery options

[MrsRose2018]

@doughnutmuffin it's the diarrhoea that's making me wonder too!

I have IBS but it's quite settled atm and I haven't had an upset stomach for a while but who the hell knows??

I wish I could rely on the mucus plug thing to get an better idea but 🤷‍♀️ joys of my waters breaking haha

[Keha]

I'm not sure there is, or at a least for me, I kept convincing myself that "today was the day" because of some slight change in symptoms... And it never was. The only thing that possibly triggered things was having a nice, enjoyable, relaxing day with family where I actually didn't think too much about it. That day I did go into labour.

[LillianFullStop]

@MrsRose2018 I'm opting for ELCS this time due to 3rd degree tear/forceps on my first birth. It was my decision as they would have supported either way. Much as I would prefer VB if it was straightforward - I can't guarantee it will go smoothly this time and further birth injuries on top of what I've got could mean long term damage for me.

I was told if I go into labour early my case will be classed as a low grade emergency so they will still go for a section unless there are more urgent cases ahead of me.

So really hoping this one hangs in there a few more days!

[MrsRose2018]

@LillianFullStop that was EXACTLY why I wanted to go for an ELCS.. I've never had a baby before but I've had a couple of friends with really traumatic births!

In this instance because baby is going to slightly premature I opted for induction just to be sure his lungs are as good as possible and also thought I would give a natural VB birth "a go" as I may not tear as bad as I think I will...

Fingers crossed our bubs hang in there a wee bit longer!! 🤞

[LillianFullStop]

I hope both our bubs hang in there a bit longer! Fingers (and legs) crossed for us!

I think spontaneous labour reduces the risk of instrumental births so maybe your best case is that you go into labour the morning of your induction? That way he'll be 37 weeks and no lung issues by then?

Hope all goes smoothly either way for us. He's amazing held on since 25 weeks!!!

[SparkyBlue]

I've had babies at 36 weeks, 34 weeks and 33 weeks and I felt " off " in myself every time. I knew something was about to happen. In fact on DC1 and 2 I tidied my desk at work as on both occasions I had a feeling I wouldn't be back and I was right both times

[PrincessHoneysuckle]

Yes I had it for a month then had to be induced at 41 weeks.So a feeling doesnt always result in labour unfortunately!

[Spoons1988]

The day I went into labour I was reluctant to leave the house. I was in the car with DH while he dropped some things at a friend’s house and I asked him to park around the corner so his friend wouldn’t see me and chat?! Very strange behaviour, but I can’t explain it other than this intense feeling of wanting to hide away. I also didn’t want to talk to DH and couldn’t focus on anything. I remember coming across SO cold and shivery in the evening and then contractions started and everything happened very quickly from there!