What were your first symptoms of labour?

[ShirleyPhallus]

38 weeks and so every twinge, twitch or pain I’m getting wondering “is this it!!”. (answer is no so far)

What were your first symptoms of labour, did you feel anything in the week before and if so, what was it?

extreme irritability. Both times

Cried for 24 hours, then V&D, then contractions

My waters breaking as I woke up!

My waters broke. I was in denial. Tried to tell myself it was just urine

Tightening that got worse and didn't stop

Like a PP, intense irritation with anyone and everything, D & V, couldn't sit down, wanted to pace about. Pains began quite gently and I just felt the urge to keep moving. Good luck OP!

Back ache and pooing a lot

Massive contraction that couldn’t be anything else. Followed by another, then another, and in not very many minutes, a baby.

And I dont know if it's an old wives tale and just a coincidence, but I started 'nesting' and getting the urge to organise and tidy everything when normally I'm a lazy besom

Lost my mucus plug (whilst out for a curry!) with DD and then began contractions about 13 hours later.

DS no real symptoms until contractions started but I was full of energy that day and had lots of food (and a couple of glasses of wine), just a sense of energy and security I suppose.

Woke up at 3am with an unmistakable contraction. I was 39 weeks.

Suddenly being in the holy hell of contractions, literally started v painfully.
26 hours later DD was born.

Mucus plug started coming away the day before.. then waters broke and it all kicked off!!!

Mucus plug and diarrhoea the night before. Labour started in the morning.

I'm 38 weeks today with number 2 so I know how you're feeling!

I was induced so maybe it doesn’t really count but it started with very vague cramps that felt like period pains and that became real contractions later on.

Really really bad back ache and the pacing. I couldn’t sit down and was irritated by my clothes every time, I wanted to take them all off

37 and a bit weeks here and im with you. I woke up with lower back ache yesterday and got really excited. Then it went away after id moved around for a while and got disappointed.

Back ache and an inability to get comfortable. Contractions started about 8hrs later

Feeling like I needed a poo.

Woken up at 3.36 in the morning by a strange tightening/crampy feeling. Thought 'nah!' Had another three minutes later, and another three minutes after that, at which point I thought 'Oh, OK...' and got up to hoover because I was having a home birth but we thought we had three weeks to go so the place was a mess. Nineteen hours later (exactly, to the minute!), DS was born.

Sharp pain in the early hours of the morning followed by regular, unmistakable contractions.

My waters broke very, very slowly. It was a trickle as if I'd wet myself. I shouted to DP from the toilet that I was leaking & he ran in asking what was leaking & what did he need to fix 😂

Waters breaking! The first time a lot, and the second time with just a small dribble. Was overdue both times

I'm nearly 38 weeks and I feel your pain, just always watching out for some sign that she's finally going to come out. Been having period like pains for about 3 weeks now, apart from feeling exhausted I've had no other signs. Just want it to be over feel like I've been pregnant for about 4 years 😂

Backache