To ask if you had any signs before you went into labour?

[Moonbear10]

I'm 38+4 and desperately want out now!
I think it's wishful thinking, but today my cats have been clingier than they ever usually are, following me around. I'm also developing a blocked nose and funny feeling eyes. Absolutely shattered aswell.
Could they be signs that it's getting near??
Did you have any signs (however weird!) before you went into labour?

I had a really big belly.

My centre of gravity completely shifted

Omg @teeny, I have that too, must definitely be a sign

I did have bad problems with my balance and the room spinning the other day, but nothing since..

Day before had a really runny poo. Had a good night sleep, must be my body getting ready knowing I'll need the energy

Nothing until I sat upright in bed at 4am, thinking I needed a wee, and my waters went. I'd had a midwife appointment the day before where I was told the head was still very high up, had been out for lunch, no niggles, no signs, nothing.
Sorry!

I didn't have any signs before I went into labour.
I had a second sweep on a Saturday afternoon and went to bed sure I was going to need to be induced. Woke up at 2:30 with period type pains and had DS the Sunday evening.

Cats could be an indicator--mine was the first in our household to spot my waters had broken (which happened unusually gently). Apparently they're attracted to the smell, which cat mums lick off their kittens after giving birth. Good luck!

It threw up my dinner. Hadn't been sick all pregnancy.

Went into labour that night.

Nothing till the contractions started.

I had a burst of energy the evening before. My waters broke very early the next day.

Sorry but nothing....

I was actually at work the day before (37 weeks). Went home, had a good sleep then woke at 6.30am needing the loo.

Got up and waters broke (thankfully I’d got to the bathroom).

Contractions started almost immediately.

Woke DH, got childcare sorted for DSD, called work to say I wouldn’t be in, then walked waddled the 10 mins to the maternity hospital and got there by about 9am (we loved them very near to the hospital and due to one way systems it would have taken far longer to drive - DH offered but I was the one who wanted to walk ).

DS was born at 12.30pm.

Went to the toilet, BF’d DS, had toast, put make up on for lovely newborn pictures. Met parents just as we were preparing to walk home I desperately wanted to have a bath in my own home with my fluffy towels and not the deeply unpleasant hospital bathroom littered with used sanipro, blood on the floor and pubes in the bath.

Got home by 2.30 and had lovely cuddles/feeds with newborn surrounded by family who kept giving me tea/food the moon if I’d asked for it.

Went into work the next day with DS to pick up stuff I needed (as I’d expected to be there so not packed up).

All in all I’m grateful I had apart from the squalor and filth in the maternity facilities - though to be fair the birthing room was very clean a very good experience.

So upshot is you might have no warnings at all

Ooh, I had a blocked nose a few days before both my sons being born. I remember because both times I thought I was coming down with something and thought how shit it would be to give birth while ill with the flu. it was a few days after the blocked nose both times.

When I went into labour with DS1 though, I thought I had indigestion. He was 3 days late as well, so you would think I would be thinking "this is probably labour", but no, I was on the phone to my mum while in the bath, which I was having because my tummy hurt, saying "no, no mum, I'm not in labour, it's just a tummy ache, but it's gone now. Oh no there it is again. Nope, gone now." She was going "FFS child that's labour."

no. none at all.

DarthMaiden That sounds like a fab experience! I'm hoping for similar this time round!

And I'm just picturing your colleagues' faces when you rocked up with a baby

You are so close, just a little while longer. If it helps any, babies born between 39-40 weeks generally do best so continuing to be pregnant will give your baby a better start in life. Try and pamper yourself, rest a lot, watch junky TV and paint your nails or take long baths or whatever helps.

As for signs, the twenty four hours before felt a little like I had a mild stomach bug, uncomfortable griping stomach (but no noticeable contractions), loose stools etc

Diarrhoea and period like cramps. I was 40+7 he was born 40+8

I had all of them!
Woke up with regular but far apart mild contractions, had runny bowels, bloody show, contractions gradually got closer and closer together then my waters broke!
After that all hell broke loose and nothing really was as expected! but I’d do it all again!
Good luck!!

I got super angry the night before. I also had a full, perfect nights sleep and boom woke up with contractions regular as clockwork.

Not a tweak, nor a twinge. Not a pain, nor an ache. No sickness, no Braxton hicks, no nesting, no runny poo, absolutely nothing!
Contractions or waters going was the first sign all 3times.
Although now you mention it I did have that large tummy though....

What I thought were braxtons when I was walking but then carried on very intermittently, show.
I was in denial though! (Baby born on living room floor 🤣)

Ddog was on his best behaviour, bless him. He knew before I did.

Nothing at all until my waters went. Considering the speed of DD2, if my waters hadn't gone then I would have had an insignificant period-like pain that was reminiscent of overdoing things that I would have ignored and then non stop contractions ten mins later. She was in a rush!

I went to 41+3 and was ridiculously impatient. From 38 weeks every twinge, sniffle and bowel movement hadme convinced this was it, but nope. Had no real signs that it was coming on the actual day other than mild backache as I was on the phone to my mum which just got stronger!

Desperate desire to go to IKEA and buy cushions.

Nope, no clues until my 54 hour labour started in a paint your own pottery place. I was in labour so long I had time to go pick up the bowl that DD had painted before I went to hospital. Oh and DS finally emerged (via the sunroof) 11 days after his due date. I still haven't forgiven him.