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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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

93 replies

Moonbear10 · 04/10/2017 16:22

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?

OP posts:
HelloCanYouHearMe · 04/10/2017 20:38

backache... a constant dull ache in my lower back that just did. not. shift for about 6 or so hours.

and then the contractions started

Aquarius26 · 04/10/2017 20:39

Funnily enough contractions which I mistook for braxton hicks (was my first pregnancy) but because they just felt like bad period pains affecting mainly my back I wasn’t convinced they were real contractions Blush i was actually meant to be travelling from London to Yorkshire the next day by train to see Family and my mother was trying to convince me I wouldn’t be able to and I me being my usual stubborn self I was adamant I would be fine lol I moved my bedroom furniture around and finally got round to packing my hospital back, luckily because in the middle of the night I stood and felt a gush which I thought was my waters breaking but when I turned the light on I see that it was actually loads of blood, I called the hospital who told me to come straight in which I did and they broke my waters for me they said to find out where blood was coming from (still to this day I have no idea what caused it) and 4 hours later I gave birth! Grin

Aquarius26 · 04/10/2017 20:41

Hospital bag not back lol

redexpat · 04/10/2017 20:41

The midwife sticking a pessary up me.

I went to pee 3 times in 10 minutes before my water broke.

savagehk · 04/10/2017 20:42

Not a twinge both times, I went to 42+4/5 both times and both started with my waters breaking....

StandardPoodle · 04/10/2017 20:54

39 plus 3, went to work as usual. 11.30am, started contractions. Continued to clear up work matters as far as I could (contractions 10 minutes apart by this stage).
1pm, went to see my boss and announced I was starting my maternity leave NOW.
Went home. Hospital at 5pm. DS born at 7.20pm.
I was far too laid back about it!

TJ2503 · 04/10/2017 22:00

No signs but I just kinda “knew” that tonight was the night.... had a massive bloody show with loss of plug 5 days before, 3 stretch and sweeps in the week running up and nada.....

Had a curry and the most functional sex ever the night before and just had a feeling he was on his way..... sure enough contractions started 3am and he was born later that day.

Original poster
Moonbear10 · 04/10/2017 23:21

Wow, mixed bunch! I've been having period type pains and and off for a few weeks now, back ache too, keep wishing for it to be something meaningful now but every time it just goes off after a little while Sad
He's moving about so much tonight, hasn't stopped for a couple of hours now so wishful thinking is making me wonder if he's getting himself ready... I really should try and sleep more, then I have less time to get impatient and overthink things! Blush

OP posts:
Scaredycat3000 · 04/10/2017 23:21

Good old MN. I'm so glad the general consensus is no clear sign. I had a huge shit just before labour started with DC1. So when I woke up at 2/3am in labour with DC2 I didn't wake everybody up to go and sit in hospital for hours, I'd wait until I had a poo. The poo happened as the MW (who was on her break saw me as I walked though the main hospital doors) wheeled me into the labour ward, DC2 arrived less than 10 minutes later. How stupid did I feel and how dangerous.

nursy1 · 04/10/2017 23:27

Cats!!
I used to work in a hospice, we had a couple of cats for the patients to stroke. If they started to patrol up and down outside a room or try to get in you knew that patient needed checking.
The health care assistant there said it's because the portal between worlds was opening up. Shock
Strange things.

Joeymaynardslimegreendress · 04/10/2017 23:37

You will know op! Flowers best of British :)

For me ds1 40 weeks 2 huge contractions to 5 cms and then a long back to back labour and forceps

Ds2 40 weeks lovely mild pains to pushing him out. Had far worse period pains

Dds 3/4 twins went into
Labour 39 weeks so lots of people helping and 1 out then 2 out with retained placenta for a while. But pretty ok and they just turned 18.

nursy I was a nursing sister and have heard that too. Quite comforting I thought

Nessalina · 04/10/2017 23:57

First time, 40+6, no particular signs, woke at 6am with regular period pain in lower back that was coming in waves. Home all day relaxing with things progressing, started to get really going about 3pm, every 3mins at 6pm, maternity assessment 7pm (4cm), into the birthing pool 9pm, pushing at 11pm, born at midnight!

Second time (two days ago!), 39+2. Had a strong feeling that she'd be early, spent Sunday looking chasing toddler round a museum with parents and that night had a bad stomach and a few period type twinges. Said to DH I thought it would be tomorrow, so I finished packing the birth bag and setting up the crib. Next day very intermittent contractions, so sent DH to work. Mum arrived to look after DS, and DH got home at 6pm. Contractions started in earnest, up to every 2mins within half an hour. 7.30pm to mat assessment (3cm), 8:30pm into birthing pool, born 9:15!

BeALert · 05/10/2017 01:15

Not really.

Soz.

BeALert · 05/10/2017 01:15

You will know op!

Or maybe you won't...

Speaking as someone who's given birth three times and never really worked out that I was in labour till someone else told me...

Maddiemademe · 05/10/2017 06:11

Had to have a sweep for mine at 40+4 but had no signs at all before. On the day I lost my plug whilst out for lunch and then had a light tightening every 10 mins all day. Later I was at home and squatted down to plug in the hover and my waters broke. Actually felt a pop then a trickle. Ds was born by emcs at midnight.

The weeks before I had no sign or inkling, just wishful thinking as was so uncomfortable!! Good luck Flowers

Inthepast123 · 05/10/2017 07:00

I felt overly calm and the need to relax. Every time my waters broke first. Does not happen for everyone! And every time happened when i was lying down. 1st time me and dh had just cuddled on the sofa to watch a film i was all cosy. 2nd time i had just got back into bed at 6am and was very comfortable amd 3rd time i took kids in the garden and lay down on the grass 10 mins later pop waters broke. Every single time! After being so uncomfortable for so long that feeling of calm and cosyness means my waters are going to break apparently!

Gl x

Tobebythesea · 05/10/2017 08:09

I was baking when I'd just put the cakes in the oven and I felt a bit wet down below but there wasn't anything there. I went into labour at midnight.

Me264 · 05/10/2017 08:29

No signs whatsoever for me. DS was born at 39+6, i had a midwife appointment the day before, DS wasn’t fully engaged, I went off and met a friend for lunch and moaned to her that I was convinced I was going to go to 42 weeks and have to be induced. Made plans to meet my mum for lunch the following day.

Woke up 3.30am with the whole shebang, contractions, waters went, bloody show all in one go. DS still took 18 hours to arrive though Hmm

FartnissEverbeans · 05/10/2017 08:51

I was having contractions apparently but I couldn't feel them - just some mild Braxton Hicks from time to time which I always found quite pleasant and relaxing, like a belly massage.

Then the night before I just felt really restless and overwhelmed and I had a bit of a cry. Waters broke at 8:20am the next morning.

TammySwansonTwo · 05/10/2017 09:39

I have two babies and have never had a contraction so I am not the right person to ask.

However, the night before my ecs I felt WEIRD. Super hard to explain but I couldn't sleep, went downstairs to lie on the sofa and I had a headache and felt rough, then all of a sudden I had this weird feeling my head was too big for my body. I swear if I'd looked in a mirror I'd have seen a bobblehead version of myself.

Midwife came round the next day and sent me in for a check up as I felt so weird and couldn't tell if I was leaking a bit of waters or just pee (nice) - it was pee, but one of my twins had stopped moving and had an ecs within 2 hours of arriving. No idea if the weird feeling was related but very glad I felt weird or I would never have known.

CuppaSarah · 05/10/2017 12:09

The practise pains aren't for nothing! Each one is thinning your cervix just a little, it may feel like you're getting nowhere but your body is preparing perfectly! I had period like pains with my braxton kicks from 35 weeks, dd arrived at 39+5 and once I got into active labour it was a very fast labour, as my body had prepared itself so well.

But the last few weeks of pregnancy are really really tough, it's ok to be struggling. Everyone does, especially with their first!

KarateKitten · 05/10/2017 12:16

Some whoopers of braxton hicks. Not painful, just the usual clenching but stronger and for longer periods. My waters went that night.

OP you may have 3 weeks to go yet so try not to spend every day focusing on whether it's today or not.

GotToGetMyFingerOut · 05/10/2017 12:27

My first was born at 36 weeks. I had absolutely nothing but I went to a new years party and said to a couple of people I think I'm going to have her really soon. My waters went at 5am.

Second, I'd been getting Braxton Hicks that were really strong for a week or so. Maybe it was slow labour actually. The day I had her I went home from dropping my eldest off at school and went to bed as I felt super ill. My brother text and I said think I will have her soon. Then my waters went.

Third time was awful for weeks. Really bad upset tummy for weeks. Lost lots of show. Braxton hicks but nothing specific that night. Went to bed and woke up pushing at 3am.

10storeylovesong · 05/10/2017 13:10

I had an overwhelming urge to buy new bedding and have it washed, ironed and on the bed that afternoon. I also didn't want to go anyway and just wanted to stay at home quietly.

At 10pm I was in tears as was desperate for baby to come and there were no signs. At 10.15 my waters broke while I was cleaning my teeth, contractions started while in the car on the way to the hospital, I was 6cm when I got there and baby arrived 5.12am the following morning.

Majormanner · 05/10/2017 13:32

needed desperately to go to toilet - very quickly became agony - contractions - insisted on going to sit on the toilet each time as really felt like i needed a poo. all this after a nap and feeling fine

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