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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask if your labour started without any warning signs?!

55 replies

Hamspamwich · 27/05/2018 18:33

I'm 39+4 and really believed and felt like baby would be here by now. I'm so fed up and achy my pelvic pain is awful and really ramps up in bed at night I have cried today at the thought of going to bed. This is dc2 and 1st delivery was a forceps in theatre delivery so I feel worried about labour too.
I just haven't had so much as a twinge or Braxton hic or whatever they're called i feel like it's never going to happen.
Aibu to ask if you went into labour without any pre warning signs? How did it happen and when?

OP posts:
Clairehami · 28/05/2018 15:22

My first was forceps in theatre too after being induced at two weeks late. Second came at 38 + 2, I had no real signs before except that she was pushing on my bladder a lot the day it started. I just thought she was engaging. Hope it’s happens for you very soon! X

IsItThatTimeAlready131 · 28/05/2018 15:43

DS1, 3 and 4 were all labours that started with normal contractions, no other signs or warnings, did have Braxton Hicks for a few hours before going into 'proper' labour with DS2, but out of 4 pregnancies I only had other signs labour may be starting with the one baby. Longest labour was 8 hours, shortest 2 hours 55 minutes.

I know of 2 sisters whose first babies were both about 48 hour labours, their second babies were born after a few hours of much easier labour. Your first birth doesn't necessarily show you what subsequent labours are going to be like.

I hope this birth goes well for you OP, and good luck. You might even be in labour now!

(Also, could you update us when you feel up to it? - Tell us how it went and we can share in your good news.)

Poodles1980 · 28/05/2018 17:44

Not a single twinge until my waters broke when I was asleep in bed. It all moved a little quickly after that though

Rednailsandnaeknickers · 28/05/2018 17:53

Just woke up early morning with intense contractions. I didn't think I had any other signs, and my waters didn't go until mid labour in hospital, but actually looking back I was emotional the day before and also had a massive, loose poo at night 🙈 sorry TMI Grin
Several of my friends also described feeling restless, unsettled, grumpy or weepy just before labour so maybe you are closer than you think OP. Good luck!

DobbyIsAGoodElf · 28/05/2018 18:17

My first I had no signs at all and was asleep in bed at 2.30am and DS was here by 7.30 am.

Second time not so much as a twinge until my waters went watching tv and DD was here an hour later on the living room floor Shock

Absolutely terrified of a third! It wont be long now.

CanIhavedessertfirst · 28/05/2018 18:22

With my second baby, I woke up and felt like I'd not slept, painted my nails, red a magazine, made lunch for my eldest amd then labour pains started. Within half hour they were close together and my son was born at half 4 in the afternoon

thegirlanachronism · 28/05/2018 18:26

With my second I felt fine and my waters broke in evening, went into hospital with a few pains but no full on contractions. They kept me in over night and in the morning were talking about inducing me because I still wasn't having regular contractions... Then I nipped to the loo while I waited for one of the midwives to come and see me. And then the baby arrived (I caught him before he fell in the toilet!)

Sixgeese · 28/05/2018 18:34

With DS I didn't realise I was in active labour until I was in hospital.

I was 35 weeks along, DH had gone to the house we were selling to clear the rubbish from the garden into a skip, I woke with a dodgy tummy and was sitting on the toilet for ages. I called DM as I felt so rough, and she phoned maternity as we thought I may have food poisoning.

They told her to bring me in to get checked out, when we got there, I was 4 cm dilated.

I never felt a contradiction in my tummy that entire labour, it was all in my back, really hurt though so fortunately it was only 4 hours long.

Osopolar · 28/05/2018 18:46

Had stabbing pains and then 20 mins later my waters broke. That was at 39+6 and DS was born on his due date. Never experienced Braxton hicks

Turnocks34 · 28/05/2018 18:57

Mine did. I went to bed feeling completely normal, at 37 weeks exactly. Woke up because I felt a little twinge in my belly - like cross between a period pain and an elastic band snapping. 20 minutes later another one. Had baby 24 hours later

Beansprout30 · 28/05/2018 19:51

Can i ask a probably daft question and slightly unrelated? Those who gave birth at home, what happens with cutting baby's cord?!

Fireballfriends · 28/05/2018 20:03

If it helps, someone told me that until you feel utterly fed up and ready to throw in the towel - including, very importantly, a good cry - then you're not ready to give birth. I've had 3 babies, I went through this stage shortly before giving birth to each. So maybe you're not far off?!

Also, my first labour was horrible, the second was quick and easy. I know many people who have said the same, even those who had complications first time. So don't despair - you're doing great and every day/contraction is that bit closer to meeting your new baby.Flowers

scrivette · 28/05/2018 20:12

With all 3 I no signs whatsoever until waters broke, first labour 4 hours, second labour 45 mins and third was emergency section as it was a footling breech.

Bbbbbbbb2017 · 28/05/2018 20:13

My 1dt I had my first small contraction whilst holding a big box of eggs in asda.. they ended up on the floor. Baby born 9 hours later.

My second we rang a grandma at 18.50 to say that no there was no news.. had to ring back 45 minutes later after I went from nothing to babe in arms in 23 minutes

MrsG841 · 28/05/2018 20:17

With dd I woke up at midnight to bad diarrhoea and when I wiped my front the tissue was full of blood. Got to hospital and was 8cm dilated. Labour was 39 minutes

TitsalinaBumsquat · 28/05/2018 20:24

I was 2 days overdue. It was Boxing Day and I had a nice bath with a lush bath bomb. I got out of the bath, bent down to pull the plug out and my waters broke. We were at the hospital an hour later to have my waters checked. I had driven as OH didn’t have a license then. Half an hour after that my contractions started. I then had to drive home again whilst having contractions as I needed to wait to start to dilate! We had gone on like an hour and a half walk that day and I started to get some bad pains during the walk but then they went and no other signs until my waters broke!

TitsalinaBumsquat · 28/05/2018 20:25

Just to add - from waters breaking to baby being born was 32 hours - thank god for the epidural!

Boredandtired · 28/05/2018 20:27

My second, I woke up at 7.30am with a pain. She was born by 10am. No twinges before, 13 days overdue. Had had sweeps that did nothing. She was engaged for 6 weeks so I thought she'd be early 🙄. Waters went as she was born in 1 push. Home within 4 hours.

Whereland · 28/05/2018 20:40

I didn't feel a think until my waters suddenly went at 18:30. I was 10cm by 11.30 and baby born at 2am!

Original poster
Hamspamwich · 31/05/2018 01:24

Thanks for all the replies ladies. I'm still waiting but lost a little bit of plug a few hours ago and now I'm having period like pains so keep ing everything crossed this goes somewhere haha.

OP posts:
PinkSnowAndStars · 31/05/2018 01:27

Mine started with period type pain! Fingers crossed for you!! Xx

cheeseandchoc · 31/05/2018 01:49

1st time - pains started, had forceps in theatre 11 hours later.
2nd time- waters broke and DS2 was born 4 hours later, no complications.

firsttimebabybirther · 31/05/2018 02:19

No waters breaking , no plug , nothing! I just started having contractions and didn't loose my waters until I wash pushing (if I recall correctly)

Aquamarine1029 · 31/05/2018 03:27

With both of my children, my water broke, got to hospital within the hour, and they were born less than an hour and a half later. I never had any contraction pain and I had no pain relief. All of a sudden I needed to push (when both times the doctor said it would be hours before I was ready), and a minute later they were born.

Cineraria · 31/05/2018 03:40

I think I can't feel the contractions, only the pain of the cervix opening, so I didn't realise I was in labour until my waters broke the first time and when my cervix started to ache the second time when I'd been in hospital for two weeks and already had a failed induction due to unexplained bleeding. In both pregnancies, I had really strong, regular and pretty constant Braxton Hicks that made it look like I was about to go into labour, even quite early on, according to the monitors they use, but I couldn't ever feel them.

Hoping things are underway now OP.