To ask what people did in early labour?

[Indigochi]

So basically I've been experiencing regular contractions since about 1am, had bloody show but no waters breaking or anything. The contractions are only about 40 mins to an hour apart and whilst they do overcome me and take my breath away it only lasts for about a minute so I'm going to my eyelash infill appointment! I phoned triage & they advised only to come in if waters break for they get to 5 mins apart. Am I abit mad? Or is my calmness acceptable

Good luck! My labour started with contractions every 5 mins and he flew out so I’ve no advice other than do what you feel is right.

Ooh mine started as period pain every hour with my second, this lasted about four hours I only got one serious contraction and delivered my son on it after one push don't go to far lol

Nothing as I didn’t have early labour! I went from nought to sixty unfortunately. I laboured at home for about an hour before feeling overwhelmed and went to hospital.
I had him 2 hours after getting to hospital.

DD I went shopping all day then had a bleed was 6cm when I arrived at hospital she arrived within two hours. So annoyed I didn't get a water birth and only had time for gas and air.

DS apparently I must have slept through a lot of it because I woke up early morning in agony and he arrived an hour later in my front room. Never mind a water birth I didn't even have a chance to grab a paracetamol!

Hope all goes well OP!

I was induced so in hospital. I listened to music and watched iPlayer. Not for long though as it happened bloody quick.

My waters broke so I then spent 24 hours waiting for contractions. I went for coffee with DH, bounced on my ball, had a bath and watched Hot Fuzz. I went to hospital to be induced the next day but a sweep set me off and I had a three hour labour.

"I ended up on all fours panting for my life in the cake aisle"

This has really tickled me! I think it's the surreal combination of the emotional drama of labour and the mundane setting. I'm assuming everything turned out OK though - hope so!

I went and did the food shop, tidied the house, went for a walk, got the car cleaned, went out for lunch, had a bath, watched home alone as it was Christmas. Tried to sleep but I was so excitied I didn’t manage it.

First contraction at 11pm, I went to hospital at 4pm the next day, so spent a good 18 hours at home before going in.

I had to do it all in the hospital, with monitoring on for a lot of the time, it was fucking awful. They kept telling me I wasn't ready for labour yet, well when I finally was allowed to the labour ward she had arrived in 45 minutes!

Had I been at home, I think I'd have walked and bounced on my ball.

Made flapjacks. And ate them once things really got going!

I had a day out planned. I woke up that morning with gentle twinges so I carried on. I went into the city centre on the bus. Took myself off to m & s for breakfast then met a friend for tapas at lunchtime. I had a show in the restaurant but I still carried on. Looking back it was a silly thing to do. It was my second baby too
I gave birth at 2am the following morning. Active labour started at 11pm that evening.
Because I was induced first time and nil by mouth I was determined to eat as much as possible that day (puked most of it up that evening )

I saw the first Harry potter movie 😊 then went for a walk, had a bath, are half a plate of lamb chops and mash... Then it was off to the hospital. I remember it so clearly! Good luck xxx

Been induced three times..so never had any slow build up..so can't help you but good luck, how exciting!!

I had a long, long bath and refused to get out until I was bribed to do so. I insisted DH bring me four McDonalds hash browns, and he said he'd only do it if I accepted that I couldn't give birth in the bath surrounded by lego men and a playmobil boat.

Crochet. Handover meeting with my boss don't reccomemd that. More crochet! (Possibly the last time I had time!

First time. Made my way back to England.
Second time. Straightened my hair so I would look nicer in post birth photos 😅
Third time. Cried. Lots.
Fourth. Gardening.

I did the school run went to the local supermarket to get shopping in and stuff for my Bag. Drove home, unloaded the car and had to be driven straight to hospital where I was 9cm dilated - never got time to get my bag ready! Good luck

I had had a very relaxed day at home because it had snowed pretty heavily. A couple of Braxton Hicks but it was my due date and my first so I had been convinced by the midwife that I would go over by at least a few days.

Rudely awakened at 2am needing to wee except it was actually my waters breaking and contractions started about 5 minutes later. By 4am I was about 10 minutes apart but a 45 minute drive (on a good day, remember it had snowed) from the hospital. I called in and warned them I was coming in because I couldn't wait and risk being stuck on the road. It took us 20 minutes to do what is normally a 5 minute drive. Thankfully the roads cleared once we got closer to the hospital but I think it took about 90 minutes to get there.

Got in and I was 4cm but breech. DD born by EMCS at 09:27. I was at 8cm when they got me on the table!

For DC4 I had contractions 5 times an hour for a week. I went on as usual but avoided driving (the furthest I went was 7 minutes away to pick DS from school).
After my waters broke at midnight I had a shower, did a few loads of washing and cleaned the bathroom because I knew it would not be done during my hospital stay. I tried to move as much as possible.

I had a haircut and pedicure booked with my first, and happened to go in to labour the same morning. I still went to my appointment, the hairdresser and beauticians faces were fantastic when they asked when I was due, and I told them I was in labour!

I walked 100m out of the door and my waters broke, baby was born a little while layer, it was all very calm :-) The others I've not had time to do much as they've all been quite a bit quicker.

Hope it's going well and you manage to get your eyelashes done!

@kaytee87 - similar here - DD was also back-back so my 'early' labour lasted three days and consisted of excruciating 1 minute-long contractions every 4/5 minutes. I couldn't even eat nor sleep, let alone anything else! I've read that back-to-back contractions at 2cm can feel like you're 8cm.

@IJustLostTheGame did you get a voucher or hamper or is this some wild myth?

Waters broke at 11pm home alone with my DD, DH working night shift. Called him said keep your phone near but no need to rush home. Had a shower, had a sleep with DD in bed, then went downstairs, got things ready for breakfast, bounced on ball, listened to audio book, took DD to nursery at 9am when DH got home and went to hospital by 10. It was so relaxing and I was progressing so well at home, started contractions straight away after waters and were increasing perfectly... I often wonder if I would have had a better birth if I had just stayed put!! All the dashing and medicalising the minute I walked into the labour ward stopped everything advancing... I was in the corridor for an hour on a monitor while waiting for a bed with all and sundry walking past!!

I didn't get a hamper or even a voucher!
I just wanted to get out of there!
We only lived round the corner so I staggered home with DH on my arm, having to go on all fours on the pavement several times with commuters walking right past me! DH was thoroughly freaked out!
And I didn't get my cake

On my first I went to town and met a friend for lunch.they were slow but I knew it was early labour. Didn't even tell dh until that night when they started getting more frequent. Dd was born the following day I had about 20 hours of early labour.
Dc2 and Dc3 there wasn't any early Labour as such.

Enjoy the eyelashes. And best of luck.