Is the very start of labour really like pmt?

[mameulah]

Just that, somebody told me that the start of labour is like pmt. If it is how long does it take to go from 'like pmt' to 'oh, I am definitely in labour?'

Do you mean like period pain? It is exactly like period pain, or at least was for me. It's the same bit of the body doing a similar thing, so it would feel very similar, I guess.

Mine was exactly like severe period pain.
About 5 hours till the agony

I remember the beginning feeling like period pains which gradually got worse.

In terms of how long it will take to get going it's impossible to say really, it's different for each labour, even within the same woman. I can tell how it was for me though. I knew something funny was happening in the morning and by the time countdown was on I was having regular period like pains these got worse as the day worn on and I rang the midwife at about 2.30 the following morning. DD was at 12.21pm.

Feels like that to me and its been 8 days so far...!
(39+3)

Mine was like typical period pain for about 15 hours. Definitely in labour as my waters broke and was admitted to MLU 5cm dilated. Then my pelvis fell apart and they gave me an epidural. Actually I've had worse periods; least with contractions there's breaks in between.

Mine wasn't...but then I've never suffered with period pain much.

I don't know - mine wasn't either time. first time water broke all at once, first ctx half an hour later. Then they just got gradually closer together, think it was 8 hours-ish?

Second started with a mild contraction, another a few minutes later, thought it was wind initially. But they kept coming and he was born 3 1/2 hours after the first one. It was pretty fast.

I have been wondering today if the period pain I'm getting might be something happening, and if I'm honest hoping it is, but I'm only 33 weeks, just had enough of being pregnant

Yep, like period pains that came and went. Gentle for a good few hours, but then.....well, you know the rest.

It was nothing like PMT for me. DS was back to back, so all the pains from the contractions were in my back until labour was well established. I thought it was just strangely intermittant backache at first.

If by PMT you mean excessive bad temperedness, I am in labour very early, sadly I think at the moment I am just a grumpy cow.

First time, yes, waters went first then gentle period pains building over several hours to ooooooohhhhhhhh level. Baby 48 hours later.

Second time...slight pop...drip drip...OOOOOOWWWWWW massive 5 minute long contraction. Then straight into contractions every 3 minutes, baby 5 hours later. From nothing to omg in a minute.

Anything goes!

Mine was nothing like period pains, my period pains where always low dull ache in back and bladder. My labour pains where from the knees to my vagina, so much so i would only crawl. no back or tummy pains even through labour all pain was vagina downwards.

I started with annoying period pains every 15 minutes at about lunchtime, managed to muck out the horse, go home and have a nap, cook tea and eat it before things started to get to the point where I was swearing at dh. I knew for sure it was labour by about 2pm when at the stables a friend with kids took one look at me and said "tonight's the night then!"