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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

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Original poster

What was the first sign of labour for you?

54 replies

Pontouf · 07/04/2013 19:44

I am 40+1 with DC2 but ad an ELCS first time oun so hae never actually been in labour. I was just wondering what people's experiences were of the beginning of labour - was it having a show, or your waters breaking or just the start of contractions? And if it was contractions did they build up from nothing or did they start off at an intensity that meant they were recognisable as contractions?!

I have had an achey back for about a week now but baby is back to back so that could be nothing to do with imminent labour. Would really love to know what sort of things I should be looking out for!

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FrazzleRock · 07/04/2013 19:46

My waters gushed out of me. No warning whatsoever. No contractions or any pain at all.

In fact I had no contractions at all until they induced me later at hospital!

Notmyidea · 07/04/2013 20:14

I've always had a show weeks before, then several nights of braxton-hicks contractions, often regular. The first sign of real labour has been when they got more intense and didn't stop.

ghosteditor · 07/04/2013 20:27

I had Braxton Hicks quite strongly from 25 weeks! In retrospect, I had a show on the morning of DD's birth (40+6) but they can happen weeks in advance for some people so I wasn't sure.

I had a rare nap at 4pm and was woken by a big contraction (the first real contraction I felt) half an hour later, which made me need to rush to the loo (to put it delicately). From then on I had contractions at ten minutes and was mooing on the floor for a good while. I was at nine cms within four hours though so it was all fairly rapid for me .

My waters didn't go until I started pushing.

Good luck!

Loupee · 07/04/2013 20:29

My waters went first, was in bed, thought I'd wet myself! Not a huge gush though, several smaller ones.
Went to hospital, they told me I was contracting though I couldn't feel it. Ended up on induction drip!

intheshed · 07/04/2013 20:34

Period-like cramps that woke me up at 4am. At the start it was no different to the usual aches and pains, I only realised it was labour when they started getting stronger.

Rookiebfcounsellor · 07/04/2013 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

Pontouf · 07/04/2013 21:04

Thanks everyone! All very useful info! Am constantly watching a dn waiting for signs. Tons of people, including my midwife said they thought I'd be early so I am so beyond fed up now!

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Dogsmom · 07/04/2013 21:16

I had my dd last month and had literally no early symptoms, I was convinced I'd go past the due date but 2 days early I woke up with mild period like cramps, fell back to sleep for half hour then was woken again.
Went to the loo and there was a smear of blood, the cramps gradually built up and she was born the following dinnertime.

ghosteditor · 07/04/2013 22:06

Oh dear lord yes, the bleeding! I bled a lot after contractions started - didn't know that happened

OhGood · 07/04/2013 22:09

mild period-like cramps here too. Took me ages to work out what was going on - (seriously - durr - strange pain that keeps coming and going? - in my defence DD was v early.)

lemonpoppyseed · 07/04/2013 22:17

Period-like cramps for me too, starting around 5:00 a.m. Took me a while to realise that it was labour - as above, I thought it was just the usual aches and pains...

abbyfromoz · 07/04/2013 22:23

I had nothing until my water broke. I had been for a last wee before bed and on my way upstairs came a gush and i thought, oh crap i wet myself- then it dawned on me. Thought- best get to bed and try get some sleep in between contractions but as soon as i tried to laid down BAM! No mistaking a contraction. 10 hours later i was holding DD.

MrsBungle · 07/04/2013 22:27

With DC1 I had a pain (not horrendous but OW!) and my show came out. After that I had regular contractions. It was just out of the blue although I had been achey for ages.

DC2 I was to be induced as my waters went but no contractions. When the doctor did an internal it seemed to send me off - a pain and then regular contractions.

UnderPuns · 07/04/2013 23:27

DS - Had my 1st contraction after jumping off the kitchen worktop... contractions continued and that was it.

DD1 - Was woken up by a large contraction at about 6am.

DD2 - Had a bloody show 2 days before labour started, 1 day before labour started I had BH after BH ALL day, stopped during the evening but was woken up by a proper contraction at 5am(ish).

All quite boring really!

AmandaCooper · 08/04/2013 09:41

My waters broke; just a trickle then I ran to the loo where more gushed out. I didn't have a single warning sign and I'd been symptom spotting like mad!

Crmmum · 08/04/2013 10:42

Never ending braxton hicks for a whole day, then a huge puddle on the floor... 8 hours later show started coming away, then contractions a couple hours later.

CuppaSarah · 08/04/2013 14:06

I had no show, no waters breaking. But for a couple days before hand I just felt different, I think it was nesting instinct without the need to clean?
The first definate this is it moment was contractions I woke up with coming 3 minuites apart.

VisualiseAHorse · 08/04/2013 22:58

Had a show the week before - came away in bits over three days or so.

Waters broke at 2am in bed. Painful contractions started about 6am. Baby born at 4pm

Original poster

Pontouf · 09/04/2013 13:58

Thanks all, so I had a bit of a bloody show yesterday and then today I lost a big blob of mucous which I guess must be part of the plug. This combined with intermittent back pains must mean things are on their way right? Right? Please say yes, am so fed up!

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AmandaCooper · 09/04/2013 17:15

That sounds really positive - anything to report?

Freddiemisagreatshag · 09/04/2013 17:18

When they shoved the pessary up my fanjo

Hope things are starting for you Pontouf

OohShiny · 09/04/2013 17:22

I had no warning. Got woken up at about 12.30 by a painful contraction, dozed back off and was woken 15 mins later by another. And they quickly got more and more closer together and were all just bloody painful right from the beginning. I had no build up whatsoever.

Waters popped at 5am, not a lot, just enough for me to know what it was and my DD was born at 8am just 2 weeks ago. So less than 7 and a half hours from start to finish.

Good luck, it's all worth it!

ShootingStarsss · 09/04/2013 17:34

DC1 period type cramps in lower stomach that woke me up at 4am then had a show.

DC2 real bad lower back pain, dd was back to back as well.

Original poster

Pontouf · 10/04/2013 15:17

Thanks all for your experiences. Really interesting - I love a good birth story. I am 40+4 today as STILL no baby. Nothing has changed. Am planning to ask my MW for another sweep at my appointment tomorrow. Am very very grumpy today

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recall · 10/04/2013 15:22

1st, was asleep at 02:00 and woke up with a violent kick from the baby and then it felt like a staple gun had gone off inside me, and my waters started seeping out.

2nd, kept passing this disgusting gooey snot which i presume was a show for about a week, with lots of very strong braxton hicks, then just started with cramps.

3rd, 3 weeks before due date, woke up in the middle of the night, and waters just gushed out. I remember just lying there in silent resignation thinking " Oh right, we're off then" Looking back, I remember earlier that day deciding I really did have to focus on this baby and pack my bag etc, and got it all done, bearing in mind it was my 3rd, and 3 weeks away from due date, I put that down to instincts telling me to prepare.

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