What was the first sign of labour for you?

[Pontouf]

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!

[Ilovestackingcups]

I tried to sit down and read the paper. Baby could tell I was relaxing, started bringing me mild contractions. Tried to watch TV, baby could tell it was being ignored, ramped up contractions to 'quite annoying'. Applied TENS, tried to watch a film, baby realised she was dealing with a serious adversary, but I had the edge, until one of the electrodes slipped out and I electrocuted myself.
Had to admit it was labour by that point.
I was 40+13 when she was born, I hope you don't have to wait that long!

[TryingtobelessChunkyChick]

#1, DD; had mild back-ache/period pain in the morning, didn't notice much. Went for a walk, had a show.1 hr later had first contraction (felt like stronger period pains). About 12hrs from show, she arrives.

#2, DS; BH from about 24wks, getting more insistent as I progressed. At 38+6, we DTD then 30mins later I had a contraction, more insistent than any BH. No show, no nothing!!

[MyNameIsAnAnagram]

woke up at 3am with period pain type congtraction. I knew that must be the start as I was 42wks exactly and had not been having BHs or anything. got another one about an hour later, then they just gradually started increasing in freqency and intensity.

Hope it happens soon for you!

[kalidasa]

I had about ten days of really tedious 'pre-labour' (on-off mild period-pain like contractions that never got properly regular or really painful). The first real contraction woke me up (the others never had) at just after 1 am. I realised immediately it was the real deal as it felt different and they were coming every 10-15 minutes but didn't wake DH until about 4 as I wanted to be sure first. Called the hospital before I woke him up! By the time I woke him up they were coming about every 7 minutes.

I had lost a clear mucous plug more than a week before but I didn't get the bloody show until just after I arrived in the delivery room, at around lunchtime when I was already more than 5cm dilated, and my waters didn't go until a few minutes before delivery, well into the pushing phase.

Baby arrived shortly after 6pm. Active labour is recorded as only 6 hours as I think they only count from 5cm dilation? Only pushed for about 40 minutes. Was all very straightforward for a first baby, they told me if I had another it would probably be pretty quick. Good luck!

Clearest sign for me (in retrospect) is that I went really calm and zen-like a few days beforehand, despite totally horrendous pregnancy (went into hospital in a wheelchair and a great deal of pain as couldn't walk by the end with SPD and I was STILL throwing up!). So if you go weirdly calm I would take that as a sign.

[DangerMousey]

Had a show on the Thursday evening, and then again on Friday morning. Started having mild period type pains at 3pm ish on the Friday, by 10pm they were stronger and more regular, but still wasn't really sure I was in labour.

By midnight I was sure!!

They were every 4-5 mins apart and lasting 40 seconds. By 4am when I got to the MLU they were 3 mins apart and 50 seconds long. DS was born at 0856am!

Good luck!

ps - i never had any BH, or any other sign labour was imminent until it started. I had a failed sweep at 40+3 because cervix was totally posterior and MW couldnt even reach it. Head was not engaged at all, and I was sure I would end up being induced. DS was born as detailed above at 41 weeks exactly. Don;t give up hope!

[festive]

No warning at all here either. Woke at 1am at 40+12 with strong contractions that made me want to go to the loo (bit like having eaten something dodgy but pain far worse) and severe nausea.
Didn't have a show until I was in active labour the following day about 3pm somewhere around 5cm.
Waters never broke, ds was born in his amniotic sac :) just before 1am 40+13 so almost a full 24 hrs from first contraction.

[aufaniae]

Last time, my waters broke at 39+5. No warning before that at all.

Am currently 39+6, so am eagerly awaiting something happening as this baby is already a day late compared to DS!!

Good luck Pontouf, I hope labour kicks off for you soon :)

[Tinkerbell43]

I had period like pains in my back for weeks before I had DS1 2 days before i went into proper labour I had my mucous plug come away in bits over 2 days , I had no bloody show and then mild contractions started Friday night held off going to hospital but when I did I was 3cm dilated so all the period pains had been doing something ! Was then in labour for 17 hours () had my waters burst by mw at 8cm and had my little boy came a few hours later xx

[tumbletumble]

I had BH for a week or two before all three.

DC1 - waters broke, contractions started soon after.

DC2 - exactly like an episode of Friends, I forced DH to have sex with me (was 8 days late) then shouted 'OK, that's fine, you can stop now' when the contractions started!!

DC3 - had contractions for most of the day - but very irregular / infrequent. Finally became 'proper' contractions around 7pm.

[CitizenOscar]

Good luck OP!

No signs for me until I was woken at 3am by first contraction. Fairly strong and regular from the start (although took an hour or so until I realised these weren't just practice ones - DH gently suggested it might be the real thing)... But still nearly 3 days til we got to meet our baby!

[Pontouf]

Tumbletumble that description of the start of labour for your DC2 made me really laugh! These are all really interesting. I'm afraid I have STILL not gone into labour. 41 weeks today and grumpy as hell....

[Pontouf]

Aah bless you Harriet, I really really hope so! I'm getting so disheartened now. Am almost two weeks more pregnant than I was when DS born!

[Chocaholics]

Have had 2 DCs, in both cases no symptoms of labour, I just stood up, heard a pop and waters broke. Then in both cases no contractions for several hours just water leaking away then contractions started.

Fingers crossed you start soon!

[tumbletumble]

How's it going OP?

[shellandkai]

For me it was very mild cramps, that built up stronger and closer together over the night ooohhhh I actually cry now when I see women in labour on films especially as I know I'm going to go through it all over again in October lol x

[us4downhere]

I am 40+3 and have been having BH every 15 minutes since last night but no pains with them. Had no signs with previous 2 DC except a show on DC1 so I'm not sure what's going on here!

Hopefully it will all start going soon as I'm fed up already - hope you have your baby now OP.

[Pontouf]

Hello all, thanks for all the replies. I am 40+10 today, booked in for induction on Thursday.

But I think things might be on the move..... Had a second sweep yesterday and lost a big lump of plug this morning. Then this afternoon I lay down for a nap and started getting vague period type cramps, so I gathered up DH and DS and went and marched round the park in the hope that things might kick off. I'm getting stronger pains in my lower abdomen and my back. They are totally copable (is that a word???) with but definitely there. Please God let this be it!

[Quak]

Pontouf - I think I am a bit jealous, I have such happy memories of giving birth. Anyway, I had loads of contractions for ages but the difference is when they start getting very regular and then closer together I think. Then they start to get very, very painful.
I was almost 2 weeks late and I spent all day every day googling 'what is labour like' etc etc and I think nothing I read explained what it was like for me. It is very individual.
Good luck

[Pontouf]

Thanks Quak, I'm a little bit excited! Trying to manage my expectations, as obviously I have no experience of this and also I don't want to get all worked up only for it to stop - I am after all 10 (nearly 11) days overdue!

[beautybox2]

Nothing.. I had a sweep at 40+3and contractions started a hour later :) had my DD the next day! (Waters broke in labour not a gush a trickle)

[jessebuni]

I had a couple of bits of a show for like a week before I went into labour. The first sign that I was in labour though was when contractions were every few minutes. Before that I wasn't sure if I was having the odd twinge or just had a massive uncomfortable belly.