What are the first signs of labour ?

[BabiesEverywhere]

My DH is working this weekend and so my parents are picking me up today for a visit with the family and bringing me back on Sunday. So I'll be a 90 minute drive from home for two nights.

I didn't want to drive myself as I am 37 weeks pregnant. Are there any signs of labour which I can watch out for, so I can return home at the first sign of anything happening. As I want to have a home birth with my DH, not a hospital birth with my family ;)

I will be taking my pregnancy record, labour bag and car seat with me, just in case.

Any advice ?

A show (blood stained mucous) although that can happen ages before you actually go into labour, back ache, period type pain, diahorrea or being sick can all be signs but not guaranteed! Hope all goes well for you.

I didn't start labour until my waters broke in the middle of the night. Then I got really bad period like pains.

Well I woke up around 7 with cramps. They hadn't gone by 12 and that's when I went to hospital. Dd came 2 hours later. Couldn't have mistaken the cramps for anything else really, VERY uncomfortable. I was creased up against the door with dh trying to stuff pizza in my mouth, saying I'd need my energy for what lay ahead! You can't eat when you've having those cramps.

Then of course your waters could break. Mine didn't, at least not until I was in the hospital, presume they did there but I never noticed it.

Good luck with it all. Hope it goes well for you.

Sounds like you'll be prepared whatever happens!

You will know when you're actually in labour - sorry if that sounds vague but honestly, you do! It's when the contractions becaome so bad that you can't do anything while they're happening. If you do go into labour a 90 minute car journey will be mega uncomfortable so I would seriously think about going to the local maternity unit. If your waters break but labour doesn't start then go straight home as you'll definitely have to have the baby within a few days even if you don't start labour.

BUT - don't worry! if this is your first a lot of people go overdue on number one - just relax and enjoy some baby-free time with your folks!

BE hope you are still around!

If you think something may be happening call me and I will try and be objective and constructive (not just ridiculously excited). Your Mum will be able to help too.

FWIW it's unlikely that anything will happen just yet, from what you've told me about your midwife visits etc.

Anyway bub knows it's not allowed to be born until after your dh's do .

Thanks ladies, I had a lovely weekend and returned still pregnant

So just 3 to 5 weeks to go