First timer can you explain start if labour please

[Scotgirl88]

I'm 34 weeks so still got bit longer left. But labour is all I worry about.
I'm trying to get as much Info as possible to I'm prepared.
Can you describe the start of labour. Was it over a few weeks building up or was it more sudden.

I feel the more I know and the more I'm prepared I will feel a bit more at ease with it.

I had no notice whatsoever (apart from being 11 days overdue) just woke in the middle of the night with contractions. I experienced no Braxton hicks or anything.

I had twinges for weeks before, then baby v.low and v.uncomfortable the day before. Waters went at 3am, small and irregular contractions (bad period pain). No dilation at 2.30pm, then full on contractions, then 6cm dilated by 5.30pm, baby out by 10pm.

Not all first labours are long, although mine was the quickest of my antenatal group. They all had several days of build up with irregular contractions.

My waters went out of the blue. Whilst eating dinner first time round and whilst sleeping second time round. There is no right answer I'm afraid.

I had Brixton hicks contractions for 4 days beforehand, they weren't painful, but I could feel my stomach turning rock hard and then relaxing again.

I woke up in the morning with what felt like a period ache, I got up and it turn more into a period pain feeling. Within half an hour I was having contractions, they seemed to come on fast and strong. I had DS approx 5.5 hours after waking up.

Contractions felt like tightening really down low in my pelvis. That's how I knew it was labour not braxton hicks. I didn't have a proper show or waters breaking or anything like that. Latent labour can go on for days though, mine went on for about 5 days with off and on contractions (DD's head not in the right place probably).

I had Braxton hicks for about a week. Day after due date - 1st bad period pain type contraction. This continued on / off for 2 days. Full on contractions started lunch time on 2nd day and by 7.15pm body started pushing, it just all changed. Made it to hospital, 7mins and 2 full on pushes from me later - she was born. My waters didn't break until those last 2 pushes. It felt v long but as I laboured at home, managed with no pain relief. Was told to come in to ward when pain got too much and it never really reached that point. Could be due to waters not having broken???

I was lucky and had a grand time really.

Just seen your other thread OP, please don't feel scared! I'm not going to lie, it is painful, but there are lots of different pain relief options that you can try and the midwifes know what they're doing, just listen to them and trust your body. Just think how many women have more than one baby!

At six days past due date I had pink discharge, that night sligh period type dull ache

Next morning, lot more discharge then contractions all day and really strong by midnight (was in hospital from 8pm.

Don't worry

I just woke up with period pain which got progressively worse until it was defined separate contractions and Ds1 was born 18 hours after the first twinge.

I don't think you can be prepared OP, really.

For example, with ds3 (so with a couple of labour experiences) I had no idea I was in labour! Only in hospital for about half an hour before I gave birth. It was such a different experience from my other two.

I noticed a steady increase in discharge for about a week before I went into labour. I started having tightenings at about 2pm and they steadily got stronger and closer together over the next few hours. At 5pm we decided to call the hospital who told me to come in. By the time I was examined at 6.30pm I was 4cm and DD was born just over 6 hours later. My waters didn't go until I was 10cm, just before I started pushing.

I think with my first DC labour had been going on over the previous couple of days but I was too clueless to realise - I thought it was just back-ache (he was back-to-back). Then my waters broke and he was here 5 hours later.

With 2 of the others it was also pretty swift - minor niggles, some aches and twinges and then I was off suddenly and there was no doubt. With the other DC I was induced, so it was all very different.

Good luck - you'll get through it, as we all do. Just getting your head around the fact it will hurt helps - I was so young and thick with my DC1 that I'd never really thought about the pain, and it came as a hell of a shock.

I found the best preparation was to repeat these two things to myself:

• you will not be sent more pain than you can handle
• the only way out is through

You'll be amazed what you can do in child birth, it really is an incredible process. It's not easy but good things rarely are?

Btw by "handle" the pain I mean don't be afraid of it - there are lots of pain relief options and it's also the pain of effort and exertion, not of sickness. I certainly don't mean handle it drug free, that would be masochistic in the extreme!

Ask your midwife to keep you informed on how you are getting on and what stage she thinks you are at through the labour. It's different for everyone.

Very freaky weird stuff the night before, like a mild acid trip maybe (too square to know, but colours and music all very intense), then felt quite normal on the day. Had a sweep late in the afternoon, then a leak of waters. Felt nothing to speak of until 6.30pm and then it was all very manageable for a very long time. The last bit was a bit wild but part of me rather enjoyed it. DS was born before midnight.

I had nothing until the night before I was due to be induced. Was sat on the sofa and just felt something funny down below. Thought it was probably my waters but there was no big gush. Phoned hospital who told me to come in so they could check (it was!). Very mild period-like pains every twenty minutes or so. Went home, took some paracetamol & went to sleep until about 5.30am when contractions were a bit stronger. Went back to labour ward 5.30pm and had DD just before midnight.

Main things that surprised me were 1) the second stage/pushing isn't that painful and 2) it is however bloody hard work!

Firstly all labours are different. But you will just know when things start. You know your own body better than anyone else.

With Dd, BH started at about 28-30 weeks and continued through out, they started being a little painful and uncomfortable towards the end. At 35+ weeks she was low down in my pelvis so walking was also pretty excruciating. I had a show 2 weeks before. Then at 38+4 I woke at 12 am with low period type pains that I had had several days before however this time round they didn't dissipate iykwim. By 3 am they were quite painful and were coming in waves. I was also violently sick. At this stage my waters hadn't gone yet. By the time I arrived at the hospital at 4.30/5am I was already 8 cm dilated and my waters were leaking. I had an epidural. I failed to progress much further as Dd was stuck stargazing and after hrs of pushing Dd was born in theatre just after 10am via forceps.

I'm 36 weeks with Dd2 and already driving myself nuts looking out for the show. Arghhhh!!!