Hoping this is the start of labour...has anybody else had similar symptoms

[jaykay34]

Firstly apologies for another "could i be in labour" thread. I know that nobody can actually know that...but I just want to know if anybody has had similar signs. Basically I am due tomorrow with third baby. My eldest 2 are twins who were born almost 12 years ago and I was induced at 38 weeks with them so have never started labour naturally.

Ive had the backache and twinges and need to clean/be organised for a couple of weeks now but it hasn't amounted to anything. Baby was fully engaged a week ago.

Yesterday, I felt "weird"...I can't explain it...i wasn't in pain or anything...I just felt on a different planet and was just distracted / didn't know what to do with myself. So I went upstairs and had a lie down and subsequently fell asleep. When I woke up I was dripping with sweat...and I mean literally soaking wet to touch and I burst into uncontrollable tears for no reason. My partner was trying to console me and I was crying so much ghat I couldn't breathe or speak. It took about an hour for me to compose myself and I didn't know why I was crying - other than overwhelming need to.

After that, I just felt odd again. I managed to have a very interrupted nights sleep - constant weeing and dull twinges.

This morning my mucous plug went..and I have lost a bit of pink watery blood since then. I have no pain...just very mild twinges (which I have been getting for weeks) and thr usual BH. Baby feels really low and heavy and its quite uncomfortable to walk. He is still quite active though.

So could this actually be it ?

Hi JayKay,

Firstly congratulations on your pregnancy, I hated every minute of the waiting game.

Your symptoms sound very similar to how my labour a few months ago started, I cried the night before feeling strange, and had given up hope of going into labour (I was 41+1), then the next morning got lots of twinges, then had bloody show/mucus plug and things really kicked off after that.

Trouble is, 1st few hours of contractions feel identical to the twinges you have over the last few weeks, so do time them. Don't make the mistake of thinking they don't hurt enough/differing times between contractions so therefore it's not 'it' as this is exactly what I and so many others have done and suddenly things can progress.

If you're still getting twinges, see if someone can look after your dc, and sleep and have a big meal if you can, energy is what you need now, and to relax.

The mucus plug, if bloody is quite a good sign that things will start within the next few days.

Good luck, hope this is it for you, let me know how you get on. Oh and don't forget you can have a bath and have two paracetamol if it starts getting painful. All the best!

I spent the day before Ds2 was born feeling dream like and odd. I had bad back ache all day, which I realised after was labour pains. I woke up for the toilet at 4am and my waters broke. I had a very rapid labour with very few contractions and a home delivery. It was lovely. Good luck and try and eat and rest now because it sounds like things are moving along.

Thanks for your replies. Still losing bits of blood and feeling very twingey but still no pain. There is no pattern to contractions either. I am feeling very relaxed after yesterday's emotions and general weirdness.
Think this is probably the start of it although can't see it kicking off properly for a while !

Am just taking kids to my Mums to be on the safe side !

Your body might now be experiencing the calm before the storm, just eat and sleep and have a nice long soak in the bath (I did this and remember the bath water was cold and I cried as it takes so long to get in/out the bath), I had on and off twinges, then suddenly it all started happening, I was 5 cms before it was really painful so don't dismiss twinges if there's a pattern to them! Good luck.

Is your dh with you just in case?

Yes DP is with me, its just me and him here now as kids have gone to my mums.

There is still no pattern to the twinges...but a few have been a little more painful - nothing like the contractions I had before with my twins when on a drip though so I don't think they are proper contractions yet.

I am still really calm...infact it has surprised me how calm I feel !!

I know I am impatient but don't think I can take any more of this ! Thought the baby might be here by now...but still waiting .

So last night I had sickness and an upset stomach..then really interrupted sleep and severe back and hip pain. I took had a bath and took a couple of paracetamol this morning and it then all ceased.

Today has been awful...I've felt really frustrated and pissed off. I've hardly spoke to my DP all day. I've been in tears...gone for a long walk...cleaned the house - and the back and pelvis pain is back but I don't feel that I am in labour.

Sorry for the outburst...I am just frustrated !!

When are you seeing your midwife again jay?

On Thursday I am booked for a sweep with a consultant.

Been having contractions for the past 3 hours...started off lasting 45 secs every 10 mins now are a minute long occuring every 6/7 mins. They are painful but manageable.

Don't want to get my hopes up and am thinking this is just false labour . We shall see......

Fingers crossed it's not and baby makes an appearance today

I'm hoping as you haven't updated its all happening? I hope so! It sounds like you've been having all the signs, but it might be a long latent phase. Its rubbish and very exhausting!!

I bet your dp is anxiously waiting as well, I think I completely forgot how difficult it is for them with us being so emotional and just wanting things to progress. Really hope things happen for you, and that you're managing to get a few hours here and there.

I finally had him on Tuesday morning at 7.30am.
I went into hospital at 8.00pm the night before with severe contractions I was certain I must be about 5cm dilated but when i was checked I was only 2cm !. Partner was sent home and I was admitted but just put on a normal ward and given tramadol to sleep.
After a few hours of trying to be brave, I was in agony and started bleeding so was taken back to labour ward where I was finally 4cm and given pain relief.
At around 4am my partner was allowed back to the hospital as I was in established labour...and at 7.30 am he was born !!

Congratulations, wow that was a long latent stage you must have been exhausted. Much better to get to the hospital early thougdh rather than getting there late. Good for you for asking for pain relief when it all got too much, I wish I had been more assertive like that. I didn't know dPC's couldn't be there until established labour? There's so much I'm not aware of as I got there late.

Enjoy your newborn cuddles, Well done it sounds like you did brilliantly

Thankyou whatabeautifulsight10 !

I think my partner got sent home because the hospital thought nothing would happen and I was sent to a general ward. They probably would have sent me home too if it wasn't a Vbac.

Did you not have pain relief ? Wow !! I had gas and air continuously from 4cm. I was also given one dose of pethadine - that didn't work how it should (if it actually worked at all). When I was in transition I was begging for an epidural/caesarian but didn't end up with either - which I'm now really thankful about. I had an epidural with my twins and have always believed it slowed everything down - plus I felt too "in control". This time round I felt my body just knew what to do and I was much less self consious.

It was actually exactly a week ago as I type and I am still on a high from it now !!

Sounds like you did great, well done!

I'm so glad it all went well. I did have gas and air from 5cms, but dd got stuck behind my bladder, and the pain was awful, as my whole body was pushing but against bladder. Worse than pushing bit! I wish I'd been more forthcoming with asking for more but blood pressure problems meant I couldn't focus. But, never mind, all over with.

Im so pleased for you all, best of luck with all the night feeds!!

Thanks and same to you !

Oh wow...I had a bladder issue too - but they catheterised me and I think it was ok after. The catheter went in at about the time I hit transition so by that point I was just in intense pain all over !!

At the moment, Joel is a perfect baby at night and wakes at 1.00am and 5.30am only. I am so lucky so far...I actually am getting more sleep than i did when pregnant !