First spontaneous labour, what's your experience?

[Stayworkathomemum]

Hi all. I'm currently 40+2weeks

I'm on my third pregnancy and was induced with my first two pregnancies so don't know what it's like to be left alone and waiting for signs.

I've had cramping and twinging on and off the last two weeks, feels like a very slow build up. Also lost tiny amounts of clear plug over the last week and then this morning and again this afternoon I lost a large clear amount of plug with a pinky tinge and what looked like a small blood vessel. Sorry, yukky I know.

I've felt really tired and nauseous on and off all day despite having a really energetic surge this morning cleaning the patio doors outside, making sure all my washing was finished and cleaning the bathroom to the point of taking the rubber seals off the shower cubicle to be scrubbed! Even went for a good walk with OH and son this morning feeling quite ok despite having severe SPD and rear pelvic pain throughout all pregnancies.

Had crampy moments and a few uncomfortable BHs but nothing to shout about.

Baby has dropped even lower in the last 24 hours, family have commented how different my bump looks and can feel baby's bottom is in line with my belly button and I have a short body so she's very low. I have also noticed she's been more still today but still getting the regular kicks and pokes hourly but just not as jerky and pokey.

What I want to know is, did any of you experience these symptoms in a previous pregnancy and how long was it before labour began?

Thanks

Hi there. I'd look forward to the answers! I've had similar symptoms on second pregnancy but was induced with first. We shipped toddler off at first cramps and I felt so stupid the next day when there was no baby, that was a week ago now!! I have no confidence to call whether cramps are important and other half is waiting for my cue to fill up the pool!!!

Mine were pretty much what you've been describing

Dd1 - very intense BH starting on the Friday night. Continued into Saturday and starting losing plug early evening and contractions started not long after. Very 'nesty' on the Friday and Saturday.

Dd2 - woke early hours ofvthursday feeling like I needed to run to loo but didn't. Felt 'off' all morning and somehow knew labour was imminent. Had been having painful braxtons for about a week before and these ramped up. Was very tired, lethargic and no appetite. Felt very weepy.
Started losing pink tinged plug early afternoon. Contractions started by evening.
hope this is it for you x

That is helpful, thank u. I just don't know also whether it's imminent and what I'm feeling is instincts or whether I'm just jumping the gun feeling a bit excited now I'm having some signs. I have heard people say that when you lose your plug in subsequent pregnancies that labour is more likely to be within hours or a day or two rather than weeks. Fingers crossed that's the case for me.

Nomorethongs - I have an 11 month old, yes I'll have my hands full soon! but very lucky to have a good boy who sleeps and eats well, goes to anybody and is in a fantastic routine. I have prepped an overnight bag for him just in case but hoping that OHs mum will just be ok coming over here, day or night to look after him upstairs whilst I'm birthing downstairs in the pool. I too have OH set up for water home birth plan, still very crampy on and off this evening, not noticing a pattern just yet and still losing plug which is becoming more browny/pink I've been freaking about being "ready" so have been making sure OH knows last minute things like how to use the tap connector off the shower for the hire pool and made him nest with me, my kitchen and lounge is now immaculate should anything happen tonight or tomorrow.

Hi OP and Nomore

Please come back and post once you have your bundles of joy!

I went overdue with my DD, the build up to it went on for two weeks, with varying symptoms and Braxton hicks. I went into nesting mode as 40+1 and started manically washing socks at 4am!

My bump dropped about 3 days before I went into labour and I lost the cervix plug around the same time, however, about 24 hours before I got restless and had some cramps, I also got very weepy.

I woke up at about 4am on the Friday, wandered around downstairs for a few hours, felt sick and just off color so went back to bed.... Woke again at 1pm in labour, heavy contractions every 3 mins - by the time I was at the hospital I was in established labour and about 4-5 cm dilated. DD was born 2am.... pushed for two hours but that's another story.

OP it sounds like you are close to the finish line and a 'show' or the plug coming out means its only days away so get as much sleep as poss and keep your blood sugar up by eating little and often, even if it's just a small bowl of cereal. As its your 3rd (hope I'm right on that) you my well have a quicker labour than before so once it gets going, you'll be chuffing like a steam train in no time. I wish you both the best of luck x

Thanks toadie. Very good advice. Tried to go to bed but started to get contractions and fidgety so I've got myself comfy on the sofa and using my phone to time them and they are roughly every 10 minutes but trying to time it for at least an hour before waking the OH or calling midwife to make sure it's not a false alarm.

If anyone thinks I should be blowing the pool up and filling it by now please advise

Oh wow, sounds like things are getting moving for you! keep yourself nice and comfy on the sofa and when you get OH up he can get filling the pool or at least getting it blown up and ready to go. Best of luck hun!

Any updates?!!
No symptoms here. 40 + 2 and midwife coming at 9 am tomorrow for a sweep. Gutted.

Nomorethongs I'm assuming that staywork has had her little baba......
Good luck with your sweep today, it'll get you moving! Are you still having cramps? Good luck :)

Ooh exciting! I hope we find out!!
We put off sweep till Monday, I'll be 41 weeks then. Curry and pineapple tonight, no symptoms yet!!!

I'M also booked for sweep on Monday when I'll be 41 weeks, snap!

Having bh at 3 min intervals but nothing real. Lost bits of clear / greenish mucus plug over last few days. Really hoping it isn't long now!