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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Original poster

contractions before waters break.

36 replies

skiingcat · 02/06/2015 18:58

I am 40+2. All day I've been having quite strong period type pains and lower back pain around every hour. I have not had any show / mucus plug or waters breaking - is it possible to be in very early labour or are these strong Braxton hicks.

OP posts:
Dinosaursdontgrowontrees · 02/06/2015 19:03

With dd my waters broke when I was 10cm dilated and getting ready to push.
Good luck! Flowers

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 02/06/2015 19:03

Your waters going doesn't have to be at the start of labour. It can be at any point. In my case, twice it has happened just before delivery. They can also not break and the baby can be 'born in the caul'.

If it is once an hour it's hard to say it's anything, but it may start to get closer and become labour. Good luck Smile

OhHolyFuck · 02/06/2015 19:05

As above, mine also broke at a very late point in labour - with DS1, they broke and then he was born 10 minutes and a few pushes later and with DS2 they broke and he sort of whooshed out with them!

Good luck!

bakingtins · 02/06/2015 19:08

It's a TV myth that waters breaking is always the first sign of labour, mine didn't go until fully dilated, all three times.

Good luck!

ConnortheMonkey · 02/06/2015 19:11

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

millionsofpeaches · 02/06/2015 19:12

I was just going to say it's a tv myth, but bakingtins beat me.

Fwiw my waters didn't actually break second time round until about 5 seconds before dd2 appeared! (First time it was after 48 hours of on off contractions)

Buttwing · 02/06/2015 19:14

My waters have only gone once and I have four dc, and even when they did go I was about 6cms and in hospital.

Fingers crossed it's time! Good luck :)

Original poster
skiingcat · 02/06/2015 19:42

thank you all I will wait and see if they get closer then call the hospital.. I'm between petrified and excited!

OP posts:
Gunpowder · 02/06/2015 20:17

Oh good luck! My waters breaking was first sign both times, but MW said it's only about 1 in 10 that begin like that. Update us in the night! Smile

BlacknWhitePanda · 02/06/2015 20:22

Oo good luck! I had 2 days of labour, I lost my show on day one. But actually had to get my waters broken.

Please let us know how you get on!

VikingLady · 02/06/2015 20:23

My waters broke with DS in a very minor way. If I hadn't been lying quietly in bed in a silent house, thinking about it, I wouldn't have noticed. A very quiet popping feeling that felt very similar to a bubble escaping my fanjo, and virtually no waters came out. Maybe a teaspoon! His head was a very effective plug!

Pints came out when he made his appearance - they followed him out.

Happyyellowcar · 02/06/2015 20:26

For me my waters broke twice signalling the start of labour but the third time it started just as you have posted - I was in labour for over 12 hours until the midwife suggested breaking my waters but then it happened anyway and DD was born rather quickly! Good luck x

Original poster
skiingcat · 03/06/2015 17:53

Still at home...called hospital at 2am and got told to take paracetamol and have a bath. Contractions now further apart.... hospital don't want me in till I have 3 in 10 minutes. Luckily it's 5 minutes away.

OP posts:
maroonedwithfour · 03/06/2015 17:55

I had contractions first with first 3 dcs, last one was induced and broke waters manually.

Roseybee10 · 03/06/2015 20:53

Both times my waters went fairly late on. Both times dds were born within 2 hours of waters breaking. Both my labours also were quite slow to get regular contractions with a rhythm but once I got past 4cm then both dds born within 2-3 hours. You could have a lot of stop start but once it gets going in a steady Rythym then you might not be long.
Hope you're ok. Good luck x

Electroswing · 04/06/2015 10:14

I had a thread on here asking something very similar a couple of weeks ago. My DD was born a day and a half later Smile

I had regular, cramping period pain starting at 10 minute intervals. My waters didn't break until about 16 hours after I first noticed these, as I was going from latent into active labour.

I think this is still quite early for waters breaking. For most people they go during active labour, or right towards the end.

Oh, and I never noticed mucus plug loss or a bloody show, either.

Good luck! Smile

NickySummerbee · 04/06/2015 16:25

How are you getting on now?

I was already having 3 in 10 when my waters broke both times, so don't wait for that sign!

Athenaviolet · 04/06/2015 16:29

2 births, no waters breaking, it all just came out at once!

It's better that way- shows the baby's head is well engaged and the waters cushion the contractions making them less painful (apparently)

avocadotoast · 04/06/2015 16:54

Good luck! I had my little one 12 days ago - I had contractions for three whole days before I went into active labour, so I know how frustrating the waiting game is. My waters didn't break until I was in the delivery suite. I did have a show over a few days though.

Try and get some rest if you can; if I'd known how long my contractions were going to go on for I'd definitely have spent more time lying down!

Original poster
skiingcat · 04/06/2015 21:47

They had got back to 7 minutes apart but seem to have eased off again. The contractions themselves are getting more intense when they come.

OP posts:
PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 04/06/2015 21:49

Hang in there and try and rest as much as you can. My first labour was like this and it is exhausting.

avocadotoast · 04/06/2015 22:28

That's exactly what happened with mine Sad

If it helps though my actual active labour wasn't too long - I was admitted to delivery suite around 3am and baby was born at 12:40pm. So fingers crossed it'll be similar for you. Hang in there and look after yourself!

formerlyofLadysmith · 05/06/2015 07:53

did read something recently on paracetamol in early labour suggesting it actually prolongs it (I think that was it). Can't link now but if you google paracetemol early labour undercover midwife it should come up. Might be worth skipping the paracetemol if you can.

Electroswing · 05/06/2015 08:45

You are doing brilliantly, skiingcat!

I'd gone into hospital by the time I'd had 16 hours of contractions like yours. I was too early and they wanted to send me home - I really didn't want to be that person that goes in way too early, but I was!

My active labour was also quite quick, if that helps. I dilated pretty rapidly after 2cm. This dragged-out latent stage is just the shitty bit that you have to put up with. Hopefully you're experiencing something a bit more productive now! Smile

Imnotaslimjim · 05/06/2015 10:14

Sounds like you're well on your way. Can I just say though, if you get to a point where they get to intense but still aren't 3 in 10, please do ask to be assessed. I never got the 3 in 10, even after I'd gone through transition