Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

Did your second labour start in the same way as your first?

30 replies

Kickedinthetits · 03/10/2015 21:42

I'm 34 weeks with twins so at risk of preterm labour. I'm having a lot of braxton hicks which I didn't have first time round but I'm wondering how I will recognise proper labour. Last time it started with terrible diarrhoea, back ache and a show and then very slow progression. I also had a mc at 11 weeks which also began with diarrhoea and backache and progressed into contractions. I'm wondering if that's what I'm looking for this time or if it could be totally different! Any experiences?

OP posts:
3timesascrazy · 05/10/2015 12:18

My first and second labours were completely different however they did both start the same, felt funny/achey the day before then lots of braxton hicks which turned into contractions, Good luck for when it happens!

AmberLav · 05/10/2015 13:44

I had lots of bh with my second, and the only way I realised that they had turned into early contractions was by checking the clock. All of a sudden they were bang on 20 minutes apart... no more painful, just more regular. Eventually they turned into more normal contractions, but I'm glad I had the early warning, as it gave us time to get the gps around before it suddenly turned into 2 minutes apart full contractions...

Very different from my first time, but I think I did have a clear out both times...

Clairewilliams07 · 05/10/2015 16:35

I'm due in 2 weeks, having pains 2 cm dilated need to bring this baby on Grin

Scattymum101 · 05/10/2015 19:30

Fairly similar. Started with feeling 'off' then losing plug then contractions within a few hours both times.

PennyHasNoSurname · 05/10/2015 19:37

DC1:- no braxtons hicks at all, woke at 4am with contractions 3mins apart. Baby born 4am next day.

DC2:- braxton hicks at least once a week for at least the fpur weeks prior, woke at 6am with contracrions 3mins apart. Baby born 10.22am that day.

Both times my waters had to be popped.

ISpidersmanYouMeanPirate · 05/10/2015 19:40

Yes
Though more Braxton hicks the second time

Illyillyilly · 05/10/2015 19:42

Yes - mine started with waters going, though with dc1 I'd been having mild contractions for a day, dc2 was completely out of the blue. Both times went on to have a very long labour. Both were early.

TheSwallowingHandmaiden · 05/10/2015 19:44

I wish I could know for sure how a braxton hick differs in sensation to this tightness I feel which is like I've had a too-large meal. But I'm only 24 wks so I guess I won't have any yet anyway?

pootlebug · 05/10/2015 19:46

1st and 2nd were very similar. 3rd was very different.

1 & 2 were 30-ish hours from first noticeable contractions to birth. 3 was about 4 hours from 'Why can't I sleep, I feel really restless' to birth.

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 20:38

38 weeks back pain pressure and sting pains in belly 3rd pregnancy

Sorelip · 07/10/2015 20:42

First time had to be induced, went from nothing to bam! Contractions every two minutes. Second labour waters went and contractions started the next morning, slowly at first. Totally different starts, same ending - caesarean, for failure to progress.

Sorelip · 07/10/2015 20:44

Oh and first was born 40+13, second 37+3.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 07/10/2015 20:49

Ds1. Induced at 40 +16, started with period crampy pains that grew and grew and became more regular (or should I say less irregular?!)

Ds2 - waters broke in middle of night on end, crampy pains started at lunchtime and escalated until he was born at 5pm. It ramped up quickly and we only just got to the hospital in time.

Good luck op!

FunnysInLaJardin · 07/10/2015 20:52

both started the same way. No BH, just induction at 42 weeks and then very quick labour. 6 hours with DS1 and 2 hours with DS2! I won't be having a third...!

nbee84 · 07/10/2015 20:56

My waters broke about an hour before contractions started for dc1.

Contractions first for dc2 and waters didn't break until seconds before he crowned.

Both labours were similar in that the contractions came at 5 minute intervals from the off.

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 21:02

I'm in so much pain

Sorelip · 07/10/2015 22:10

Are you ok claire?

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 22:30

Pains are not easing off hospital would just send me home.

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 22:31

Thanks for asking Smile

Scattymum101 · 07/10/2015 22:35

Claire are you sure - how quickly did your previous labours go?

HerRoyalNotness · 07/10/2015 22:39

Go and get checked at hospital claire. Best to be safe, and better to be turned away.

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 23:16

Thanks I've took pain killers see how I go x

Clairewilliams07 · 07/10/2015 23:16

Labours quite long with other 2.

BackforGood · 07/10/2015 23:29

No. All 3 of my dc completely different.
Dc1 - a wek overdue, first sign was waking up in the early hours to really painful contractions
Dc2 - just 2 days over - just felt 'a bit uncomfortable' until it 'clicked ' that this "indigestion" was coming and going with surprising regularity and it was suggested to me it could be contractions
Dc3 - week over - waters broke when i got up in the night to go to the loo.

ouryve · 07/10/2015 23:31

Nope.

Induced 15 days post dates with DS1. No sign of labour, prior to that.

Mild irregular and infrequent contractions at 40+4 with DS2. Went to the loo after feeling a bit uncomfortable and out he popped.