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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Can I just ask....

32 replies

UCM · 14/01/2007 23:14

When you have a baby and go into labour, does it just start off with no prior warning or do you get small signs every time, like a few days before or do you just know that it's going to happen.

This sounds ridiculous and I am not experiencing anything abnormal. I was just sitting there wondering if all of a sudden stuff just happens?

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jofeb04 · 14/01/2007 23:17

Hiya,
With both of mine I had no signs of labour, and I didn't even know I was having early stage contractions (luckily!).

kittylette · 14/01/2007 23:17

well with my 2nd i thought i was in labour and called the midwife and had contractions on and off for 2 weeks,

then 2 weeks later i went to the park with DS felt nothing all day -absolutly nothing- then it kicked off at 9pm

baby was born at home at 2.31am

so i dont know really, when the false alarm kicked off id been niggling for days and was sure that was it,

but the day before the real thing - zilch!

lucykate · 14/01/2007 23:20

with dd, all of a sudden a pop happened, waters had gone, no twinges beforehand. took about 3 hrs for contractions to get going properly

with ds, was different in that contractions gradually built up over night, waters never went with him until midwife did it when i asked. i had a feeling it was slowing things down.

sure sign its the real thing with me is an upset stomach.

Original poster
UCM · 14/01/2007 23:21

Thanks girls.

I know I am asking the 64 million dollar question here.

OP posts:
caffeinequeen · 14/01/2007 23:22

UCM, have you no dcs apart from the one in the oven?!

mrsnoah · 14/01/2007 23:24

My waters never broke with any of mine. Despite hours spent in lift of M and S hoping to receive the £250 vouchers if they do.

Small early signs for me were like before your period is due tbh.

I was twitchy, restless, pacing about, going to the loo a lot. Well you asked!

mrsnoah · 14/01/2007 23:25

I know I thought you had more dc's too?!

Original poster
UCM · 14/01/2007 23:26

Yes but DS was C/section and I never so much as had a poo beforehand, there was nothing

OP posts:
Original poster
UCM · 14/01/2007 23:27

So I am having angst over how it starts this time.

OP posts:
flamesparrow · 14/01/2007 23:29

Nothing before either of mine really... woke up with diaroehhorhoshoshoa (?spelling ) and contactions with DD, and with DS a bloody show and contractions.

wotzsaname · 14/01/2007 23:30

it would be nice if got a sign, i agree. Like an email or a text to sat "pack your bag now". fraid tis not like that at all.

mrsnoah · 14/01/2007 23:31

Ah thought you had one already.

Dont be scared.
When are you due?
Are you having some signs already do you think?

expatinscotland · 14/01/2007 23:31

NO signs of labour w/either girl. No show, no waters breaking, nada.

Just contractions.

mrsnoah · 14/01/2007 23:32

oh yes the show thing usually happens and what flamesparrow said about toileting lark,

wotzsaname · 14/01/2007 23:33

My waters didnt break until hospital after contractions had stared. Gool luck.

lissielou · 14/01/2007 23:33

i think being sick and dicky tums are a sure sign

nwgreenmum · 14/01/2007 23:34

I have 3
DS1 - woke up at 1 am with what felt like constipation. Endless labour after that with contractions never further than 5 mins apart from start to finish.
DS2 - waters broke 4.5 weeks early - no warning. 5 days in hospital with ever increasing pain in the last 2.
DD - Days of will she won't she kind of on and off pains (with me saying Please I hope she will now, please get out, please please please let it all end), then on a day when I was feeling more comfortable my waters broke while I was cooking dinner!

expatinscotland · 14/01/2007 23:34

DD1 - her waters were broken when I was 8cm, to get me to 10. It worked.

DD2 - I arrived at hospital 9cm dilated. The waters broke after the first push.

Original poster
UCM · 14/01/2007 23:35

No, having DS was literally like going shopping for a baby - left home in the morning, 2 hours later a baby.

This time I am having a vbac, I am not scared as such. I just don't feel like I am having a baby and due date is about 10 days away. Everything seems to have settled down nicely, considering the stress I am under with my broken ankle and being thrown from wheelchair earlier

I guess I just thought there would have been a bit of a response, something, anything.

I have read threads/answers before about this but you don't really take it in until it's your turn, do you?

I ahve a bit of a cough at the moment and it hurts down below when I cough, but thats it - nada!

OP posts:
mrsnoah · 14/01/2007 23:53

God a broken ankle poor you!

You know what they say, you WILL know it's true .
You will be fine. I had my third 10 mths ago and although it was a gross pg I can honestly say the birth was great.

Original poster
UCM · 15/01/2007 00:00

Thanks

OP posts:
Ponka · 15/01/2007 00:06

UCM, I had a C-section then VBAC. I started with contractions on my due date (which I denied were contractions for some time because they started weak) and then had a show about an hour after. It's different for everyone though.

Good luck.

serenity · 15/01/2007 00:12

Apart from being increasingly uncomfortable and pissed off I didn't getting any signs at all with DS1 or DD (DS2 was induced) With both of them I went to bed as normal and woke with contractions at some god awful time in the morning. Didn't even have a show with DS1, and with DD I'd been having strong contractions for an hour or so before all that happened.

Rosylily · 15/01/2007 10:06

I get crazy strong braxton hicks contractions as the time gets closer, usually get a show then I get the runs, then when actual labour starts there is a different pain down below and I know its started. I have 8 weeks to go...good luck with yours!

deaconblue · 15/01/2007 19:54

I spent three days losing disgusting globules of mucas plug. YUK.