Can I just ask....

[UCM]

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?

I had a show, then 4 days later waters broke, then 8 hrs later contractions started and didn't seem to stop, threw up, more contractions etc etc eventually had baby

sweep at 39 weeks

( i cried at my obs appointment and made them do something ! )

had a show

for a week and loads of strong BH and niggles and twinges

woke up in labour the day before her due date.

18 hours of contractions later.......out she popped ! waters exploded when i was 7 cm....she was born couple of hours later .

Ds1 - started with mild period-like pains when I was in bed around midnight (4 days over due date). Pains eased off by morning and then found a show when I went to the loo later that morning. Pains started again at tea-time and progressed to full blown labour.

Ds2 - went to the loo in a restaurant late afternoon (9 days overdue!) and found a show. Pains started around tea time after a lavender oil-infused bath - this time in lower back and pressure in bum. Progressed to full labour within a few hours.

Good luck, hope things start to happen for you soon!

I felt fine, had three poos during the day, went out shopping etc feeling ok, had a huuuuuuuuge contraction at 9pm, two more poos before leaving for hospital at 11:30pm. Arrived at hospital just after midnight, 8cm dilated, they broke my waters and out came DS at 1am.

Lots of pooing I guess was my only sign before contractions.

So, just to be really dumb, can I clarify (1st baby...):
You won't necessarily have a show or cramps or anything, you can essentially go into labour at the drop of a hat?

I have been having cramps on and off for the past couple of weeks, really strong bh, diarrhoea, and have been waiting for a show. (Due date is Friday).
But, I suppose, it could happen with or without these signs, and at any time regardless? I kind of assumed my cramps would get stronger and stronger gradually?

i had no signs at all my waters broke during diy sos at about 8.15 went straight to hospital but no contractions until about 10pm got sent home and then had to go straight back and was lucky to get back in time, was only in labour at the hospital for about 20mins and had dd, by the way was about a week early!
with my ds was 10 days late and had to be induced and it took about 3 days!!
if we have another will camping in the hospital for two weeks before if it has got that much faster with one child

With my first, I woke up with a rock hard stomach and then had a show, and then about an hour after that started having painful-ish contractions.

With my son, I had to be induced cos it just wasnt happening, they broke my waters and luckily it started me off so I didnt have to have that stupid drip thingy, when they started me they said it would have happened the next day anyway but I had no signs that he was on his way.