Can you go into labour if you haven't had a show?

[Dueindecember2016]

Basically what the subject says really.... I've not noticed my plug come away yet, but can you still go into labour if it hasnt come away?

I'm 38+1 and have a sweep booked in for my 40 week appointment. I'd love to go into labour naturally but helping hand might be needed

I didn't have a show. Just waters breaking.

Yes. Same as you can go into labour without your waters breaking.

Labour is strong, regular contractions lasting around 1 minute and progressive thinning and opening of your cervix.

Don't worry about not having a show, midwives don't get excited about shows as they can occur at any point, even a week or two before labour even starts.

My plug never came away with either of my two

I did twice!

3 babies, no show any time and waters broke between 20 & 0 mins before baby arrived (did know I was in labour though).

I never noticed it. Waters didn't break either until the moment of birth. It's actually not a bad thing, I've heard, to have a labour without waters breaking, as it protects the baby longer.

Thanks everyone! You've really put my mind at rest, I can stop worrying now. I'm constantly on the ball bouncing around to see if it'll help bring contractions on. Still have two weeks to go though so I'm not too hopeful

I had a show four days after early labour contractions started - it can all happen in any order and some might not happen at all. For example, my waters didn't break.

DD is 7 days old today - best of luck