First baby - what was your early labour like?

[inspiredbutohsotired]

I'm 37+2 and for the last 3 days or so I've felt like things are changing inside me... possibly my body preparing for labour or maybe it's even beginning to happen?! I know, I know, probably just hopeful.

Symptoms:-

• very irritable, snappy, moody
• very tired, much more so than throughout pregnancy
• lots of pressure low down including a sort of grating, drilling feeling into my bladder/cervix
• a large amount of clear mucus discharge in one go
• lots of movement from baby
• lower back pain and general discomfort low down

Does this sound like anything? Or just what being 37 weeks feels like?
What was early labour like for you?

Anyone?

I had a lot of pressure and kept getting sharp pains in my cervix (I think anyway!) that made me gasp. I was really hormonal and got sick a couple of times.
Then contractions started and lasted 3 days unfortunately although it could well be the start, it can still take weeks

I felt things were moving oddly several times several weeks before but each time turned out to be a false alarm. Actual early labour for me was mild contractions far apart and gradual pain in my very lower back. I was in labour a goodly while when you are you'll know. It wasn't as bad as I expected seriously. Try and stay calm control your breathing as the contractions intensify really helps.

That sounds like your baby is engaging. So some progress
I had lots of braxton hicks for a few days on the run up. Kept active. Don't ever remember feeling the urge to "best" like some get wound have been useful!
I also hallucinated about an enormous black spider on my bed. I'm not scared of spiders but when I looked for it it had gone. This happened twice in the week before I gave birth. No one has ever told me something similar happened to them so it remains a mystery!!

Sorry to ramble. Good luck!!!

Nest!!! Not best!!

Watching with intent. I'm 39 + 2 and have been wondering whether something might be happening for about 1 days. Lots of low down shooting pains, lots of baby movement, frequent bowel movements, no severe back pain as such but more uncomfortable than I have been.

Starting to think it will never come!

Sorry, 10 days - I would be less impatient if it was 1 day!

I've got another midwife appointment on Monday so hopefully she'll tell me the baby's head is engaged and things seem to be moving along!

@Mellongoose that's really interesting actually because last night I hallucinated/daydreamt(?) that there was a woman in the room. It was creepy as hell! I only saw her for a second in the corner but it gave me the shivers.

Congrats on your pregnancy op

I'd had twinges, hormonal ups and downs and even scrubbed the skirting in the run up to giving birth but on the night I actually went into labour I was on the phone telling my friend that I didn't think it was gunna happen any time soon!!
I was 40+3, had been on biiiiig walk, bounced on ball then went to bed and thought I had trapped wind 12 hours later I was holding my daughter :) That was nearly 7 weeks ago.

It's an exciting time. Just get as much rest as you can!

It became noticeable fairly quickly for me. The only thing that changed for me was I started producing colostrum the night before I went into labour. The day of, I felt totally normal and then started having contractions in the early afternoon. They increased steadily. Waters didn't go until 8 cm.

How are you doing OP? Sorry that you had a weird hallucination, but I hope it gives you a straight forward and safe delivery xx

@mellongoose I'm doing okay, had less symptoms and some possible leaking fluid that I'm nervous about. Just got back from the midwife and according to her measurements baby has gone in size from 85th percentile down to the 10th in 4 weeks, so I'm being referred for a growth scan tomorrow. Really hoping everything is okay.

I was rather fast I'm afraid. I had acute Braxton Hicks 2 weeks before due date ( 4 min painful contractions) and actually thought it was labour. DH was not very supportive as I "hadn't packed the hospital bag yet" . 2 weeks later - same thing - woke up with painful 4.5 min contractions but when I got out of bed my waters went (DH then got in the shower for ages). Nothing at all in between!

meant to add good luck!