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Childbirth

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

Original poster

Spontaneous Labour?

33 replies

sthitch · 29/08/2017 18:37

I'm 40 weeks pregnant with a rapidly growing baby (see my other thread but it's over 8 pounds currently and I have a very small frame, 5"1 + 7 1/2 stone before pregnancy) but what is worrying me is I have no signs of labour coming on... no show, my belly hasn't dropped- this could be because there is nowhere for it to go! But in general no signs... Did anyone go into labour spontaneously without any indication? How did it start?

I'm just so anxious for things to get started so I don't get any bigger, I've gone from being really positive to thinking this will be a instrument birth or ending in c-sec.

OP posts:
aveenofreak · 29/08/2017 18:42

Yes 4 times, never had a show, water brack or anything each time just woke with contractions

DonkeyPunch88 · 29/08/2017 18:46

I've had 4 too, all without any real signs. The first I just sat up in bed, waters broke, he was born 1 hour and 40 mins later. The other three I didn't even have waters break, just woke up uncomfortable, contractions came pretty thick and fast and then out popped baby.

Afreshstartplease · 29/08/2017 18:48

Op i am 5 ft, size 8 and my babies have been between 7lb9 and 8lb9. Ive never even needed a single stitch so try not to worry about size. Also growth scans can be out. Two days before ds was born weighing 8lb9 i was told he was 7 and a half pounds! I think they can be up to 20% out either way.

My waters never broke with any of mine and only had a show with the last one

quiettimeneeded · 29/08/2017 19:29

My waters broke at 39+4. Was stood at the oven in the morning cooking a bacon sandwich and I felt wetness. Went to the loo, sat down and had a gush. Kept feeling it on and off.

Went to the MLU later that day (as they told me to) and hey confirmed it was waters and to expect contractions to start anytime. They didn't. I sat at home all evening with OH thinking every twinge was it all starting (it was wind).

Went into hospital the next day for an induction as I'd gone more than 24 hours after waters breaking which can make your risk of infection higher.

The consultant told me after birth that DD had managed to kick her waters out. When they examined me I wasn't ready to labour, no soft cervix, not a hint of dilation at all. Still, she had to come out then, and she did eventually - 57 hours after my waters broke! Little monkey.

Original poster
sthitch · 31/08/2017 13:38

Thanks everyone- all good to know SmileSmile I had a sweep today but my cervix was posteria? so unsuccessful, I'm guessing that means that things really aren't going to get going for a little while! On the plus I'm no bigger than I was so that's not so bad. The midwives were lovely and also put me at ease about birthing a larger baby.

OP posts:
usersos · 31/08/2017 13:50

I was told I was having a whopper .......11lb.....he was 9lbs....the consultant I saw said that these scans/measurements are so inaccurate she'd know idea why they were still using them!!!

NurseMama · 01/09/2017 02:08

I'm 5'2'' and went into labour spontaneously the day after my EDD with DC1. He weighed 8 lbs exactly.

mindutopia · 01/09/2017 16:41

I had no signs other than an obvious increase in EWCM like cervical mucus (which I didn't see as a sign then, but in retrospect it obviously was). I had no BH that I even felt in my entire pregnancy, no contractions beforehand, no nothing. I felt great and had no idea it was about to happen. I was 37+5, woke up to waters going and my dd arrived 11 hours later naturally. So I don't think there have to be any signs or at least none you'll recognise at the time as being 'a sign.'

lunakitty2609 · 01/09/2017 18:44

I had no signs with my DD until I started feeling strong (what I thought was) Braxton hicks. These carried on for a few hours until about 2 am when contractions really started getting going. Was having contractions for the rest of the night until I went into hospital at 7.30am. Waters didn't break until she was ready to be born. She was born at 11 am weighing 8lb 10.5oz not a little one considering I'm 5ft5 but it went okay :)
Good luck

Caenea · 01/09/2017 21:00

Meeeee.

Waters broke all over the bathroom floor at 3am after I got up to have a wee.

I'm pretty much the same measures too OP - 5ft (and half an inch) and about 9 stone pre-baby. She was 8lb 11oz and honestly it wasn't a bad birth.

Yowser · 01/09/2017 21:34

I've got 2 DC, spontaneous labours with both.

With DS I woke up in the night needing a wee and when I got back into bed my waters started trickling, contractions started about 30 minutes later. He was born just 3.5 hours after I'd got up for the wee. I was 36w+1 and very, very surprised.

With DD I started to get contractions 2 minutes apart (no prior warning). She was born 45 minutes later. I was 38w+0 and felt overdue after DS being so early.

Hope it happens for you soon.

Lou898 · 01/09/2017 22:14

I was examined on the Wed and told it was a big baby but head had not engaged. I had him on the Friday with waters breaking at home and he was 7 and a half pounds. So don't worry. You're body will do what it needs to do and if required there will be help available. Try and be positive. I'll tell you one thing....when you have that newborn in your arms everything that's gone before pales into insignificance. Best wishes to you.

user1496777666 · 01/09/2017 22:44

I woke up with contractions on the morning I was due to be induced at 41+0. I wasn't even sure it was labour and not wind for a couple of hours then suddenly contractions were 2 mins apart and it was all systems go. A very brisk waddle walk the previous evening may have helped kickstart things.

user1496777666 · 01/09/2017 22:45

Forgot to say good luck OP , not long until you get to meet your
baby! Flowers

overduemamma · 01/09/2017 22:57

Long walks if you can. Sex if you can and a another sweep. If that doesn't work I would just let nature take its course x try and have sex then go for a long walk or have another sweep then a walk x

AreWeThereYet000 · 01/09/2017 22:59

Me - at 40+4.

Went to bed with nothing, no twinges, no discharge, I mean nothing. Woke up at 4am with full blown contractions, got to the hospital at 5am - 5cm dilated! Had the baby at 8.49am

5'2, pre pregnancy 9 1/2 stone size 8/10 and baby was 8lb 11oz. Only suffered a graze and birthed with only gas and air in the birth pool - would deffo recommend

Good luck Flowers

AreWeThereYet000 · 01/09/2017 23:01

Oh and my waters went as I was pushing x

canonlydoblue · 01/09/2017 23:21

My second was born about half an hour after my first contraction - I had been to the midwife earlier that day and she had said he wasn't coming out anytime soon. My third was born 20 minutes after the midwife told me I wasn't dilated at all and that I should go home. Waters broke as baby was being born both times.

Ceto · 02/09/2017 00:10

Second pregnancy - first was induced. I became conscious of having what were really no more than niggles whilst having my morning cup of tea but gradually became aware that they were quite regular and getting a bit stronger. I was 10 days overdue so realised this could finally be it. DH had plans to go out for the day with DC1 and asked whether he should just go for a shorter time, and I said definitely not. The pains kept coming and became more frequent but I still felt unsure - I guess because they weren't quite as bad as I'd expected. Eventually it was clear they were getting worse and more frequent, and I phoned the hospital and was told to come in. They broke my waters soon after I got to the hospital and the contractions just went into overdrive; apparently I also dilated quickly because they told me I was too far on to have an epidural, much to my alarm. I definitely wasn't into natural birth for the sake of it! The baby was born around 90 minutes after I got there, around 7 lb, no stitches needed.

Minkyfluffster · 02/09/2017 10:12

I was told not to bother with newborn clothes as my baby would be well over 8 pounds. She was 7.1lbs and we had to go out and buy newborn stuff to fit her.

My labour was quick, 5 hours from first contraction, pushed a handful of times (max 10 mins). I laboured on my feet do gravity probably helped. I didn't have stitches

Minkyfluffster · 02/09/2017 10:17

Forgot to say that I went out for dinner and had first contraction as soon as I got home.

I found dancing helped

RebeccaWrongDaily · 02/09/2017 11:07

with mine (all 3) i felt really flu-ey the day before, properly tired and pee'd off (possibly as I was 41/42weeks pregnant at that point) and then did a massive poo. I think you basically take to your bed (if it's an option) for a big sleep and then clear your system out ready to not sleep for 6 months and so you don't poo during delivery (i still did on one of them though!)

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 02/09/2017 11:21

I was staying with my folks when I had my first - Dh and I were living abroad in a place where the hospitals were not brilliant to say the least.

It was close to my due date when there was something so hilarious on TV (wish I could remember what!) that I laughed till I cried.

My mother said, 'You'll set your baby off,' and I did - waters broke later that night. I recommend this method!

Poor df had to drive miles to a work conf in Wales the next day, after a very disturbed night, and had the call that evening that dd had arrived safely. The Welsh receptionist had evidently been listening in (this was aeons ago) since she said, 'Good news in the family, then?'

Df said Yes, he had a new granddaughter!

'There's nice!' she said. 'There's lovely!'

Changerofname987654321 · 02/09/2017 12:02

Lots of European countries consider ful term to be 41 or even 42 weeks.

Original poster
sthitch · 02/09/2017 15:33

Thanks all- this all makes good reading as I'm still here with no signs!!! I'll go for another sweep next Thursday and if not I'll be induced the following Tuesday so here's hoping something starts soon!!!

OP posts:
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