Early labour - what was it like for you?

[toteswingingit]

41 weeks today, and I've had 3 failed sweeps (including one this morning).

According to the midwife my cervix is firmly shut (although today she did say it was softer today than earlier in the week).

I've got an induction booked in, but obviously would rather everything just start naturally as then I can use the MLU....however I think this has led me to desperately symptom spot!

For the past couple of hours I've had a really sore lower back, and while I've been bouncing on my birthing ball I've definitely had some cramping feelings in my lower abdomen.
However, I'm well aware that this could simply be because of the vacuuming I did today and the really spicy Indian I had last night...

So, I was just wondering how everyone else felt in the early stages of labour? (And potentially tell me to chill out! Lol)

Hi, I never went into natural labour and had to be induced at 42 weeks (would have wanted the induction earlier if they would have booked me in.) So sorry for you as it's very uncomfortable, almost there. My advice is to relax stick your feet up and watch Netflix. I tried everything you name it and it didn't work and once baby comes you'll not get a minute to yourself. Just enjoy some final 'you' time. My little man was stubborn and had to be evicted unfortunately! I think they get too comfortable in there!

The back pain and cramps could be signs of early labour, my last started like that and I had a few hours of thinking 'is this it?'...but when proper labour starts, you usually really know!

How are you feeling now?

I second what @BreakfastLunchPasta says ... you will know when it really starts! I never believed it until i experienced natural labour with DS2!

Best advice if you do think it could be starting Is rest, eat, sleep and relax - and don’t stray too far from home!

Someone once told me, if you have to question yourself as to weather you are in labour or not, you probably aren’t.

I just had period type pain the day before my waters went. I was quite lucky and didn't realise how established my labour was (6 cm before I was in real pain). Good luck!

Much the same, cramping coming and going.

I know if (and it's a big if) it is the start of labour this can last for hours/days and know that it's not 'labour labour' if that makes sense.

Not intending on going out tonight, have a family friends child's first birthday party tomorrow, but that's close to home so I won't be straying far anyway.

Fingers crossed this is the start of something....but know my luck I just really need to go to the loo 🙈🙈 lol

Well, even going to the loo can be a sign; if you suddenly need a really big poo, it can be your body clearing out for labour! At 41 weeks, and just after a sweep, it is possible things are starting. Keep us informed, and look out for any pattern to the cramps

Pretty sure my labour started on Sunday evening instead of early Monday morning. Had horrible stomach pains and back ache like you, and then apparently really needed the loo. Then waters broke maybe 5-6 hours later, then I went back to bed until about 5 and knew I was having gentle contractions when I got up.

The up side of needing the loo beforehand is that you don't poop during labour

I had a weird tummy ache and kept feeling like I needed a poo so kept nipping to the loo.

I was 11 days overdue (3 failed sweeps), me and DH went to the hospital at 8am as I was booked in for induction.

Felt a bit like the start of a period, back ache, stomach cramps and general fed up-ness. Hope all goes well OP x

I was checked over, I was 2cm or so dilated but not in labour. A pessary tablet was put "up there" around 9:30am. I was check again at 12ish, Midwife broke my waters then. She said she'd come back at 2 to set the induction up (plug me into the drip). Luckily at 1:45pm I started getting dull back pains on and off. Midwife was delayed and came back to see me at 3pm. She hooked me up to the monitor and confirmed I was having contractions, I was given a birthing ball shortly after. Contractions got stronger and stronger in my back. Midwife came at 4:30pm asked if I would like to use the birthing pool. I though hmm why not, at this point I was bouncing on the birthing ball a lot as it seemed to help me get through the contractions. At 5pm I was given gas and air (felt very high the first few puffs) shortly after the feeling high novelty wore off but the gas and air was still helping. Eventually contractions made their way round to my bump (felt like very strong cramps) At 6pm I entered the birthing pool (takes 1 hour the fill the pool) luckily I could still use gas and air in the pool. I was in the pool for 3 hours 5 mins. At 9:05pm my beautiful daughter was born in the pool. I delivered her myself. I was pushing for 30mins, at the end my Midwife said, "grab her" as I pushed her out I help her and brought her up to my chest. Most beautiful & proud moment of my life. She weighed 7lb 12oz. I'm very pleased I did not need to be induced, if I did I wouldn't of been able to go in the birthing pool. I would highly recommend the birthing pool, I will hopefully use one the next time I give birth.

I thought things were happening on Thursday but it turned out I did just really need to go to the loo😂😂

No change overnight, got a pretty good sleep though which was lovely 😊. Still have a dull lower back ache and cramps on and off but nothing exciting happening as of yet....

That was how it started for me OP. Keep moving, walking, bouncing on birth ball etc and am sure that baby will make its appearance soon enough. Good luck!

Keep pottering around and moving - sounds like my early stage....I do weird several days of very low-key latent labour (not that I knew it was at the time!).

Good luck!

Had reduced movement today so they brought my induction forward! 😬

Pessary is in and currently being monitored!

Ooooh a live labour thread. Good luck op!!

Good luck toteswingingit, took me 25 hours from pessary to birth of my baby, my waters broke 3 hours after pessary. Birthing ball was my saviour while it was all kicking off!

Lots of cramping and back ache now, like the worst periods pains in the world!

Been walking around the hospital and just headed back to my room now and on the ball. Quite tired though so going to try and get a couple of hours sleep in before they do my next set of obs. 😴😴

Labour finally started naturally for me at 41+3. Felt like trapped wind that got progressively worse.

I saw an acupuncturist 48 hours before labour, not sure if it helped but I was willing to try anything!

I had a long and very painful latent phase. It exhausted me and led to my assisted delivery (just about managed to avoid an EMCS).

Good luck, try and eat a little bit now if possible but not too much.

From what you describe totes I don't think it'll be long for your waters to go. I got the most terrible pains 3 hours after pessary and then whoosh waters went.

I had a really painful latent phase (all back ache) because of this I found labour not too bad. Good luck! X

Good luck let us know how you got on x

So induction worked very quickly and my baby boy was born this morning 😍