How do you know when your in 'real' labour?

[Tinks15]

So I'm 38+5 with DD2 & last night I felt what I thought was the start of everything kicking off, pains started at 10pm & couldn't sleep until 3am (I then must of drifted off to sleep & woke up to nothing) I was having what I call 'period cramping' with them coming every 4-5 minutes occasionally 6 mins then lasting about 35-45 seconds. I didn't feel the need to call the labour ward at this point as they were managable, I was told by my midwife last week to call when contractions were every 3-4 minutes lasting about 45 seconds.
So my question is how do I know when to 'call' or when you know your in actual 'labour'?

I didn't go into labour naturally with DD1 I was induced so I'm not really sure what to expect??

It sounds like the early stages of labour but this could continue on and off for a while yet. Everybody says this but you will know when you are in active labour. Your contractions will become much stronger and it will be difficult to concentrate on other things through them. I assume at the moment you could probably move around and do some small jobs around the house etc. I went to the supermarket and did the weekly shop in early labour.

I was told to go for a walk. If you are in "true" labour it will ramp it up, if not it will stop. Not sure if it works but that is what our midwives told us. I went for a walk in early labour with ds2 (the only child I had that labour didn't start with waters going, which made it pretty obvious that baby would be arriving soon) and it did ramp things up...

Watching as 39 +1 with dc2 and keep thinking I'm getting close!

This sounds like my second labour! It was off and on for three days. Initially the contractions didn't get closer than 6 mins, there was a lot of back ache and period pain type pains.
They became more intense on the third day, they didn't stop/fade either.
I'll try to explain the feeling but not sure I can - my tummy went hard with the early contractions, very period pain type pain. When they became more intense I had to breathe through them, there was a bit as the contraction peaked that felt like the bottom of my uterus was being electrocuted a bit - I attributed that to dilation.
Once they started it was all over quickly - 3hrs from them to baby being here.
Best of luck for a healthy and safe delivery!

I spent ages wondering the same and asked every midwife and mother I met how they knew, and they always said you just know.

It really really annoyed me and I didn't understand how I would know....

but when it happened, I did just know

I guess not much help, but it was a different pain to the period aches I had leading up to it

Thanks ladies. I really want her to make an appearance now especially with the weather being the way it is this week...I'm really struggling now in this heat & being so big . I shall keep you all updated!

Well, if you've not had your baby, I can second keeping moving. I had what you described for two of my pregnancies. Regular contractions but not really painful enough to be doing anything. Walked around for an hour or two and then, out they came! Midwives often send women out for walks.
But I have also had it where they disappear completely. It's so hard to predict because everyone is different. But I'd reckon if your body is gearing up to have this baby in the next few days then keeping active will help enormously.

My contractions were that frequent from the beginning and lasted that long. Felt like menstrual cramps and then built up to more intense ones. I went to bed thinking they were dying down and then my waters broke. Once that happened, baby arrived 2 hours later!

Hi @Tinks15, I went into labour a month ago so it's still very fresh. Like you, starts with period cramp sort of waves. Mine stared at night too, then during the middle of the next day eased off for a few hours. Then started again that eve.

I was determined not to go to hospital only to be sent back so so decided to ride the contractions out at home until I was really 'in labour' (whatever that meant....I too was unsure). By 1am though, the contractions where getting too much groan out with pain and so for me, this was when I thought ok, enough is enough, I'm going in to hospital! Sure enough, when I got there (painful contractions in the back of the car, writhing around) I was 4cm's dilated - which is when they want you!

Not sure if that's helpful at all? Basically I was in early labour for 24 hours...1am to 1am the next day...and then what I now understand to be established labour came when the contractions were the kind of pain that's really quite stabby.

It's so hard to explain!

Btw do call your hospital - just to let them know. I didn't and they weren't expecting me. Oooops

Thanks @motherofpearl19, @toastytea & @foxitude very helpful.

I am still very much pregnant & everything has seemed to of died down . I occasionally get the odd cramp or heavy pressure feeling around my foofy but that's it. I'm trying to keep active where I can but I'm just so bloody hot. I hope she comes soon!!

Also, @tinks15 not to worry you but I think it's often that second babies can come a lot faster than first. So my second, I waited a while thinking I'd ride it out til I had to go in...she arrived 10mins after I'd gotten to hospital and so fast I didn't realise I was having her until the midwife said there's the head! Argh. Third for me was more like the first with build up of intensity but that second, out of nowhere and only about two really painful contractions.
Anyway, good luck and hope you get some relief soon!

There’s a simple answer. When it fucking kills and you’ve gone past the stage where your not in real labour and your thinking to yourself “this isn’t actually that bad, I reckon I can handle this”

So when your at the fucking hell God help me stage, your in real labour and they’ll be a baby arriving within the next 10 hrs.

Fenwick that made me laugh, it’s exactly what my thoughts were when I was in labour with dd. Brilliant!

Hope you have a baby soon op

Haha it’s true. I can remember feeling quite smug and I said to my sister something along the lines of “it’s not actually that bad, but then again I’ve got quite a high pain threshold”.

I won’t go into what happened later but needless to say my Sister rips the shit out of me at every occasion about my supposed high pain threshold 🙈

That's the thing that worries me as I've heard people say second babies can come quick. I don't want to leave it too long to call & then end up having to give birth at home...be my worse nightmare.
You lovely ladies have reassured me a bit though thank you. Fingers crossed I will 'just know' when it's the real thing.

@Fenwickdream hahahahaha I said something similar too! Oh good god, it bloody hurt in the end. Sorry OP, probably not helping

I've just been questioning this. I've 40+5 today and really hoping she's coming soon.

I had my third sweep today and finally feel like it's done something so currently sitting on my birthing ball. They just feel like quite painful period pains to me but not anything bad enough for me to stop what I'm doing.

You will definitely know OP, you won’t be in any doubt at all when it starts. And with your second it will be quicker.

I did leave it too long with my first, 9cm when I got to hospital. Straight to delivery. Labour was easier than I expected it to be.

More painful with my second child, but he was a very rapid delivery.

I hope it’s soon for you OP, nothing worse than being pregnant during a heatwave. Good luck. ☘️

I’m going against the grain here....

I went into hospital at 38w as I was losing fluid. The CTG showed I was having contractions every 5 Min which I couldn’t feel and when they examined me I was 4cm and hadn’t felt anything.

I only started to feel the contractions after they broke my waters at 6cm.

How you getting on now @Tinks15?

Hi @Pereie
I'm still very pregnant & absolutely sweating my pants off...can you believe it!!!

Any tips on getting this baby to get moving? I don't know how much longer I can go on!

People say hot curry, pineapple and sex to get labour moving, pineapple may be the better option given the heat OP!

Try not to worry, baby will come when ready.

I avoided alcohol during my pregnancy, I was so stressed when I had a show and the contractions still didn’t start, DH said have a glass of wine and relax, my contractions started that night, in the early hours, DS was in my arms by lunchtime.

Good luck OP, being pregnant in a heatwave must be terrible. Please post again when you have good news or before for support.

Thanks @yoga.

Hot curry or sex really isn't appealing in this weather I agree, however it seems to be cooling down in the south east over the weekend so maybe I could give one/both of these a try.
Heard walking is another one but just don't think I could face it today.

Sex, videos of kittens (or puppies, if you find the cuter), videos of adorable babies. Anything that gets The oxytocin going!

I was crazy nesting just before I went into labour. I was working full time and then getting the house ready solidly for 2 weeks - really rushing. The minute I stopped, it was like she new it was the right time to be born...

Walking is also supposed to be great, as PP's have said. And squatting great for getting baby into great position. Let us know how it goes!

I'm in he same position @Tinks15, also sweating away in the south east and wondered if you had cracked it 😂

I thought I was in early labour the other night but everything has calmed down 😐