Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Childbirth

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

Original poster

FTM- how did labour start for you?

57 replies

c307 · 11/09/2018 19:22

As the title says really, how did labour start? Is it literally all of a sudden out of the blue or are there actually signs in the days or hours before indicating it? Was it during the day or middle of the night?

This is my first baby so just unsure of what to expect, obviously everyone is different but it's nice to hear people's stories Smile

OP posts:
SnowBambino · 13/09/2018 01:08

I’d had a few cramps but thought nothing of it, I was 38+5 and anxious about a lack of movement, so popped into triage to be checked out that evening. I had lost some mucus plug a few days before, and on arriving at triage I had a small show.

They wanted to induce me due to lack of movement, but when they checked me over it turned out I was already 4cm. The midwife did a sweep. I went from being absolutely fine and eating a sandwich at around 9.30pm, to contractions every 3 minutes by 11pm. Waters broke just after midnight and I headed into the delivery suite at around 2pm. They kept telling me that it could take 8-18 hours from that point, but DD was born two hours later. It was all a bit of a surprise!

PrincessConsuelaBannanaHammock · 13/09/2018 04:00

Exciting c307
Good luck Smile

Eminybob · 13/09/2018 05:33

I had no prior symptoms. I was sitting on the sofa watching telly, iI did feel a bit uncomfortable like the baby was in an awkward position, then I got up to go to the loo.
As soon as I stood up there was a sort of a twang and my waters all went in a big gush. My first though was to get out of the living room so they weren’t going all over the carpet!
Then went to the hospital but they sent me home as contractions hadn’t started. They started exactly 1 hour later, and ds was born at lunch time the next day.
It was all a bit of a shock as I was only 37+4 and was fully expecting to go overdue.

TeddyIsaHe · 13/09/2018 05:38

I started with full period pains late evening 2 days before dd was born. The next morning I lost my plug about 9am and contractions started ramping up almost immediately. Contracted all day, went to hospital at about 9pm to be told I was only 2cm (argh) and came home. Basically walked in the door and my contractions became unbearable so went back to hospital. 4cm so I immediately requested an epidural at about 3am. Dd was born at 4:30pm the next day. I was bloody shattered! Totally worth it though.

Good luck! Hope you have your snuggly baby soon.

Moody123 · 13/09/2018 07:44

I loved my labour! No warnings, contractions started at 3 am every 8-9 mins I went downstairs and watch tv (did not eat ice cream)
When my hubby woke, at 6 am I got a hot bath, my contractions went straight up to 2-3 mins in the bath. I called the midwife led unit and they said to come in. I had to call my sister and wait 20 mins for her to get to my house as we had a ASDA delivery due 😂
Got to the hospital 8:30 and then wanted a water birth but I couldn't as I had a unexplained bleed. I was 7cm when I arrived, gas and air, and a 2nd degree tear and my lo arrived at 10:20, we were home for 6pm.

Moody123 · 13/09/2018 07:44

My water didn't break until after he was born and then they exploded all over my midwife 😞

Original poster
c307 · 13/09/2018 09:18

My waters have gone this morning at 5am, been in to hospital to be checked and it was them so just got to wait for contractions now...if nothing by tomorrow morning we start induction Confused

OP posts:
Merename · 13/09/2018 10:04

Oh exciting! How are you feeling?

Original poster
c307 · 13/09/2018 10:44

Absolutely fine atm, small dull ache in tummy and bit of back ache but that's all. Hoping something starts as I'd prefer not to be induced but I guess it's out of my control now.

OP posts:
Merename · 13/09/2018 11:08

That sounds promising. I’m sure you are, but walking and bouncing on ball should help. (Says she who is currently lying in bed completely immobile). Good luck. I’m due today with no signs yet so got labour envy!

annlee3817 · 13/09/2018 23:24

Oooh good luck, hope contractions start soon for you if they haven't already :)

Original poster
c307 · 14/09/2018 08:02

No contractions Sad slept like a log. Looking like induction today now

OP posts:
Bobbiepin · 14/09/2018 08:15

At least you've slept, you'll need that. Induction is the start of the end, you'll be fine. Don't be scared, good luck!

PrincessConsuelaBannanaHammock · 14/09/2018 09:50

Don't worry too much induction, remember people are more likely to tell you bad stories than good ones. It's the beginning of the end and you'll soon have your beautiful baby! Good luck

Merename · 14/09/2018 11:12

Glad you slept c307. Hope it all goes smoothly and calmly for you now.

theruffles · 14/09/2018 20:44

I was unusually grumpy and short all day and couldn't put my finger on what was wrong. I also had ridiculous heartburn that wouldn't go away. I went to bed at 9pm and had a sharp pain in my pelvis which I thought was just a painful kick but then had a gush of water. Contractions started about 30 minutes later every 5-10 minutes or so.

Jaffacakesfordinner · 14/09/2018 20:55

Quite a sudden story here.

Finished work for maternity the day before and was given some mothercare vouchers from my employees so went shopping the day after with a friend.. 12 days before ny due date (i had so much bloody planned prepping for his arrival). Got home, fat ankles and puffed out.. chucked the shopping bags on the sofa and dropped down beside them with a big sign and then i was wet through.. thought id peed from sitting down too heavily but was shocked at the amount cus id only been 10mins prior at the shops and i was SOAKED..then i stood up to go get changed and realised it was waters as it just kept flowing with gravity.. 7 stairs up and the contractions started.. he was born a hour and 40mins later.

Turned into a crazy lady though - got to the hospital telling staff that he was coming and they were all laid back like "well take a seat and we will examine you in a minute" and i was all NO NOWWW!! I SAID HES COMING!!! 🙈🙈

MetalMidget · 14/09/2018 21:00

I had no warnings - I stood up and my waters broke in a ridiculously dramatic fashion (I almost became convinced that there wasn't a baby in there, only fluid - it was like Niagra Falls!). Twenty minutes later the contractions and projectile vomiting started, and less than four hours later I had a baby.

Hope your induction went well, OP!

Original poster
c307 · 15/09/2018 09:01

Not having the best time Sad started first stage induction yesterday at 1pm and not got very far, haven't slept at all last night so very tired and emotional. Labour ward is too busy atm to move me for second stage so don't even know what's happening really.

OP posts:
BrizzleMaverick · 15/09/2018 09:12

1st DS waters broke 12noon on Tuesday contractions started 1am Wednesday morning. Baby born 1:05pm Wednesday afternoon after getting hooked up to the hormone drip as contractions disappeared at 8:30am also ventouse delivery.

2nd DS lost mucus plug on Sunday morning, contractions started Monday approximately 1:30pm. Waters went approximately 7pm. Baby born at 9:44pm.

Heatherjayne1972 · 15/09/2018 20:48

The first time was textbook labour although my waters didn’t go until I was 10 cm dilated and in hospital
Contractions felt like tightening bands around my bump
Second time the only thing I felt was a mild tightness under the bump- was booked in for a c/ section anyway and was shocked to discover I was 5cm dilated.

I had no idea I was even in labour

isabella2 · 15/09/2018 20:59

@c307 I hope things have progressed now. Or, if not, that you have had some sleep.

LynseyLou1982 · 16/09/2018 17:10

I'd been losing bits of plug for a few days. I woke up on the Tuesday morning at 5am with period type pains. They gradually got stronger and I put my TENS machine on. By lunchtime the TENS was on full whack so I summoned OH to come home. Rang hospital about 2pm advised to take a bath and paracetamol and if I really couldn't manage call back. I had a bath but by 3pm I didn't want to leave it any longer as they were coming every 5 mins and it was the end of February when we had the really bad snow which had just started and I was worried about getting to hospital. Arrived at hospital about 3:30pm was examined at 4:15 and was 6cm so sent straight to delivery. Epidural in by 5:30 and baby was born the following morning at 5:28am so 24.5 hours in total.

GinPink · 16/09/2018 19:13

I've had three babies all labours came on naturally. My biggest piece of advice would be to trust your instincts. If you feel like you need to go to the hospital then go. If I hadn't of ignored the midwives my babies would have been born at home or in the car.

Baby one - labour started at 3am. I had no warning signs at all, I just woke up and had to urgently do a massive poo 😂 and then had sudden painful contractions which escalated quickly. Baby was born 7 hours later.

Baby two - labour started at about 9pm again needed an urgent poo and had sudden contractions. Baby born 10 past midnight.

Baby three - had painful braxton hicks every night in the lead up and on the actual night had a show and, again, urgent poo 😂

Merename · 16/09/2018 19:24

Hope you are ok OP. It sounds like you have had a long haul since we haven’t heard from you since yesterday morning, hope this is because you are now recovering cuddling your little one Flowers

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

Join Mumsnet Log In

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.