Has anyone else had the same?

[Sammi18]

Hi,

I am new to mumsnet and I have never used anything like this before, I gave birth to my first little girl in September this year, but I got to 9cm without really knowing as I was having contractions but they were not that painful.. luckily we went to the hospital as I had a big 'show' but I don't know anyone else who got to 9cm without knowing. Has anyone else had this same experience and if so can anyone tell me what to expect when I have my 2nd?

thanks

Hi! If you get no luck here, you could try the Birth Trauma Association. Get in touch with them. There's a good chance a few members will have had a similar experience.

Hi there,
I had similar with my DC. With DS1 I was 7cm without knowing it (only went in because I felt a bit funny), DS2 I was 8cm, again didn’t feel it but felt ‘a bit funny’, and with DD1 I had an unplanned homebirth because again I didn’t realise how close I was 🙄 DD2 (4weeks old) was a planned homebirth and the midwife made it with 8 minutes to spare because my husband overruled me about phoning her 🤣
So in my experience you’ll have the same again. I was told with DC4 to have a homebirth because I wouldn’t make it to Hospital in time and it would be safer than having her in the car so if you do have DC2 I would suggest a homebirth if possible.
Congratulations on your little girl xx

I knew I was in labour when I went to hospital.
What I didn’t know was that I was fully dilated.

If I could have more, I’d have a homebirth for sure - the thought of giving birth in the street horrifies me.

Yes, I'd agree that it can happen again after an experience like yours. I had a 2 hour labour with DD, then when I got to 40 weeks with DS, I just got some vague back pains and felt nauseated. I was feeling some pressure , so got DH to drive me to hospital just in case something was happening. I walked in while DH parked the car, still wondering if I was actually in labour. The triage nurse asked me to get onto the bed, she took my pants off and DS was born after one push.

So yes you can get to fully dilated and not know it.