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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

Do contractions start gradually or just hit you?

30 replies

Baloonphobia · 13/05/2019 22:32

This is actually my second baby but with the first I was woken up with a strong pain, 9 mins later another one and so on and baby arrived 6 hrs later. I'm wondering if this was my first contraction or would smaller ones have been building while I was asleep and then I only woke as they got bigger?

OP posts:

icannotremember · 13/05/2019 22:36

My first birth started with a bang like yours- I went from nothing to my waters breaking and a huge contraction followed minutes later by another, and he was born 2.5 hours later. The second was different. I woke up with the repeated urge to go to the loo, passed (sorry!) lots of loose stools, felt a lot of pressure and knew I was about to to into labour. When it did start it was intense from the earliest contractions again, but not quite as speedy- total labour was 2 hrs 45, but only 4 minutes of that was the second stage so most of it was build up. With the third it was different again, it started slower and was really manageable for an couple of hours then just went all crazy and intense and I got very shouty indeed!

foreverhanging · 13/05/2019 22:39

Mine started with one enormous contraction and then went to every so often. Waters didn't break until near birth. My labour took nearly 48 hours though

Drogosnextwife · 13/05/2019 22:41

My first was very gradual over 40 hours, but I had a sweep and it started off as strong period pains.
Second I woke up ( well I wasn't really asleep properly and he was born 5 hours later so that was pretty fast.

Chilledout11 · 13/05/2019 22:43

I felt like I had a mild flu / aches and then light cramps all day and night and the next day and around 7pm got strong. Was in full labour by midnight

TokyoSushi · 13/05/2019 22:46

Similar to yours, I was woken up by one massive pain, huge!
Waters went about 20 minutes later avd we were off. Shame DS didn't turn up for another 31 hours of regular very painful contractions!

Original poster

Baloonphobia · 13/05/2019 22:47

I'm pretty crampy this evening, loads of braxton hicks tightening. I'm due for induction on Wed morning due to the first one being quick and the fact that I live in the middle of nowhere. I hope nothing's starting!

OP posts:

firstimemamma · 13/05/2019 22:49

I had a 16-hour labour, it started very gently at half 5 in the morning. After the first 4 hours of contractions the penny dropped that it was the real deal (we thought labour had started a few times before but it turned out to be false alarms). Good luck op

notso · 13/05/2019 23:03

First two started with very mild twingy aches.
Second two were full on ouchy breathtaking pains but the births were loads quicker.

Celebelly · 13/05/2019 23:05

My waters went suddenly and within 30 mins I was getting 3 contractions in 10 minutes, each lasting almost a minute. I never got that nice gradual onset where you can watch a relaxing film or get some sleep!

PerfectPeony2 · 13/05/2019 23:08

Mine were niggles that went on for ages! Got really painful and I couldn’t sit down. Didn’t dilate properly for 24 hours! She was back to back though.

mineofuselessinformation · 13/05/2019 23:09

With both births, I had contractions every three minutes right form the start.
The first was a back to back baby, so over 36 hours in labour, the second was delivered 1hr 40 mins after I got to the hospital!
That's no telling what will happen.

Original poster

Baloonphobia · 13/05/2019 23:24

Just got a pretty serious but quick pain. Really hope it's gas or something. I'm 39 weeks. DD came on her due date.

OP posts:

Jemima232 · 13/05/2019 23:32

I would be very wary about disregarding this, OP.

If you've had a serious pain, don't assume it's gas, with your history.

Second labours can be surprisingly quick. (Midwife speaking.)

If you get another serious pain, ring triage.

Novinosincebambino · 13/05/2019 23:39

Second baby was a bit like 'hmmmm I feel a bit weird' at 6am and tried to go back to sleep. Lost plug about 10am and contractions started after that. About every 20 minutes, then 10 minutes then jumped to 5 minutes. Told midwife I was on way (didn't wait to be told) jumped in the car and got to hospital just in time. Baby was here by 2pm. Wishing you all the best OP. If in doubt and you're in the middle of nowhere call triage.

tararabumdeay · 13/05/2019 23:47

With second one walking round Kwik Save on the Thursday afternoon at 40+3 it was obvious the twinges were regular and something was happening. Managed to make through Eastenders and time to go to the hospital 20 dark rural miles away. Got a puncture; was grippin the door handle hoping DH wasn't going to be run over on an A road in the middle of nowhere.

Made it to hospital on a space saver. Could barely walk in when we got there. I remember leaning on the back of the bastard car saying 'It'll be alright when it stops and it'll stop in a minute.' DS arrived like a bat out of hell two hours later at 2am Friday.

Original poster

Baloonphobia · 14/05/2019 00:06

No more pain so I'm thinking it's a false alarm. But I will be keeping a very close eye on it and ringing if it happens again.

OP posts:

Redwinestillfine · 14/05/2019 10:56

Mine were both straight in at the deep end! Nothing and then full on regular and painful. Both mine were out in just over 3 hours though.

Redwinestillfine · 14/05/2019 10:57

Good luck

redwoodmazza · 14/05/2019 11:07

I woke up wanting a poo - but couldn't do one when I went to the loo. Then it happened again. At the third time I realised it must be contractions. It was.
Son born about 17 hours later.

anitagreen · 14/05/2019 11:10

My first started gradually.
Labour was 45 minutes long she was born in two pushes, my second I had period pain all day then about 4 painful contractions he was born on two pushes also I think that Labour was 15 minutes I'm now pregnant with number 3 dreading how quick it'll be

notcopinganymore · 14/05/2019 11:45

Mine started with a bang.

Instant horrendous pain, 2 minutes apart, then 1 minute apart, and that lasted for 15 hours, non stop. No build up.

Second labour, instant bang start, same again, contractions 1 minute apart straight away and lasted non stop for 8 hours. No build up.

Third labour, more of a build up. The traditional start, 10-15 minutes, then 10 then 5, then eventually 1 minute. Although this build up was better so I could cope with the increasing pain, I got stuck in transition, and that was horrendous.

Plus the after pains of the third birth, fecking hell, they were bad.

Aish31 · 14/05/2019 13:17

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ as it was posted in the wrong place.

Chocolate1984 · 14/05/2019 19:37

I was in labour from 11am but just thought I needed a poo. The contractions didn't get obviously sore until around 2/3. i didn't realise I was in labour until it was very obvious

Leftielefterson · 14/05/2019 19:51

Tbh my labour came on exceptionally quickly. I had period like cramps for about 1.5 hours and then my contractions started and were only about 3 minutes apart and they progressed quite quickly. My labour lasted 4 hours with 15 minutes of pushing. Extremely quick.

MustardScreams · 15/05/2019 09:27

How are you getting on @Baloonphobia

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