How did your contractions start?

[Winter2019]

Currently 36wks pregnant with dc2. With dc1 I had no indication that labour is soon, no period - like pain, no feeling that the baby had dropped, no diarrhea, nothing. I was sure she'll be late but at 39wks my waters broke at night, no contraction thought, had to be induced. So just wondering how did your contractions start? Gradually or out of nowhere?

My started gradually at 35 weeks. Waters broke 36+4 but not fully, gave birth 36+6 a week ago today!

My middle child was 36+6 too so was expected to be early.

Bookmarking as I’ve been getting contractions since 34 weeks (now 36) and yesterday was in quite intense pain as baby's head engaged, I think (guessing from what I’ve read as I’m a FTM).

Quite a lot of practice contractions atm, but no loss, just lots of discomfort and a feeling that baby is going to fall through my pelvic floor any minute!

DD - I was induced, so contractions were brought on by the pessary.

DS - I woke up to a contraction at 4.45am. DS born by 8.40am, waters didn’t go until I was pushing.

I'm also 36 weeks with second baby. With my first, like op, I had no signs of labour at all and assumed I would go over due. Then 2am at exactly 39 weeks my waters broke and my contractions started 2 hours later. By 8am I was in hospital with contractions less than 3 mins apart.

With this pregnancy I've been having period pains and cramping for past week.

Congratulations on having your baby @annielennox :) wish it would be behind me too!

Thank you! I don't seem to be able to carry full term. My first was 34 weeks by emergency c section 😬

Forgot to mention that I lost my mucus plug 6 days before giving birth with this one.

Mine started like period pains and they kinda came and went and they just got stronger from there. You'll know when it's labour as it'll be kinda waves of cramps or pain rather than a constant pain

Sorry just read your on your second pregnancy so you obviously know what contractions feel like I replied before I read the whole post lol xx

I had contractions every evening for the 3 or 4 nights before i went into labour (nothing during the day).

Then one day I woke up with the same contractions at 5:30am. Spent about 4 hours wondering if it was the real deal and then 12 hours after that ds was born

Managed to stay at home for most of it.

Oh and my waters didn't go until the final 50 mins so it really does sound like I had a completely different experience to you op!

I had painless tightenings from about 7 months, then from 38 weeks diarrhoea off and on. I was incredibly grumpy on my due date then at 40+1 I woke up with backache at 4am that was coming on every 10 minutes!