Looking back, was there any real obvious sign that you were about to go into labour?

[thomcat]

...other than the obvious contractions and waters breaking, thanks!

I've taken castor oil to kick start both of my labours. Now with this one, unless I go really over and get an induction date, I hope to just go into natural labour. But have never experienced what it's like to just go into labour with downing a bottle of castor oil, so wondered if there were any really obvious signs.

Waking up in the night panicing about an event I was supposed to attend in two days time and then the following morning bursting into tears at dh and saying I didn't want him to go to work. Later that morning my waters broke (at 37.5 weeks). Think my brain might have been trying to give me the hint...

None at all!
Just my waters going quite dramatically all over the bedroom floor. no warning.

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My waters hiting the floor. Splat!

Sorry, but that was my first sign

Nope, no signs at all.

Infact two days previous to going into labour the mw gave me a sweep (I was 40+9) and said my cervix felt like someone who was 38 wks.

My friend said she felt a bit sick all morning and had a bit of an upset stomach.

I'm actually really excited about going into labour without having to down castor oil. I knew each time I did it that later that night I would go into labour and it was all semi sort of planned in that way!

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diarrhoea. (sorry) Very irregular contractions started soon after that. Hospital diagnosed IBS

I baked for England and made a cushion (very out of character for me!) the day before. Then at 3am my waters went. That was about it really, was fairly unaware most of the way through to be honest!

See the upset tummy thing is what made me think of starting this thread.

I have 3-4 weeks to go but felt absolultey drained all of a sudden at work and went to the loo with a very upset tummy and thought, hmmm this is the sort of thing I would expect to happen before labour, think I'll go and start a thread on MN!

Sure mine isn't labour but was interested in what happened to you girls before yours kicked in.

Had to empty my bowels very suddenly during dinner. At 7.30 pm. Baby was born at 9.45 am the next day.

Night before with DD I felt very weird and my DH came down the stairs to find me sprawled full stretch on the floor! It was the only way I felt comfortable. I had no idea that it was probably pre-labour. Later that night my waters went and mucus plug came away not long after. DD was born 12 hours later. Hoping it all goes as well this time around (currently 39 weeks).

Good luck!

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So....Thomcat...any signs today?!

I believe I got on my hands and knees and scrubbed all the plaster splatters and dust off the stair bannisters and skirting boards a few days prior to labour (hallway had just bee replastered). Nesting perhaps? Retrospectively seems an odd decision for a significantly pregnant women to take!

Being so stroppy and premenstrual-type hormonal for the preceding few days that I actually posted in AIBU - remember?
Dead giveaway, apparently. Even DH wasn't surprised
And the night before I put sultanas to soak with the intention of making a fruit cake the next morning...

i had a show a few days before both of mine but that was it

had a show, then a few days later, i had a hindwater leak...woke up in labour the next day

Nothing. With both DS1 and DD (DS2 induced) I went to bed as normal, and woke up at 1.30am with contractions. I didn't even have a show, or my waters break with DS1.

Felt exceptionally 'wet' down there and went into hosp int the morning so they could see if waters were leaking. They weren't. Went into that labour that afternoon though.

Waters had to be broken in the end.

Floods of water, all over the floor, car, lobby of hospital, lift floor, hospital bed, on and on and on...