Will I definitely know I am in labour?

[Bubblesbubblesmybubbles]

Sounds silly I'm sure but I keep worrying I won't realise until baby is almost here. DC1 was a c sec due to being breech so I have never laboured before. Hospital is 45 mins away and my DM 2 hours away (coming to look after DC1)

I had contractions for about a week without knowing what they were, still ended up needing induced, being a week over due and being in labour for almost 23hrs.
When they get strong you will defiantly know about it though!

I had period type cramping for a few days beforehand which I think is quite common. Yes as the PP said when they ramp up you definitely know about it!

Everyone is different but you are v likely to have more than 2 hours warning.

I've had plenty of what i presume are braxton hicks. If i get up i can walk them off, been going on for weeks.

Glad to hear i will definitely be sure

Yes you definitely will! If you have a short labour the contractions will be really intense and no mistaking it. If you have 3 in 10mins get in the car. If you have a long labour you might not realise at the start of it but by the time it ramps up you will definitely know.

My labour was 3 hours long and I did the first 1.5hrs at home and then knew I had to go in (30 min drive). Had a 30 min wait in triage then they rushed me into a delivery room as I was starting to push! Baby born 30mins after that.

I had this worry for DC2 as well, as DC1 was induced so I went 0-60 with no build up.
In my experience, yes you’ll absolutely know. 7am of the day he was born I started to experience period cramps/achey tummy. Came in waves but gentle waves. I went about my day but was aware this was probably early labour. It built and built and waters went at 2pm - I bloody knew by then I can tell you! He was born 2 hours later. I think you’ll have time to travel to where you need to get to. But who knows, you might labour quickly!

Thanks all, giving me hope i won't end up making an utter fool of myself by not realising.

Hoping its a slowish labour so i make it to hospital!! Not keen on the idea of an unassisted VBAC at home

Yes you'll know. If you move around your BH ease off, if it's labour they'll do the opposite. Good luck!

Thank you! Its only because of the time scale we need to have notice with all this Covid malarky

With 2 out of 3 births, I never really knew until I was within about 2 hours to birth mostly because I also had terrible braxton hicks. Labour felt like not labour most of the time.

With my final baby I lost my mucas plug about 6 hours before birth, but still wasn't confident because it didn't hurt THAT badly. By the time I called midwifes both times, still uncertain, they could tell over the phone and moved me right along.

But 2 hours was still plenty of time, and made it all much less stressful.

(the pregnancy I did know started when I woke up to my water breaking, That one took about 7 hours but didn't hurt badly until the end)

Thank you @VeraorHolly, 2 hours should JUST give them enough time to arrive to look after DC1

@Bubblesbubblesmybubbles. Remarkably, with my second two my body did not go into labour seriously until the DC were sorted.

With my third, in hindsight I was in labour all day. I dithered about sending DC away (home birth) and at 9pm decided to, just to be safe. Almost the minute they were out the door the real labour started. In my birth yoga class (very in-touch with body group) this was a common and expected experience.

You will be fine.

With all of my births I’ve never had signs of early labour. And I didn’t know I was in active labour until the most about 20 minutes before the babies arrived.

First birth my waters exploded and I wasn’t sure as my contractions weren’t strong or regular. They asked me to come to hospital to check me over anyway. I ended up in active labour pretty much as soon as I got to hospital. Baby born very quickly and was psychologically a massive shock, I was expecting days of build up and a massive drawn out affair. Instead my body took over and my mind had no control over any of it.

I had an idea I was in active labour with my second, contractions not very strong though. I’d had a sweep in the morning and was going in for induction. I was apparently 6cm on arrival and taken to delivery room. As soon as I got into the delivery room they were trying to offer me an antacid but instead I was thinking “he’ll be here in a minute just fucking read my notes!” Let’s just say shot out before they even got to read the notes and formally introduce themselves.

3rd child opted for home birth, had horrendous Braxton hicks for weeks. Was having what I thought was more whilst eating fish and chips. Dh made some sarcastic comment about mushy peas and I had distinct urge to Chuck my dinner all over him. Dss made a swift exit to his bedroom for an early night. Decided to call the midwives, remembered the 2 midwives who came didn’t have a clue whether I was in active labour or not. I had no idea anymore as braxton hicks were always very intense and nothing was regular. Anyway 20 minutes later dd was born in about 3 almighty contractions which felt like my whole internal organs were about to be expelled. Then about 30 seconds later then placenta shot out too.

So I can say yes active labour can very much sneak up on you. And braxton hicks can be very confusing. Not everyone has lengthy periods of sustained and regular contractions, or in fact any notion they’re in the early signs of labour (unless you count a severe disliking to your partners sense of humour).

20 minutes notice, oh blimey we will be not even half way to hospital Will definitely keep an eye out for irrational annoyance at DH

Yeah I do worry the mental side will stop me going into labour

My DS was back to back, so all of my contractions felt like lower back pain, I felt nothing in front at all - so, I actually thought I had a really bad urine infection as I also needed to pee a lot... after some faffing and not being able to get a doctors appt, I went to the hospital to be checked. They asked if I was having contractions and I said I didn’t know (tho by then had started to suspect something was going on). Examined me and I was 7cm, and he was born about 2 hours later. It was a massive shock tbh, especially as it was 3 weeks early. Pregnant again now - like to think I’ll realise what is going on this time...

@zitouna wow that must've been a big surprise!!!

My main fear is no one making it in time to look after DC1 and having to do it alone then DH not being allowed in to the delivery suite to see us

I didn't know I was in labour until my contractions were 90 seconds apart. Baby was breech and I was overdue. Was horrific when I realised. Was 8 cm dilated 🤦‍♀️

@Theyweretheworstoftimes that must've been terrifying!! What did you do??

I woke up at 5:30am one morning and my braxton Hicks started to actually hurt. Like I had a really bad UTI. I knew that was the day I'd give birth. I had my daughter 11pm that night. Note, not every woman gets braxton Hicks

I knew with my first as my waters had broken and my contractions were strong. With my second, I spent the morning feeling very unsure as I’d had strong braxton Hicks for weeks. I ended up going to the hospital for reduced movement concerns. They said I was 3cm dilated, they could see contractions on the monitor, and looked puzzled when I turned down the pain relief offered. My baby was born a little over 2 hours later and the contractions never did get that painful.

Hmmm I dunno. At 9.45pm I texted my mum saying "few tightening but nothing major so let's see what tomorrow brings"

My LO was born at 11.20pm. I went from feeling pretty ok with a few tightening that could have been Braxton hicks or the very early start of labour, to roaring in pain on the bed an hour later. Official labour notes were 50min!! So it can creep up on you very unexpectedly too.

Blimey if you got minimal notice how did you get to hospital/MLU in time?

@bubblesbubblesmybubbles I called the labour ward who told me to call an ambulance. I said no time to wait for them!!!

I was alone in the house so I called my mum as no idea what to do.

She came over and drive me to the hospital and I almost gave birth in the car park.

Staff came out to the car park and rushed me in and hit all the alarms and people came running. Rushed straight into theatre and c section was done.

My mum was still shaking three days later.

I was sure at the time that either I would be dead or the baby would be but we were both ok.
Took me a long time to recover physically and emotionally.

At the time I remember being really freaking calm and just giving her directions and telling her not to break the limit.

This is my fear too!
DH works 45 mins away, and then its another 30 mins to the hospital.
I'm also worried I'll go in to be checked and they tell me I'm only say 2cm but have to stay in, but he cant be there until 3-4cm; and then I'll progress really quickly and have to call him & him do the 30 min journey and miss it 😫

I think usually women do know. I didn't realise until I was quite far along because I thought the pains would be like cramps but they weren't. It was more like I became really uncomfortable. Couldn't sit still. I only went to hospital because I started bleeding quite heavily. When I got there I was 5 cm and I had her about 30 mins after that. Suddenly it was like I'd been hooked up to the national grid. I think you just have to be aware that not everyone's pains will be the same. Often they don't want first time mums in and will tell you to stay at home until contractions are closer together. I think mine was just one massive contraction lol so if I'd have waited for ten mins apart I'd have never gone in. If you're scared or think somethings happening, just go in

My husband got to theatre 90 seconds before baby was born he walked in and then all of a sudden baby was born.

I have to give the staff huge kudos. They knew what to do and how to do it.

I am so grateful to them.