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Childbirth

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

Original poster

What was your first sign of labour.

32 replies

Bubnbutton · 18/09/2020 20:07

36 weeks pregnant with my first baby and can’t wait for baby to arrive.
I’m now questioning every twinge/ache/pain thinking ‘could this be it?’ I know I’m still a little early but had a growth scan today and was told baby is on the larger side and head is very low down so could be any day but if I go to my due date to expect a 8/9 pounder! 🙄
So I’m keen to get it here a week earlier and so I can meet it sooner too 😬😃😃

OP posts:
PolloDePrimavera · 18/09/2020 20:08

Period like pains with DD and waters breaking with DS. Both were late btw...

Letshavesometea · 18/09/2020 20:10

2 out of 3 started with slight twinges that you would barely even notice. The 3rd I was induced so that was a bit different.

Llamapolice · 18/09/2020 20:12

Woken up by cramps. They were like period pains and I was in no doubt whatsoever.

Original poster
Bubnbutton · 18/09/2020 20:15

Oooh exciting.
I think I would automatically think ‘shit, period pain, blood’ something is wrong rather than labour, but will keep it in mind. Thank you!

OP posts:
Nicola345 · 18/09/2020 20:17

I had a shooting pain in my behind, the first one definitely took my breath way.

DramaAlpaca · 18/09/2020 20:19

Six days before my due date I was woken during the night by a mild contraction. Like Braxton Hicks but stronger. Then I had another one a couple of hours later, which woke me up again. I knew immediately it was labour starting, no doubt about it whatsoever.

GiveMyHeadPeaceffs · 18/09/2020 20:21

My waters exploded, yes, exploded. Thankfully I was sitting in the hospital waiting for a check up Grin

Original poster
Bubnbutton · 18/09/2020 20:24

Exploded! 😵 I was also told not to expect what we see in the movies, such as explosions! 😂

Sounds like however it happened to you all, you instantly knew this was it! Hope I do.

OP posts:
ZaZathecat · 18/09/2020 20:27

When I ate a lovely Chinese meal and it came straight back up again!

Chottie · 18/09/2020 20:28

I had back ache and lost the mucus plug.

Mrsbclinton · 18/09/2020 20:28

Waters breaking at home on first & second pregnancy/ birth

TheFormerPorpentinaScamander · 18/09/2020 20:28

DS1 - my waters broke all over the sofa.
DS2 - contractions. Full blown straight away. No twinges or niggles!

spidermomma · 18/09/2020 20:30

Every time was different. My belly just seemed to get tighter. Number 1 was just cramps that I thought was period pains then got the hospital when I couldn't walk with them an I was 7cm! Number 2 I woke up an was like wow I'm guna go, decided get w bath try ease them. She decided just fly out and didn't wait ! Number 3 my waters actually broke (only time) day later the pains started then got the hospital they said again I was 7cm but I needed to push an he came 3 hours later!!! Xx

Besom · 18/09/2020 20:37

I had the 'show' at lunchtime then waters broke at midnight then contractions started a couple of hours later.

chubbyhotchoc · 18/09/2020 20:40

Mucus plug which is a thing once seen can never be unseen Confused

TokyoSushi · 18/09/2020 20:47

Woken up at 3am by one massive pain, waters went about 20 minutes later and away we went! Absolutely no symptoms whatsoever when I went to bed.

Katieweasel · 18/09/2020 20:56

Possibly TMI but I had the largest poo of my life. Had suffered with constipation all throughout my pregnancy. It was like my body was emptying itself in readiness and I went into labour a couple of hours later

BeHappyAndSmile · 18/09/2020 21:03

Oh same position here OP (although no growth scan just a feeling baby is going to be a big 'un based on his dad)! Although I'm afraid to say I've been getting period pains for a couple of weeks and no labour so that may not always be a sign.

Hope you have a lovely, quick and safe labour (sooner rather than later Grin)

PolloDePrimavera · 19/09/2020 08:04

Definitely not like on TV! A slow build up. Take care!

Original poster
Bubnbutton · 19/09/2020 09:09

Thanks all,
Nothing like that yet but will keep an eye out. @Katieweasel like you, constipation is probably, thankfully the only thing I’ve suffered with so that will be interesting... I am worried if would all come out with labour! 😳😬😂 xx

OP posts:
GunsAndShips · 19/09/2020 09:14

My waters broke spectacularly with both. Fine one minute and Niagra Falls the next.

I was 38 weeks first time and 36 weeks the second.

Not a common start to labour and my body/baby weren't labour ready. Their poor positions broke my waters rather than things being ready.

Slavica · 19/09/2020 09:18

My baby was "sunny side up", so for me it was back pain with cramps which started exactly on the due date. They unfortunately did not have any rhythm - 20 min, 5 min, 28 min, 13 min, 7 min, 14 min... and like that for about 24 hours. I could not sleep, had to walk around when these back pains and cramps hit, but was not progressing and had no other signs. Eventually it got too painful and I was exhausted, so we went to the hospital. There I was induced after another 6 hours and gave birth 12 hours after induction (the midwife managed to turn the baby so that her face faced my back before she was born). In the end, she was fine and I was fine, but the labor was different from what I imagined, and definitely different from how the Braxton Hicks felt.

Sunshine1235 · 19/09/2020 09:22

Period type pains that came and went and then gradually ramped up to contractions. Diarrhoea was another sign I think. Currently 39 weeks so analysing every twinge too!

Don’t fear the 8/9 lbs babies, I’ve had two and had straightforward labours both times

MaryBoBary · 19/09/2020 09:24

At 2 days over due I went for a 2 hour walk and got some really strong pains for about half an hour. Then that night I lent over to pull the plug out of the bath and my waters broke.

troppibambini · 19/09/2020 09:37

1st one I woke up from a nap as I flicked the kettle on I had a contraction I knew straight away. Next one came ten minutes later born 13 hours later. I had no other braxton hicks or anything in the run up. She was a week late.
2nd and 3rd were inductions
4th I expected to fly out but I was in slow labour for a week. I would have a few hours of contractions then they would stop. The midwife did warn me it might happen because we started doing sweeps a week before my due date (baby before was 10lb 8 so we were encouraging baby four to not go over as he was meant to be a whopper too) when it actually came to it I didn't realise I was actually in labour and it wasn't till they were 3 minutes apart and I was breathing through them I agreed to actually go in. He was born a few hours later.