Never laboured - what am I looking for? Labour symptoms.

[KickinTheRibs]

I feel an idiot and I expect this has been done to death.

My consultant and midwife have stressed I need to go to hospital at the first sign of any ‘regular’ tightenings.
This is because I’m going for a VBAC and they want to monitor baby throughout labour for signs of scar rupture ect and our hospital is nearly an hour away so I’ll need to start heading there ASAP.
I’m 38 weeks on Saturday.

I asked at my appointment at what point will I know when I’ve started labour so I can make my way there as most people don’t go into blazing pain straight away and I’m not sure at what level of discomfort I should go - and because we’ve already discussed that I’ve had some period pains mostly at night and the braxton hicks are much strong now. She just said when the tightenings are ‘regular’ and to not look necessarily for ‘pain’ 😬

But what does regular mean?! I regularly get the tightenings throughout the day, and the periods pains come and go. But she already knows this.. so how much more regular until I’m likely in labour?

I feel like it would have been really obvious but I’m worried I’m going to miss signs now and leave it quite late as we need to arrange childcare for my toddler which is going to eat into our travel time too 🙈

I guess I’m asking for people really early labour symptoms, what did it feel like, how regular were the tightenings? How painful when it very first started?

How regular are they at the moment when you get these twinges? I didn't realise with my second I was in labour straight away as it wasn't painful, it was only when I started timing them I realised as they were every 3.5 mins lasting almost 1 minute in length. Download a contraction timer app next time you have them and see, if you're not sure call the hospital.

'tightenings' - sounds like Call the Midwife / 1952

OP it sounds like there's been some miscommunication or your doctor / midwife have worried you unnecessarily.

Once you are experiencing regular contractions, you should go in. They will be painful to a degree. Regular would mean happening on ongoing basis, able to be timed, with a discernible interval. Of course, you should go in with any concerns.

You need to be monitored but there is no rush. The issues with VBAC relating to uterine rupture (v rare) arise in advanced labour. Equally there's the possibility that you won't process, depending on the reason for your first section.

But either way, don't panic, go in reasonably early once you feel in labour. Good luck.

Regularly throughout the day and at regular intervals are different.
I would say lasting a minute in length and coming in regular intervals eg every 20minutes. But you can always phone triage at any time for advice.

@earringsandlipstick has put it perfectly.

I didn't go in time with my second (vbac)....because the first had gone on so long I assumed that there was no rush and it would be hours. Equally the pain with the contractions was nothing compared to the pain I remembered from the first - although I was so high on pethidine then that memories are very distorted.
It was bad enough I had got out of bed, wasn't comfy and the pains came regularly every 20 minutes. (I had a show too....not sure if it was then or during this time).

We also had a child to drop at Grandma's. In the end Husband took me to hospital, then dropped child off and I had the baby while he did that. (Both he and I were happier he ended up missing it than going through the first experience.)

Good luck. Don't stress just be aware that things may move more quickly than your first labour, especially if you dilated to 10cm then as well.

Thanks all.
I get twinges (lightening crotch) throughout eh day relentlessly, probably every 10/15 minutes max with periods where I can feel baby shifting around and it will be awful shooting pain every few minutes for half an hour or so. But that’s been happening for a couple weeks and I’m pretty sure it’s just baby getting lower/comfy.

The period pains come only about 4-6 times thought out the day, braxton hicks are random as far as I can tell.

I have downloaded a timer app but they’re so few and far between at the moment by the time I’ve ran for my phone to time when it’s happening the tightenings has gone lol. So I don’t think it sounds like labour yet, perhaps just my body preparing itself.

My mum said today that I’ll just know when I’m having regular contractions and it will become obvious that their regular.. so that gives me a bit of peace of mind.

Now going to sit on my ball with a large bowl of pineapple 🤣

I believe it's 3 contractions per ten mins and you go in once it reaches that stage. With my first this meant labouring at home for over 12 hours but everyone is different.

Ready to pop with second baby now and have been advised to go in once it's 2 contractions in ten mins.

Check the nhs website for more info and good luck!

Regular means they are consistently happening with the same interval.

Braxton Hicks will be random or just a few every now and again. When you're in labour it's a contraction every 10-15 minutes for hours, then they slowly get closer and closer together.

OP doesn't want to aim for the X within ten minutes rule though because she's not aiming for active labour but very early labour.

I think your mum is right and it's pretty obvious when it's happening, even though it doesn't hurt at first.

@BertieBotts

OP doesn't want to aim for the X within ten minutes rule though because she's not aiming for active labour but very early labour.

I think your mum is right and it's pretty obvious when it's happening, even though it doesn't hurt at first.

It might not be obvious, mine wasn't obvious and it was only timing them that made me realise. Even at the point when the contraction timer app told me it was time to go to hospital I still wouldn't have known I was in labour. By the time they ramped up and were painful I was already 7cm and gave birth 90 minutes later. I suggested the timer app so she can see if there is a pattern with the pains if she isn't sure if they are contractions or not.

Yes, agree those timer apps are handy like that :) I guess I was thinking of the post OP made where she was running over the house to get her phone and by the time she tried to time the ctx it was over. In labour you wouldn't have a one off contraction like that. So you'd have your phone with you having missed one and the next one would start.

My waters went before I even had contractions so I was in no doubt.