Labour. What sign came first for you?

[lolomoon]

Anyone that has gone in to labour naturally. What was the FIRST sure sign that it was on the way.
Did you lose your mucus plug? Contractions? Waters breaking etc?
I'm interested what the most common starter is.

[Viewfrommyhouse]

Waters broke about 1am, that was the first sign. Mild contractions started a couple of hours later. Baby arrived at 2pm same day.

[Rubyrubyrubyruby123]

Everyone is so different! I had absolutely no signs, until two weeks before my due date my waters broke all of a sudden, huge massive gush.

[YoBeaches]

I had acupuncture right through pregnancy and the last session I had with her was to 'encourage' labour as I was hoping avoid being induced which was pre booked due to high risk.

The next day I started with mild period pain. Not cramping as such just that 'ache' in my tummy and back.

Then the mucus plus came out around 6pm.

Then waters broke around 8am next morning.

And baby was born 3:30 am.

[Toblerbone]

Waters breaking for me. Contractions started soon afterwards.

[KThnxBye]

A massive, breathtaking contraction followed by another seconds later, which didn’t stop and were followed in no short order by waters and then by a baby coming out.

[Cheeesus]

Contractions with #1 and #3, waters broke with #2.

[whitenoisemachine]

Contractions, both times.

[Validus]

Three contractions in ten minutes. that was the first sign.

Amazingly I go from zero to ‘having the baby asap’ rather quickly and get no lead in. Which is stressful but at least it’s not drawn out.

[Jelliclecats]

My waters have never gone until baby is nearly out (six children). First sign is low back pain, it reminds you vaguely of period back pain but it’s not quite like that…comes in waves and I realise it’s my contractions lol.

[fancyfrogs]

First baby was mild period sort of pains starting the night before then lost mucous plug next morning and crampy on and off all that day before it kicked off more intensely.
Second baby no signs prior to mild contractions that became regular quite quickly and went from first mild contraction to birth in 6hrs so a lot faster than first.
Waters didn't break til actually giving birth both times

[DelphiniumBlue]

DC1 & 2 : waters breaking.
DC3 : mucus plug going, waters didn't break for another hour or 2.

[willowsxx]

I started getting mild period like pains and then my mucus plug went. Slowly the contractions got more intense

[Genuinelyenquiring]

Contractions. Was losing my mucus plug for 3 weeks before and waters only broke when fully dilated.

I had a nosebleed and mild diarrhoea the night before.

[DramaAlpaca]

With DC1, I was 39+1. I woke up at about 3am with a contraction that was definitely not Braxton Hicks, I went back to sleep and was woken at 5.30am with another. I had a few more, a long time apart, then lost my plug at around 11.30am. After that things ramped up very slowly and he finally arrived just after midnight. My waters broke just as he was born.

[everythinglooksbetterpaintedblack]

Leg cramps all night followed by contractions from 6am

[ExcitingRicotta]

Started with (gentle) contractions both times. Good luck 😊

[Bunny2006]

Waters breaking

[lolomoon]

Thanks everyone.
I'm 38 weeks today with baby #2. Baby has been head down and very low for some time, having LOADS of braxton hicks and a few bouts of 'period style' pains. I had my son at 39weeks via emcs as he was transverse & my waters broke.
Planning and hoping for a VBAC, but I've still not lost mucus plug or anything, so praying It does happen for me.

[novocaine4thesoul]

I am another whose waters did not break until they were either broken for me, or very late in labour (5 labours). And no labour has been the same each time (last two were induced to be fair, never again) Lost mucus plug with first. Most labours were painful enough that you usually KNOW! Although alarmingly for everyone involved I did not even realise I was in labour for second child. Thought I had tummy ache because I had eaten something, and probably needed to go to the loo, then it went off. When I finally realised it was off and on (she was over a week late FGS, I can still not believe how ridiculous I was for not realising) by the time we had organised childcare, the contractions came so fast I nearly had her in the corridor to the maternity suite. Even so long later, I still shake my head at how I could not have realised. Wishing you the best, it won't be long now xx

[Pacificisolated]

I started to lose small bits of my mucus plug 9-10 days before I went into labour. I had my bloody show just before regular contractions started and my waters went when I was fully dilated.
One of my strangest signs of imminent labour was actually a strong urge to take off all my clothes.

[Perfect28]

Light contractions starting in the night and building in frequency and strength during the day.

[OnlyYellowRoses]

All of them I just felt 'off' for a few hours before. Didn't want to go anywhere or leave home. Couple of hours before 3 of them, I had quite bad diarrhoea, I assume body's way of 'clearing out'.
Baby 1: mucus plug with period pains
Baby 2: waters went
Baby 4: period pain that turned into contractions.

Baby 3 was the freaky labour. Woke up. Sudden intense pressure, went to toilet expecting to need a poo. MASSIVE contraction, whole baby out still in sack of waters. 😂

[MyBigFatGreekSalad]

Period like cramps and losing the whole of my mucus plug.

[Upsidedowncat]

Waters broke. There was a lot and I was in public, so it was a shock😆 in the night before I had some twinges but I thought it was just normal pregnancy pains as they were very mild, so they were initial signs, that I was unaware of at the time.

[lolomoon]

@OnlyYellowRoses

All of them I just felt 'off' for a few hours before. Didn't want to go anywhere or leave home. Couple of hours before 3 of them, I had quite bad diarrhoea, I assume body's way of 'clearing out'.
Baby 1: mucus plug with period pains
Baby 2: waters went
Baby 4: period pain that turned into contractions.

Baby 3 was the freaky labour. Woke up. Sudden intense pressure, went to toilet expecting to need a poo. MASSIVE contraction, whole baby out still in sack of waters. 😂

Wow! That is WILD & amazing. Good job you're an experienced Mum!