Page 2 | Start of labour feels like…

FunnyOrca · 2025-10-09T19:40:42+00:00

I keep googling to try to ascertain if labour is near. I keep reading people say it feels like period cramps and gets worse. My question is for anyone who doesn’t necessarily feel period cramps, what did it feel like? I’ve only ever had period cramps about 3 times in my life (all as a student after drinking alcohol and eating junk food on the eve of my period). If you don’t normally feel period cramps will the start of labour feel different?

EvelynBeatrice · 09/10/2025 22:20

To me it felt like food poisoning or bad IBS cramps. No different really.

stargirl1701 · 09/10/2025 22:34

Like period cramps but not as bad or as long.

Only 18 hours for DD1 and 12 hours for DD2. Pain was less than a bad period. DD1’s was in the pool and just lovely. DD2 came too bloody quickly and pool was still filling as I arrived at the midwife unit.

Sashya · 09/10/2025 22:47

OP - everybody is different. I get bad period cramps.

But I didn't feel any pain on the day - just woke up with wet underwear - as my water broke. Went to the hospital - but as baby hasn't dropped - was sent to walk around the block for a few hours. Did that. Came back and was admitted - where nothing proceeded to happen for another 24hrs. Water apparently gets replaced. Then I was induced for several hours - and again, no progress.
So - baby was born via C-section in the end....

That was a while ago...

Keha · 10/10/2025 23:40

Felt very early on like indigestion, like you've eaten something a dodgy and your stomach is a bit gripey. However the odd thing is it comes and goes, initially very light sensation where you aren't even sure you felt it. With my first it built up quite quickly and was obvious. With my second I did think that maybe id just eaten something which didn't agree with me so managed to go to sleep with a hot water bottle for a couple of hours. Didn't mention it to DH till a good few hours later when it was happening more frequently with a more obvious feeling of tightening and more pain.

Howdoesithappenlikethis · 11/10/2025 13:52

Also felt like very bad trapped wind when it happens in waves, but period cramps are the best description really

Original poster

FunnyOrca · 14/10/2025 01:49

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 09/10/2025 21:35

How far are you and what reason are they giving for wanting to induce you? They want to induce everyone nowadays!
Only go for it if its right for you, do your research and dont be pressured into one if you truly feel its not necessary.

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Thank you. I was borderline for cholestasis for about a month. When they called about the induction I said I did not want to. They asked me to come in for bloods etc.

The next morning they called saying I had to come in for induction as the levels were definitely cholestasis. I had hoped to go to a birth centre, use a pool, etc. I ended up hooked up to continuous monitoring, cannulated to the hormone drip and then an epidural line. I could not move, even for the bathroom without a lot of help.

This was frustrating and a bit uncomfortable but otherwise the induction was a lot more positive than I had expected. I was still able to use a lot of the Hypnobirthing I had planned. The gas and air was amazing! It got me to 6cm. I wanted an epidural by 5cm. I got a second top up of it during transition (or before? not sure, a bit of a haze!) but the top up was marvellous and perfectly matched so I could feel I was contracting but with no pain at all and I was completely present for the pushing stage, which felt like 5 minutes, but was apparently an hour. It was amazing to see baby’s head emerge.

Even with what felt like the “cascade of intervention” (episiotomy and clip were used too) I felt informed, encouraged and respected throughout. The midwife was amazing.

OP posts:

Wavescrashingonthebeach · 14/10/2025 05:17

Well done op! Congratulations! Hope u and baby are doing well 💗

Paaseitjes · 14/10/2025 06:13

I had 2 days feeling really bleugh and everything swelled up massively. I didn't realise until the period-like cramps suddenly started every half hour

Wherethewildthings · 14/10/2025 08:43

FunnyOrca · 14/10/2025 01:49

Thank you. I was borderline for cholestasis for about a month. When they called about the induction I said I did not want to. They asked me to come in for bloods etc.

The next morning they called saying I had to come in for induction as the levels were definitely cholestasis. I had hoped to go to a birth centre, use a pool, etc. I ended up hooked up to continuous monitoring, cannulated to the hormone drip and then an epidural line. I could not move, even for the bathroom without a lot of help.

This was frustrating and a bit uncomfortable but otherwise the induction was a lot more positive than I had expected. I was still able to use a lot of the Hypnobirthing I had planned. The gas and air was amazing! It got me to 6cm. I wanted an epidural by 5cm. I got a second top up of it during transition (or before? not sure, a bit of a haze!) but the top up was marvellous and perfectly matched so I could feel I was contracting but with no pain at all and I was completely present for the pushing stage, which felt like 5 minutes, but was apparently an hour. It was amazing to see baby’s head emerge.

Even with what felt like the “cascade of intervention” (episiotomy and clip were used too) I felt informed, encouraged and respected throughout. The midwife was amazing.

Show quote history

Thanks for the update OP, and glad it went well even though it wasn't your Plan A