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Childbirth

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

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Original poster

what signs did you have that labour was going to start soon?

26 replies

hoochymama · 04/03/2009 11:46

yes, you've guessed it, I'm overdue! I'm interested to hear what signs people had (apart from the obvious - contractions / waters breaking etc!) My Braxton Hicks are getting stronger but that's about it....

OP posts:

GYoIsReallyHavingABaby · 04/03/2009 11:51

hello, will be watching with interest... Im also waiting (tho not o/due yet- 38+2) and looking for any possible sign its all happening!

How overdue are you?

PinkTulips · 04/03/2009 11:51

with dd i had on and off contractions for days and a show on sat night (had her after 18 hours established labour on monday)

with ds1 i had a show about 36 hours before going into labour and another 18 hour slow labour

with ds2 i had nothing, 5 days over and going mad waiting and then just woke up with an almighty fucking contraction at 6am and had him before midday after a much more productive labour than the other 2.

PortBlacksandResident · 04/03/2009 11:53

An irresistible urge to clean the freezer out (and if you knew me you'd know how hilarious this is).

Finding a creme caramel in my knickers.

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 11:53

Braxton hicks got stronger but on the day dc 3 arrived nothing at all was happening

PortBlacksandResident · 04/03/2009 11:54

Was that TMI?

Original poster

hoochymama · 04/03/2009 12:00

possibly TMI, portblacksandresident, but made me LOL!!!

I'm 41 wks, booked in for 1st part of induction on Sunday, but have mixed feelings about it....

Waiting for the 'nesting' to kick in, but don't usually do much cleaning, so can't quite imagine it!

OP posts:

Wigglesworth · 04/03/2009 12:01

Very strong braxton hicks, an inability to walk without looking like an invalid for a few days before, I had a show the morning my contractions started, started off at 6am on Friday morning and had DS at 1.50pm on Sat afternoon, 32 fucking hours!!

georgiemum · 04/03/2009 12:01

Waters broke. Splosh! Very weird - like you are peeing with absolutely no bladder control!

pud1 · 04/03/2009 12:05

i pooed in the shower ( sorry !!!). couldnt stop it

PinkTulips · 04/03/2009 13:09

that said... with all 3 of mine i had a very active burst right before labour.

with dd i'd been having on and off contractions for days and dragged dp tramping up and down the beach on a sunday morning in january

with ds1 i was swimming in the atlantic for hours the day before labour (heatwave of 06 [grin)

and with ds2 i assembled a (very heavy) bed for ds1 singlehandedly the night before (dp has learned not to argue over the years and just leave me to it)

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 14:06

Forgot to say wet myself with both dds, second time was as I was getting off toilet thought it was my waters but no quick snif and feel it was pee, aparently it was their little heads slamming onto my bladder

Goober · 04/03/2009 14:07

Farts hot enough and smelly enough to melt your face, all 3 times!

electra · 04/03/2009 17:11

I didn't have any signs - just woke at 3am with contractions both times.

SnowlightMcKenzie · 04/03/2009 19:06

snap electra with no.1

no.2 contractions for days then it just occured to me that the last few had been stronger and closer together so I timed them and they were 5 mins apart.

PlumBumMum · 04/03/2009 22:43

Yeap electra with dc3 I woke up at 2.30 and thought this is it, I was actually dreaming of contractions,
got up went to toilet, then wet myself as I stood up she was born at 6.20am

seeker · 04/03/2009 22:51

In ds's case, the imminent arrival of a baby!

minouminou · 04/03/2009 22:58

Got up early for a wee, as had been my wont for the previous few weeks, but, as hadn't been my wont, couldn't go straight back to sleep.
Felt full of energy, first CX at around 9.00am.

Biccy · 04/03/2009 23:03

Due on a Friday, had a very restless night on the Sunday following, not having contractions, just uncomfy in an indefinable way. Was very teary and emotional on the Monday, got virtually no sleep on the Monday night, again, not with contractions, just general discomfort.

Then had a show about 3am Tuesday morning, contractions started mid morning on that Tuesday - half an hour apart but I was absolutely certain of what they were. DD born 3.30am on the Wednesday. My waters didn't break until very late on (and I was in a pool by that stage, and I felt like I'd exploded!).

electra · 04/03/2009 23:12

I felt like I exploded too when my waters broke (about 2 minutes before dd2 was born)!

Lotster · 05/03/2009 00:45

1st baby, it was period pains, a need to wash windows, also hilariously out of character- and insisting on a walk up and down our street at 10pm. Contractions were obvious by 11pm.

Qally · 05/03/2009 04:29

I made my mother and husband help me take every single book off the shelves and start sorting them into appropriate piles (we have thousands of books. Literally) on the grounds that they were all higgledy piggledy and I could never find anything, and had all the carpets cleaned in two days notice - called every company in town till I found one who'd do it. At one point all the living room furniture was stacked in the kitchen, and at 37 weeks I climbed on a pile of it to reach the wall-mounted microwave, just to heat the milk for the carpet man's coffee. (The fridge was by the door, as was the kettle. It was completely unnecessary.) My mother was appalled, and after I got safely down she took a photo of what I'd mountaineered in case I stayed crazy after the baby arrived and she needed evidence for social services for posterity.

The books are still in giant piles against the wall of our bedroom. DS arrived early and I've had no time to sort them since - and he's 4 months old.

The BH, and a weirdly heavy feeling as well - and peeing started to feel a little like I had a mild bladder infection, culminating in very painful indeed by the time labour was underway. Had to get on all fours over a tupperware box in the end, to relieve pressure. Then there was the cross between constipation and period cramps, which eventually morphed into contractions. So glamorous, isn't it.

Original poster

hoochymama · 08/03/2009 19:28

just for the record, and for gyoisreally havingababy, i went into labour the night i wrote the original post!

no nesting (such a lazy woman!) just woken up by what felt like baby headbutting bladder, and what was def waters breaking! 18 hrs later i had my beautiful baby girl!

OP posts:

dinkystinky · 08/03/2009 21:33

Had early labour for 2 days with DS1 but ended up being induced. With DS2,had show over 3 days then suddenly on day 4, waters went and labour kicked in an hour later..

Congrats hoochymama - hope the labour went well and glad your little one arrived

RachieW · 08/03/2009 23:18

Congrats Hoochymama. I reckon these babies like to come when we least expect it. I didn't have any nesting/cleaning instincts at all so was convinced I was going to go way overdue. By the time I was three days late I got really bored so forced my dh to spend the whole sunday wandering (or waddling in my case) round the shops, we also stopped at TGI Fridays and I ate a huge huge meal. Went into labour that night, full to the brim of chips and burger and shattered from shopping. Wished I'd spent the day on the sofa conserving energy

PrettySprinkles · 10/03/2009 23:56

I don't think I had any Braxton Hicks, or show, I just couldn't sit down comfortably. I had loved long, hot soaks in the tub right through my pregnancy and just didn't really feel like even that. I had no idea at the time I was approaching labour but looking back I know those were my signs.

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