How did your labour start? eg, cramps, waters breaking, contractions etc?

[ilikeyoursleeves]

I am 39+2 and fed up waiting! Just wondering what all your experiences were when your labour kicked off, did you...

a) have contractions
b) have your waters break out of the blue
c) have period like cramps
d) have loads of Braxton Hicks
e) have a show
f) anything else?

Cheers!

[Claire236]

ds arrived at 37+5. Waters broke in a very impressive fashion (sort of assumed would be trickle but was more like a flood) at 0930. Slight contractions but nothing major until about 1400. Got very odd sensation & went to loo where I had diarrhoea, show & was sick in fairly rapid succession. Contractions kicked in quite seriously from 1430 with a particularly memorable constant contraction after it was suggested I had a bath (currently 21 weeks pregnant & keeping well clear of all water when the time comes) ds then born at 1730.

[MakkaPakkasWilly]

Dammit, I wish there was some pattern here!
I am wondering if I am in labour and looking for a pattern but you lot have all been different!

[stickylittlefingers]

hi - about the waters breaking - if it's an incredible gush, you get a huge feeling of release (was for both of mine, but I think some people are a bit more trickly) so would have been able to tell if I was in the bath. I had a show each time, with dd1 had period type pains that crescendoed into a full blow labour - started a 11, finished at 2.30. dd2 was more measured - was still proofreading an article at 4.30pm, just getting not particularly painful contractions every 15 mins.

Chloed - are they increasing? If so, could be it! Good luck!!

[gabyeah]

Hi, I am 40+6...tomorrow I am having a membrane sweep.Felling anxious and cant wait. I am having braxton Hicks all the time, feeling period pain from time to time but nothing regular.
My baby has been moving a lot and it can be quite unconfortable and her head is down almost engeged.Is it common baby moving during labour or just before that?

[IdrisTheDragon]

DS - was in hopsital anyway due to pre-eclampsia. Waters broke spectacularly at about 6:30am. Niggles during the day and then contractions started properly at about 6:45pm. He was born at 2:50am the next morning.

DD - had a show about a week or so before she was born. Had a sweep at 40+3 and then the next morning I got up about 6:45 and contractions started. They were full on from the beginning. She was born at 1:26pm

[laurawantsababy]

My waters leaked the day before I delivered. Very mild period pains when I woke the next day. So mild I slept for 2 hours through them, ate, did washing, hung washing out, ironed and cleaned. Got to hospital because they were getting 'uncomfortable' and had dd 2 hours later!

I only had gas and air and kept walking round as much as poss.

[lynneevans51]

DC1 - 41wk - induced at 10pm, mild period pains at 1am, which continued through night. V tiring indeed, TENS, pethidine, established labour by 11am, born 16:45!

DC2 - 40+9 - natural start at 12 noon, ELECTRIC SHOCK type pain down right leg!! And another 10 minutes later, then another 10 minutes later, followed by water gush. Then the strongest of strongest contractions every 1 min 30, never increased in strength (they were already at full pelt), went straight to hospital to be told 1cm!! Finally born at 20:30 - pain never increased but just wears you down after going for so long.

Now pg with 3rd and wondering how long I will leave it this time before going to hospital!

[Sandy22]

dd waters broke in a pub (on my way to a wedding reception) just as I sat down on the stool and it wasn't a trickle!!! baby born
4hrs later at 32 weeks and 3lb 15oz.

ds waters broke in the same pub (again on my way to a wedding reception)dh thought I was having him on as he had just got the drinks in and as last time I had just sat down and there was a flood - ds born at 34 weeks 4lb 6oz!

[MiniMarmite]

I always remember my NCT tutor saying you'd get out of the bath but not be able to get dry so you'd know IYSWIM.

[Mammina]

somebody mentioned their waters breaking in the bath - sorry for stupid question but how can you tell if you're in the bath?

[leftangle]

Waters broke out of the blue at 11pm. No contractions or show. Was induced the next morning as hospital suspected infection - which I didn't have, really wish I hadn't rung them and could have waited a bit longer to see if I went into labour on my own. Baby born early the next morning.

[AnybodyHomeMcFly]

Cramps which developed into contractions. It was 5hrs from first twinge to baby!

[MiniMarmite]

Waters broke (during dinner party at neighbour's house ). Vague contractions about 2 hours later.

DS born 52 hours after waters initially breaking (induction).

[GwarchodwrPlant]

Braxton Hicks that started days before and just got more and more regular

then a show

then I think my waters may have started trickling as my pad was constantly damp and smelled of marzipan!

when I reached the hospital they broke my waters and speeded up my labour as the cx's weren't strong enough.

72 hours later DS was born via c-sect!

[Haylstones]

dd i woke with my waters breaking. She was born 22 hours later.
Ds I had a few niggly contractions for a couple of days then woke in full blown labour in the early hours.

2 very different births- dd was born by ventouse and ds got well and truly stuck resulting in ecs

[wasabipeanut]

Waters sprung a "slow" leak at 39+4. Nothing happenned for the next 3 days so I was put on a synto drip.

DS born my em cs 18 hours later.

I'll leave out the bit in the middle.

[CatIsSleepy]

dd1- waters broke

dd2- a show during the day, mild contractions started at midnight that night though it took about 4 hours or so to be convinced I was really in labour. meanwhile I stayed in bed and finished my book

[chloehd]

Am I in early labor? I am 38 (+4) weeks pregnant and from last night have had intense lower back pain, feel sick and have throbbing period type pain / cramps??? Feeling very excited but not sure if this is a false start or not. Did anyone else start like this?

[roxy12]

I was in early labour for a week. i had backache and was having a sharp crampy feeling low down. went to hospital as i couldnt bare the pain, i was crying and i was 4cm dilated. i had pethadine and about 2 hours later my waters broke, then my contractions were really strong and i had an epidural....best thing ever. the needle doesnt hurt at all by the way. i was 15 hours in full labour.

People say you will no when your in labour. yes you will no.

dont be afraid to go to hospital and get checked if you think you are having contractions.

good luck

[oneopinionatedmother]

nipple stimulation was the key for DS - (a good excuse for some very selfish sex) though we'd been trying for a few days and it was 40 + 9 ...

seems they come when they're ready

[LittleMissBliss]

waters leaking.
The following night period pains, followed by contractions.

[porcupine11]

I woke at 7 am feeling uncomfortable, moved slightly and had first contraction. Shuffled to bathroom and waters broke immediately, mucus plug & all flooded out. Contractions went from every 20 mins to every 8 mins within the hour and were 5 mins apart after two hours.

I'd felt a sensation of leaking the night before, but I thought it was due to faulty pelvic floor muscles rather than the start of things! I'd also had a very restless night, very little sleep but no pain.

[tryingtobemarypoppins]

One big kick, waters went, then cramps.

[orangehead]

ds1- In the afternoon had a strong urge to go for a very brisk walk but had to keep stopping due to braxton hicks/pushing down sensation. In the evening had backache, went to bed and woke up at 2 then heard and felt aloud pop then waters broke. Contractions started about a hour later.

Ds2- couldnt stop crying all evening, like really bad pmt. Finally cried myself to sleep then woke up again about 2 with really bad peroid pains which eventually turned into contractions