How will I know?

[franca]

I am 37 weeks pregnant with my first child and I really want to know how I will know when I go into labour. I know about shows etc but you don't always have one do you? I already have quite bad braxton hicks contractions so i'm worried I will be in labour and just think it's these. Did you know straight away?

Hi Franca - I am also 37 wks but with my second and having lots of BHs - some quite painful. I didn't get any with my first so this is new to me too! I read somewhere today that if the pain goes when you change position then its BH - ie sit down if you were standing up or walk round if you were sitting down. I don't know how reliable that advice is though and its all a bit nerve racking isn't it?! With my first I didn't have a show at all, then mild pains for a few hours which ended with a quick birth so I'm hoping this one will be the same. Everyone is different as you'll already have seen here...! Good luck

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Dear Franca

you'll know trust me!! they are very different to BH. They get progreesively worse and you cant even talk when you have a significant contraction. I had a few false alarms as i didnt know what a contraction was either.. I kept thinking my BH was real labour..but its different..feels like intense period pain for a short burst then it goes away........I was sleeping when I heard a 'pop' and water started gushing !!!!!!I had no pain for 48 hours! Then finally the pain started .......ended up with a C section as bubba was the wrong way round ..but you know ...this sounds cliched but its really worth it.

I didn't have a clue. Thought it might be the baby's head engaging. Went to see GP, who agreed with me that this was probably what was happening, but as GP was a 12 year old locum (well she looked like she was 12 to me!) thought I'd check with midwife at the hospital. 10 cm dilated. My, how we laughed!