what was your first sign of labour?

[harpsichordcarrier]

just idle curiosity really... to pass the time while I wait (impatiently >tap< >tap< ) for labour to start.
what was your first sign of labour?
a show or nesting or waters breaking all over the floor in Boots or what?

Contractions. Don't worry if you're having Braxton-Hicks, you'll be able to tell the difference!

Never had a show and my waters never broke - the midwife finally broke them at 8cm.

Waters breaking for my first, just as i clambered into bed for a good nights kip. I wasn't aware I was in labour with the second until i was put on a monitor and the midwife said i was having contractions, just felt like the baby moving. Things really got going when i arrived home and once again got into bed for a sleep and my waters broke.

waters breaking in bed. Didn't start labour for another 24 hrs though.

Waters breaking....then contractions an hour later.

I had taken piles of milk of magnesia... woke up in the night with the runs and tummy ache, so hoped it was labour rather than just upset stomach... a couple of hours later I was sure!!!

The worst diorrhea I've ever had (spelt completely wrong, I know!) and contractions!

Message withdrawn

Doc approaching my stirruped legs with a massive crochet hook and a manic grin.

Harpischordcarrier - How are you doing? Why don't you join us on the November thread (well those of us who are left anyway) - would be nice to talk to you there.

Chacha
37+4

DS2 - when the midwife told me I hadn't peed myself but in favt my waters had broken

DS1 & 2 - when the midwife said " I'm just going to insert this gel".....

Sorry ds1 & 3

Sporadic contractions (on one side only at the beginning, oddly enough... hosp initially diagnosed IBS as I was only 37+5!) and a minor episode of diarrhoea. The paind dragged on like that a full 24 hours before becoming definite, both-sides contractions. Another 24 hours later ds was born. Waters never broke on their own.

contractions 3 mins apart baby 45 mins later with 1st and 35 mins later with dd

Mild contractions 0330 closely followed by throwing up & diarrhoea . DD arrived at 1530 -17 years ago tomorrow to be exact .

DD - waters breaking whilst asleep at night, contractions started about 2 hours later

DS - waters breaking just after I did an early morning wee and still sitting on the loo fortunately. Contractions started about 3-4 hours later then stopped. Finally strong contractions about 12 hours after waters initially breaking.

Started off with an achy feeling - almost like I was about to have a period. Lasted for about a day and then turned into contractions. My sister had the classic 'I must clean everything' for a day and then her waters broke.

Woke up at 4am in the morning with period type pains, stood up to go to the toilet and had a show and it went from there

crampy back ache like time of month

i had pain in my lower back and then slight period pain which started and stopped.
i didn't have my show until 18 hours into labour and waters didn't break until 30 hours in.

ds1...stomach pains all day then a show
ds2...excrutiating pains that qwoke me in teh middle of the night (3.30 am) went to hossie was 9 cm!

Bloody painful contractions 3 mins apart, but unlike Piffle, it was 18 hours later when dd appeared.

a slightly daft and nervous midwife saying my bp was raised and maybe i should be induced...

Slight show on and off all day.

First twinge at 4.45pm - thought i had just over-done it as had been lifting Jess all afternoon.

By 6pm they were frequent - still refused to believe i was in labour.

Phoned hospital at 7pm, arrived at hospital at 7.45pm - rebecca born at 12:15am!

My contractions were thick and fast with no more than 30 seconds gap in between.... MW wasnt even sure i was in established labour until she examined me at 9pm to find i was 6cm!

A week of rumbling pains like a period was about to begin - yes, A WEEK

Increasing braxton hicks

Jippy tummy (on and off for A WEEK)

Then, finally, a contraction that was somehow unlike the braxton hicks....stronger. Baby was born 41 hours after this first contraction

Good luck!