Do you just "know" on the day you go into labour?

[TeacupTempest]

Ok this is going to bit a bit of a ditzy post but here goes (I shall blame the pregnancy hormones)

What I am trying to say is can you wake up feeling fine in the morning but then go into labour unexpectedly in the evening? Or the middle of the night?

I keep getting more and more BH and period cramping and nausea etc in the evening and when I get into bed only to wake up the next day feeling, tired, irritable, achy but definitely still pregnant!

Likewise I get to about 4 in the afternoon and convince myself that that is another day over and if baby was going to appear that day it would have by then.

I am not making much sense am I?

Yes. I felt fine all day, saw MW & had a sweep and still felt fine until nearly 10 that night when I had my first contraction. Boy was born after a 6 hour labour early next morning. I had no backache, periody pain, feeling of impending birth at all before that first contraction.

Nope, I didn't. I do remember the feeling of thinking myself into a complete froth about it

I 'knew' the second and third times, but the first was a bit of a surprise. Though I was a week overdue, so not that much of a surprise... But I went to bed and was woken in the middle of the night by my waters going.

Second time my waters went, very unexpectedly, a week early, before any real contractions (but after days and days of BHs). So I knew then that it wouldn't be long.

Third time I was sure for about 2 weeks that today would be the day, just like you are describing. But then on the actual day I did feel different and I did say to DH that the baby would come that day.

it comes all of a sudden (ime anyway) we went out for a long walk in the morning, watched a video in the afternoon then it all started about5 and ds was born at 11 (pm)

No, it can be on and off for ages (seems like ages anyway). I was like that from 35 weeks with DD2, on and off. Then woke up one night at 40+4 definitely in labour. Ouch. Best to try not to second guess it if you can!

Thank you everyone I feel reassured. I think "working myself into a complete froth" just about covers it CryingAndFarting !

It feels like being in limbo. I am so up and down I don't know were to put myself. I think my brain is trying to take over and control things when I should be letting my body take charge and do its own thing in its own time.

Didn't have a clue.

DD was 1 day late, but I'd unknowingly ruptured my waters 2 days earlier falling off a chair. I thought my pelvic floor muscle had gone. Mum was telling me I was in labour. I finally believed her at 4:30am when the contractions started.... actually it took till the 2nd contraction to realise. I thought I was desperate for a wee with the first. :)

DS was 10 days early. I'd offered to go into work in the morning as they'd recruited someone to do my job 1 day a week. I'd had no twinges so also told my Dad he was fine to go walking in the middle of nowhere with his friends.
Left work at 12:30, after a discussion with workmates about how wrong my feeling that DC would be early was as it hadn't arrived yet, I'd been saying for weeks I thought it would be between 2 & 4 weeks early. Went to garden centre to buy some new fish. Got back in car at 1:30 and my waters went. :o

I think my brain is trying to take over and control things when I should be letting my body take charge and do its own thing in its own time

Abso - bloomin -lutely. Print that off and stick it on your fridge!