Labour order & timings???

[justhayley]

Hiya I'm 34 + 3 & wondering about how labour works.
Does everyone get a show first? And then between the show & the next bit how long have you got generally?

If waters break do contractions follow quickly after or do you get a day or 2?

I'm guessing everyone's different and this varies a lot but just wondered if there's a general rule and what your experiences have been so far.

My DP is in the Army and has been told once I go into labour he can make his way home to be there for the birth :D (luckily he's only based in Surrey & home is Hertfordshire), I'm not sure when I should be making the call - I reckon he'l get 3 days off max so don't want to call too early & then he's there whilst nothing happens- we would both rather him see less early labour so he gets more time with the bubba - he deff wants to be at the birth though! Dam Army make things so complicated - have no clue how to time this!

Thanks Hayley xxx

Hi Congratulations :)

in answer to some of your questions i never got a show with DD1, and she never engaged, my waters broke at midday on the Sunday and i went into labour on the Monday evening, DD was born at 23.57 Tuesday , the midwife at the time told me if i hadn't gone into labour within 5 days they would induce me.

i am due DD2 in 2 weeks, she is engaged and i had a show on Saturday and some mean braxton hicks since then not a sausage so we wait.

HTH

It does vary wildly.

I had a show at 12.30 with my DD, contractions started gently about an hour later. Went to hospital at 8pm ish & was sent home as only 1cm dilated, 10pm ish waters had broken and in hospital was measured at 9cm dilated. DD born at 00.42. The week before she was born, she was only 1/5 engaged...

I don't think you can predict things too much unfortunately, and can only hope that your DP is back in time!!

It seems to be almost entirely random.
Sorry I can't be more specific, but I hope your labour goes smoothly.

My waters went with no contractions and I was told by the hospital that if labour hadn't started within 48 hours they would induce.

It's totally random though, you might be in early labour for days, or you might not. Hope he makes it home in time.

Hi Hayley, unfortunately there is no general rule to what order it takes. I never had a show with DD but my waters went and contractions started couple hours later. Some women have shows, some don't have waters going and have to be broken at the hospital. Some women have contractions for days and others for a couple of hours before baby is born. I think that is why no matter what you are taught at antenatal there is still the fear of the unknown as we all know women with such differing circumstances.

Will he not get any paternity leave? You mentioned that he would only get 3 days leave. Surely labour takes as long as it takes then once dc is born paternity leave kicks in.

At our ante-natal they discussed social induction for those whose partners would have difficulty being there. Ie military or working on the rigs.

Completely random and how long is a piece of string I'm afraid Hayley! there's no order or rhyme or reason. Things happen when they happen and that is that!