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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Did you feel 'different' before labour or not?

65 replies

MillyStar · 28/03/2012 21:01

evening!

I'm 38 weeks tomorrow and finishing work on fri so hoping to go into labour ASAP!

I know everyone is different but I just wondered if you ladies who have had babies before felt any different for a few days and you knew it was going to happen or did you literally just feel normal - well as normal as you can feel whilst pregnant!!

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Ruthchan · 28/03/2012 21:29

I have a video of myself playing with my daughter. At that time I felt completely normal and had no signs of labour. DS was born 4 hours later.
I felt completely normal until my contractions started with DD too.

Plunkett · 28/03/2012 21:39

Hi Milly
Not long to go now - how exciting :)
With DS I had no signs until waters broke - DS was here 6 hrs later.

As you say everyones different - baby's come in the way they want to come. Enjoy having some time off!!

Original poster

MillyStar · 28/03/2012 21:53

Aww I know I just can't wait to meet her I don't want to waste a second off work without her, at least I know it's 4 weeks at the most!

I'm happy to know it can just happen ;-)

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Alligatorpie · 29/03/2012 04:27

I was really ratty two days before dd was born ( I didn't leave a tip in a Japanese restaurant for the first time in my life because my tofu noodles took way longer than dh's beef something - I was unreasonably pissed!)
My doula said that emotional thing was a very good sign.

Emsgale · 29/03/2012 10:14

Im asking myself the same question im 38+5 and im struggling to remember if I felt different I dont think I did I was fairly emotional but I have been in this pregnancy generally. I woke with a show and twinges built to contractions over the day dont remember any signs the night before?!

CherryCheesecake · 29/03/2012 10:17

The night my labour started i had earlier that day given up hope and accepted i would be induced. She was born about 16 hours after i made the comment haha x

CherryBlossom27 · 29/03/2012 10:26

I felt grumpy for two days before going into labour, but it's hard not to be grumpy when you go past your due date! I did turn down a cake the day before and that's very unlike me and I said at dinner time to my DH and mum "I don't feel right, I don't know why...don't be surprised if I go into labour in the middle of the night". I woke up at 5.19 am with period type aches and ended up having DS at 11.09 am :)

theressomethingaboutmarie · 29/03/2012 10:27

I was at a cafe with DH and FIL. They went off to look at something and I said I'd stay put. I was on a hard, uncomfortable chair but a sofa became free. DH suggested I go and sit on that whilst they were away. I was so completely exhausted, that I couldn't even get up to move to the sofa. An hour later, my waters broke. I just remember a feeling of complete and utter exhaustion like I've never felt before or since.

PacificDogwood · 29/03/2012 10:30

Nope, did not feel any different until I had first contraction (DS3) or my waters went (DS4). DS1 and 2 don't 'count' as they were born after induction/emCS resepectively.

Good luck!! Enjoy the time off without baby if you get any - IME babies are much, miuch easier to look after whilse they are inside you....

newtonupontheheath · 29/03/2012 11:05

Yes to the exhaustion! I was watching tv with DP and suddenly felt the urge to go to bed and sleep there and then. It was 7 o'clock! I slept until midnight and woke up the split second before my waters broke at 39 + 3 and DS was born at 5:45 the following morning! Also didn't eat my dinner that evening which is v v unusual for me!!

Original poster

MillyStar · 29/03/2012 11:18

Well i've deffo not got the turning down food thing today, i've already had chocolate milk, chocolate cornflake cake, an apple and 4 satsumas lol making the most of these last few weeks of being a piglet and getting away with it!

I love all your info and experiences on here i dunno how i would have coped through pregnancy without Mumsnet x

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Flisspaps · 29/03/2012 11:34

I'm well off my food (not like me), absolutely exhausted (want to go to bed, but can't due to lively toddler) and I'm giving Rab C Nesbitt a run for his money in the fashion stakes by wearing a fetching stained vest and the biggest pants in the world EVER because every pair of maternity trousers I own now cut into my bump (measuring 42cm at 39w ) I've also been pretty 'meh' about things for the last few days.

However, despite all of the above I fully expect to be here moaning in 3 weeks time about the still-resident baby.

somewherewest · 29/03/2012 15:47

I had no signs until the contractions started and DS arrived twelve hours later. He was eleven days overdue and the MW who examined me two days before I gave birth was convinced I'd need to be induced.

Good luck

Kaloobear · 29/03/2012 16:13

For a couple of days beforehand I felt really wired. I didn't really notice it at the time but afterwards I realised I must have come across a bit crazy. I had a midwife appointment on the Friday and DD was born on the Monday-when I next saw the midwife she said she'd been pretty sure I was about to go into labour because I came across as a bit high!

VickityBoo · 29/03/2012 16:18

I don't think I did feel different. Labour started for me in early morning and it woke me up, so maybe any changes hormonally happened while I slept?

habbibu · 29/03/2012 16:21

Really foul temper a couple of hours before feeling first contractions, both times.

MrsChemist · 29/03/2012 16:22

I felt even more achey and exhausted with DS2. It was DS1's birthday, and we went to the park. Just a short walk was hellish. I remember thinking, 'I wonder if he'll be here soon because this exhaustion is unbearable.'

He was born the next morning.

catnipkitty · 29/03/2012 16:56

Didn't feel any different until the day DD1 was born (8 years ago tomorrow :)) when I basically just had nasy back ache that wouldn't go away and I couldn't sit comfortably anywhere. A light bulb went on on my head, I phoned DH to come back from work and she was born 5 hours later!

Best of luck!

CrockoDuck · 29/03/2012 17:25

Nesting is a pretty good sign. It's when you start scurrying around tidying & cleaning more than you usually do. I did it a day or so before my labour started.

The other sign was throwing up, something I almost never do.

Flisspaps · 29/03/2012 17:46

Ooh, promising.

This afternoon I have had a big clean up after wallowing in my enormous pants all day (including cleaning out the bin that I was sick in yesterday and then forgot about ), been really snappy with poor DD (who I have then profusely apologised to and had a 'nose-nose kiss' off in return) a bloody good cry and so shall now await a prompt labour.

We also have no car as of 5pm as DH has had to take it to get the head gasket fixed, and we've been told it's going to be about a week before we get it back. My adamance that I intend to have a home birth seems to have been a practical decision after all.

PrincessPrecious · 29/03/2012 17:59

I had no signs and no braxton hicks contractions. In the end I had to be induced as overdue and waters had broken but still no sign of contractions. Induction was fine though. Everyone is different some women do seem to have signs beforehand. Good luck!!

all4u · 29/03/2012 18:05

Nope no idea - except it was on my due date! With both was not aware of first stage at all and had twinges another in 4 mins; rapidly getting closer and all over within a few hours - not painful ust had work! When your brain decides (or I think it is the baby that initiates it) that's it. It knew what to do and got on with it and I cooperated. But we are all different and our brains do things differently so one person's experience is not likely to be another's! What I love about MN is how we can share the incredible variety of our experiences (without forcing things on one another) when in the past first time Mum's were treated as idiots and left to find out the hard way that there is simply no knowing how it will be. Go with the flow ladies - and have a good helper with you to make sure the midwife is up to it!

spannermary · 29/03/2012 18:06

I am reading this with interest as I am 38+4.

I fully expect to go into labour as soon as we run out of petrol, and the petrol stations are empty...

gloucestergirl · 29/03/2012 18:06

I had no signs that I recognised as 'this must time'. But looking back, the day before contractions started I was stupidly emotional. My husband made a short comment that would have annoyed me usually, but this time I literally cried all day about it. No idea if it is connected. The following day and 26 hours later little daughter was born.

Good luck....wishing you all the best :)

BoffinMum · 29/03/2012 18:11

I never know until quite late on, so I always have babies at home.

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