Uneasy....

[8abyDust]

Hiya,

I am 37+2 with a big baby and feeling very uneasy today. Baby is still quite active, and I've got twinges in my belly but I'm not sure if that's because baby is moving. Feeling really low and crappy today and desperately trying to look out for the first signs of labour because DH works away in the week and he is at least 3 hours away at the moment.

Any advice or info on the very first not so obvious signs of labour?

Thank you xxx

No advice I'm afraid but just wanted to say I'm feeling very similar. I'm 38+2 atm and keep getting false starts etc. It has led to me feeling a bit low and frustrated. My DH is 2 hours away for work too so I also need to call him when things kick off. I'm really hoping that my waters break early on, that way I know he can start his paternity leave and max time I'll have is 48 hours (my trust induces 48 hours after waters breaking if you're not in labour) although I think that may be a bit hopeful

It's difficult isn't it sparklekitty?! Hope it all works out for you xxxx

All labours are different.

And if it's your first baby I wouldn't expect a baby to arrive within 3 hours.

You could:
Have a show first
Waters break
Can't get comfortable (more than usual)
Mild period type pains, like a tightening across the whole of your abdomen, below your belly button-coming regularly

Oh-and good luck obviously!

Agree, all women can labour differently and sometimes differently with each child. It is more unusual for a 3 hour labour first time but I'm assuming there are always exceptions.

My labour all kicked off after waters broke but still took 15 hours.
Familiar Period pain cramps are also another indicator but timing them helps to work out whether it's really happening.

Have you no one nearby you can turn to? No one to ring if your worried? Can you speak to your midwife about your concerns and come up with a plan of action til OH can get to you?

Wish you all the best with it.

The day I went in to labour with my first I actually felt great. Really full of energy, unlike the couple of weeks beforehand when I had been feeling like you. From speaking to my friends, I think this is quite common to have this burst of energy so look out for that. The actual labour started with period like aches and then a show. Good luck

Also look out for nausea, loose bowels (sorry!) as your body "prepares" for labour.

But as previous posters have said, everybody is different...

Any news op?

I had no show until I got to hospital, my waters were broken as I was pushing so the only thing I had was the pain, completely different to braxton hicks, like bad cramps for about 1 minute then going away and coming back every few minutes. I woke up in the night already in established labour within the hour and was 4-5cm dilated by the time I reached hospital. I had no warning the day or evening before, I had a normal poo (tmi?), no pains and had booked a hairdressers appointment as I was convinced baby would be late! I had had braxton hicks from 26 weeks and so I was really used to these and I think they got quite strong a few days before but as it was my first I wouldn't have linked this to impending labour.