what were your very first signs of labour

[JRmumma]

Right, the baby's room is ready, hospital bags packed, freezer and kitchen cupboards fully stocked, baby has finally gone head down at 37 weeks. Now in just sitting here waiting for it all to start.

Just wondering what other people's first inklings that it was happening was? Obviously i know im supposed to have a show, or waters breaking etc, but is there anything more subtle that happened to you?

Nothing, just woke up with contractions.

Jennimoo I don't even know what I mean! Just people keep telling me that I will feel when the baby's dropped.

It's still up under my boobs at the mo.

First child - two runs of preterm labour with contractions only. Then finally at 40w my waters started leaking. Stalled due to hospital phobia and was induced.

Thinking this time will be soon... Body is in clear out mode, lost my plug with a small amount of blood and very crampy. (Also know I am 3cm...)

When people say drops its when your bump suddenly gets lower, to do with engaging and position. You will have a Lil more space between your boobs, heartburn eases not fully tho darn it! and you can breathe more but you will feel like a bowling ball has been shoved up your nether regions! :)

I have 3 dc, never spotted baby dropping / engaging, never had a show and longest time from waters going to baby arriving was 12 mins. So for me, sign I was in labour was having contractions which had built from period type pains.

DS1 waters broke, but no contractions - had to be induced 2 days later

DS2 - not a thing, I was induced with him as well

DS3 - had a sweep, plug went that night. next day I was having niggling period type pains, but paid no attention to them. went to bed at 4am.
pain of huge contraction woke me up at 5am. I was in agony. rushed to hospital, he was born before 7am

DS4 - ELSC so none

DS5 - had sweep in the morning. massive cracking sound at 3pm then contractions started ( born 10pm that day)

DD - waters broke at 4pm
slowish labour, born next morning

Thanks for all the responses!

I know its not a sign of labour starting but ive 'dropped' during the night. Im not joking, it felt like baby was literally crawling down into my pelvis and suddenly i could breathe much better than i have been able to lately. Then i kept getting woken up by braxton hicks.

Not quite there yet but my body is definitely getting ready! Exciting!!!