Order of events? very (early labour)

[SpoonfulOfJam]

38+3 so things are inevitably going to start soon (could possibly already be starting)- whether it takes days or weeks is another matter. It's my first, and after my parent education classes and reading on MN I think I know how things are meant to work once the contractions start to dilate the uterus, but I'm a bit confused as to what happens before that.

I have been offered a sweep at 39+6, but surely my cervix needs to have softened first.

So I should be experiencing period type pains while this happens? (I've been on the pill for so long and then fell pregnant straightaway, I can't remember hoe they feel- can't tell if I'm feeling period pains or digestion pains).

This should lead to loss of mucus plug/ bloody show? I should be wearing a pad?

And then it can all stop and kick off when my body wants it too?

When will my body want to clear out? (on the toilet last night and this morning, and feeling a bit vomity too).

General leg and back ache comes into it?

My boobs seem to have gone up a cup size in the last 24 hours- are they getting ready with the colostrum?

Sorry for a jumbled post- sort of reflects how I'm feeling at the moment though. So essentially, what I am asking, is how did the very early stages pan out for you? I appreciate timescale will vary hugely, what was your order of events?

FFS.... title should read (very) early labour.

I had nothing until about 41 weeks when I started labour. Went to the hospital and was given a sweep I didn't want during a check which told me I was 1 cm dilated. three days later I had an infection and baby was born with meconium in the waters.

Having the sweep was possibly the worst thing that happened as I think it just led to a cascade of intervention.

Personally if I were you I would let nature take its course. - wait until you are overdue.

The sweep has never worked for me even when my cervix was favourable, and for some reason I never seem to have the clear out before labour either or the back/leg ache. Mine is literally just mucus plug then timescale varies before contractions start I guess labour is different for every one.

I've only experienced one spontaneous labour, as I was induced with dd.

For me, it started off with lower backache a week before the real thing. I thought I was in early labour for a whole day but then it died away.

Then a week later, I started feeling emotional and cried a lot. Lost a bit of my mucous plug and then started feeling a bruised period pain type feeling in my lower stomach. This became stronger over a day and turned into proper contractions that were about 10 mins apart.

I never had an urge to clear out. Period pain for me feel like a bruised heavy feeling in my lower stomach that doesn't really die away. It's like having a stone in my stomach but I think it's different for everyone. It is also accompanied by a a bruised backache too.

I think indigestion pain would be much higher up just below your breasts as your digestive system is all pushed up at this stage. Like heart burn I suppose.

Good luck!

Sorry, must add, a sweep didn't do anything for me as I clenched up due to fear so mw couldn't get to the cervix (when pregnant with dd). I just left with a really really sore vagina that stung for days. Completely useless thing IMO.

I've never had a sweep. But went into spontaneous labour with dd at 39+6. No warning signs (other than feeling fed up that i was DEFINITELY going to go overdue by the looks of things) and then BAM had a contraction during dinner! Things ramped up quickly over the next hour and then for the next couple of hours i was in the toilet a lot and vomiting a lot. my labour came on very suddenly and i was having 3 contractions every 10 minutes by midnight. Went to hospital at 3am but was only about 4cm dilated. I think i lost some of the plug around this time. waters were broken for me at about midday when i was about 8cm. Started pushing about 2pm but poor dd (and poor me) had her head at a funny angle and despite all the pushing there was no way she'd come out. so i had her out by ventouse suction at 5.30pm.

I think i only put a pad on when i got to hospital.

It sounds like your body is gearing up for action. However i wouldnt get too excited because if this isn't 'it' then you can get very disappointed at this late stage of pregnancy.

Personally i wouldn't have a sweep until i was overdue. unless there is a medical reason to get baby out sooner, then i'd wait until baby was ready.

Good luck! :)

Thank you for sharing your experiences.

It's tough making the adjustment from planning every minute of my day, to going on mat leave and just waiting! I don't think I'll have the sweep, I want this to be as natural as possible. I was hoping to not obsess over every little twinge but it's hard not to now the time is nearing!

I am prepared for a long slow early labour, and would have liked to have gone out for a long walk today, take my mind off things and hopefully let gravity help things along. However after 8 weeks of asking for some work to be done, my letting agents finally send the workmen round today! So I am housebound. Don't feel like I can even have a shower or a nap! Ah well, will just bounce on my ball and watch crap telly till they finally go.

I lost my plug at 8pm ish on a Friday night at 37+4, waters went at 10pm on the same evening so put (lots of) pads on and went to the hospital just to be checked. DS was finally born on Sunday 2:41am at 37+6. I didn't have any contractions till about 12pm/1am Friday/Saturday.
Fingers crossed for a nice easy labour for you xx