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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How did you know labour was imminent?

43 replies

Lula2515 · 06/10/2014 11:15

I've searched and there are lots of threads about this but I'm getting a bit obsessed with it and need to vent too.

I'm 35+5 so I know probably a bit early. I think my mucous plug has started coming out. Yesterday I had a completely weird meltdown, DP misheard something I said and I had about 20mins of both laughing and crying uncontrollably as I was so upset but knew how ridiculous I was being. I've also started having mild period type pains in the evening and my pelvic pain has got lots worse. I'm also completely wiped out.

Am I just wishful thinking? Or did anyone have these as signs labour was on its way?

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Casmama · 06/10/2014 11:19

Tbh the only sign I had was contractions which didn't stop and increased in frequency and duration as opposed to the contractions which had stopped after an hour or so as happened a few times in the days leading up to it. Sorry probably not what you wanted to hear.

Greenstone · 06/10/2014 11:43

My waters broke in a gush and painful contractions started (39+5). That was the only real sign. I'd had a bloody show at 38 weeks after an internal, but still nothing happened until 39+5 (I think I had another show earlier that day).

I'm 35+4 now with DC2 and I don't think labour is imminent - however, in the last few days I have really noticed my body slowing down and a need to rest more. Yesterday I actually got quite teary when I thought I wouldn't be able to have a nap because DH had to go out! (Thankfully he then didn't have to go out til later so I got that precious nap after all.)

I'm fed up but also don't want this baby to come before 39 weeks unless it really wants to. The more time cooking the better overall.

FloralFuckery · 06/10/2014 11:58

I lost my plug in one go...which was disguting. It did however make me realize those Braxton Hicks I'd been having all day were not braxton hicks and that I needed to time them. (Turns out I was 4cm at that point)!

But the main thing as stated above was just timing the contractions and waiting til they got more painful.

tomanyanimals · 06/10/2014 12:52

Painful contractions coming more regular and I couldn't sit down had to keep walking or it hurt to much

shakemysilliesout · 06/10/2014 13:05

I've had perio pains/ bh for weeks. Bloody show a week ago- no labour.

Heleng1982 · 06/10/2014 13:27

Out of my three births my second one was the only one I knew something was going to happen . I couldn't sit down I spent all day leaning over the sofa till dh came home from work. When we got to hospital I was 5 cm

IamOldGregg · 06/10/2014 13:49

No show for me until quite far along - but both my labours have started with evenly spaced contractions getting more and more ahem and MORE painful!

PervyMuskrat · 06/10/2014 16:38

No sign at all with either DC until waters went (no braxton hicks, no show beforehand, nothing) then contractions started and DC1 arrived 5 hours after waters went and DC2 arrived 1 hour after waters went (fortunately we'd learned from DC1 and didn't hang around at home!)

ILikeToMoveItMoveIt · 06/10/2014 16:41

I didn't know it was imminent with any of my three. It was only waking up in early labour that was the giveaway

TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 06/10/2014 17:10

Waters broke, both times but not in the gushing Hollywood sense, more of an incontinence trickle using up all the pads I'd bought for post partum bleeding.
Most unwelcome timing on both occasions as they were early but I sometimes read about people at 42 weeks and think that maybe it was a good thing.

Bear in mind that you will think that every twinge is imminent labour if you think about it too much.

flagnogbagnog · 06/10/2014 17:26

I've had 4 DC's. I became more in tune with my body with each one in relation to imminent signs of labour. (Not a clue with the first).

With my last pregnancy I was telling my husband and close friends that I wouldn't make it to the end of the week without giving birth. I think they all thought it was wishful thinking because I was only 36 weeks gone at the time. But sure enough, dc4 was born within a few days.

I didn't recognise it with my first few pregnancies but there is, in my experience, a definite 'feeling' of something coming. An unbelievable intolerance of anyone or anything as your body hunkers down for impending birth. I had aches in my groin area and tops of my thighs which was also telling me something was coming.

Bipolarity · 06/10/2014 17:27

I woke up in labour both times and the third was induced.

DinoSnores · 06/10/2014 17:31

I started losing my plug weeks ago. I had my second sweep yesterday when I was 4cm. Every evening for about the last 6 weeks I have regular, mildly painful contractions that die down to nothing. I'm now 8 days over and can only assume I'm never actually going to have this baby!

Bipolarity · 06/10/2014 17:32

I woke up in labour both times and the third was induced.

Flingmoo · 06/10/2014 17:34

Woke up at 5am with bad period pain which gradually turned into stronger, more distinguished contraction pains that lasted a minute with a peak.

gingermopped · 06/10/2014 18:07

im in my 6 pregnancy, with previous 5 was similar, just b4 labour starting bad tum (the shits, tmi, lol) bodys way of clearing the way.
heavieness down below and once contractions start u will b in no doubt.
best of luck x

LetticeKnollys · 06/10/2014 18:45

I had been having contractions of varying intensity for several days, so I felt I had many false alarms! The best advice I had was to stop trying to be active/bouncing on birth balls/etc. and try to relax in a similar environment to one you would like to have sex in to get your oxytocin flowing. I had a nice evening with a takeaway and went in a bath with candles and they did get worse while in there, I mentioned to DP that I thought that this was it but wasn't certain until a few hours later when they became really persistent and strong and it was clear they weren't just going to fade out (it was late at night by then).

LetticeKnollys · 06/10/2014 18:48

Oh yeah, and for me contractions did just feel like period pains which slowly got worse and worse until they were overwhelming (I had a long and complicated labour). I thought I was kidding myself that they really were contractions at first because I expected them to be different.

Original poster

Lula2515 · 06/10/2014 21:51

Thanks for all your stories! Need to make it to 37 weeks anyway so I can go to the lovely birthing unit. Knowing my luck I'll still be asking advice on here at 42 weeks!

Good luck dino let us know how you go!

OP posts:

PontypineNumber9 · 06/10/2014 22:54

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

JuniorMumber · 06/10/2014 23:01

I had no contractions, no pains or aches, no 'show' - but my waters started trickling really subtly for two days (I was wearing sanitary pads to feel more fresh, so I didn't really notice it). On the second day I went for a wee and noticed it was an odd brown colour, and then it dawned on me that it was probably amniotic fluid. We went to hosp and they confirmed it was. Then had to be induced quickly because you can get an infection if your waters leak for more than 48 hrs.

DinoSnores · 06/10/2014 23:01

Thanks, lula, will do. This is DC4 so I was kind of hoping that my body would get its act together a bit more quickly this time!

Allisgood1 · 07/10/2014 09:38

The weekend before I gave birth I was so tired. Like beginning of pregnancy tired, thought there must be something wrong. It was the opposite of a burst of energy you're supposed to get. It wore off and I felt a little better by the Tuesday, Wednesday morning my waters went.

My bh also became a little stronger the week before. Still not regular but the tightness went from being painless to a little sore.

As far as contractions, when waters went I had none. They started as manageable period pains but quickly became sharp pains in my bum as well as across my tummy. There was no denying what was happening (and I have birth about 2 hours later!).

VeryPunny · 07/10/2014 09:44

I went a bit batshit crazy and would have hidden under the bed if I could have fitted. Didn't put 2+2 together at the time, it wasn't until I was sat in the John Lewis cafe feeling a bit funny every few minutes and the couple next to us looking a bit concerned that I twigged...

mommathatwearspink · 07/10/2014 09:48

My waters broke at 37+5. I think I had been loosing my plug over a few days although it was nothing like they describe. Apart from that there were no other significant signs.

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