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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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TreadSoftlyOnMyDreams · 07/10/2014 11:41

That's hilarious VeryPunny. I went shopping while in labour with my first[knowingly - must have been mad] I had to admit it to a shop assistant and got some very, very quick service. They couldn't wait to get me out of there.

MiaSparrow · 07/10/2014 14:16

My bump suddenly dropped about 6 inches! Contractions started about three hours later.

DayLillie · 07/10/2014 15:14

Overwhelming tiredness for the couple of days before. Waters broke with first, second time contractions started after a night time wee and mucus plug going 2 days before. Knew it was serious both times after getting squits. V fast labour both times.

IdealistAndProudOfIt · 07/10/2014 15:31

You are on the home strait. Hang in there! We all get very fed up in the last few weeks.

The plug can fall out days or even weeks before labour starts though, sorry. You do get some discharge, as well, so are you sure the plug has gone?

For me, with first the signs were contractions starting (but not really regular) and then waters breaking. For second it was more difficult as the little blighter had me practising my contractions every other day for 2 whole weeks! I was very fed up. When he decided it was time to move out, he didn't half move fast, it was just luck I decided to take it seriously (or 'instinct') on the night, with just enough time to get dressed before labour really kicked in and barely enough to get to hospital. Makes a funny story now.

magicalmrmistofelees · 07/10/2014 15:39

I never knew it was imminent... I started having contractions and they got closer and closer together. There were no signs before that, I was sitting in Nandos after a day of Christmas shopping at 6 days overdue when I had my first contraction!

Scaredycat3000 · 07/10/2014 22:20

First PG no inkling, woke up very early 6 days before DD and was getting twinges, OH left for work and I told him I had a feeling I would be calling him back home. Contractions started, I had diarrhoea, waited for OH to arrive at work so I could call him home, wanted and had a bath. 12 hours from my first thought of this is it I was holding DS1.
DS2 I knew what to expect, big mistake. DD came and went DD+2 Braxton hicks started early evening. Every evening I thought this is it contractions, every morning I woke up clearly not in labour. By DD+5 when I went to bed with the by now usual BH I didn't think anything of it. 3am woke up realised that this was now it, just wait for my bowels to empty and I'd wake everyone up and get to the hospital. That was my big mistake. I finally started having a huge shit 9 minutes before DS2 arrived, I made it to the labour ward 7 minutes DS2 was born. Huge case of denial because I knew what to expect, I was wrong.

Primafacie · 07/10/2014 23:14

When my waters broke, Niagara style. Both times.

Sixgeese · 08/10/2014 01:35

I had DS at 35 5, the day I lost my mucus plug.

ThinkIveBeenHacked · 08/10/2014 01:59

With dd I woke at 4am with contractions every three mins. Had not a single sign prior (had been on a nigh out!).

This pg am 37 weeks and getting braxton hicks every night, coupled with two hour chunks of sleep, bad reflux and loads of pressure down below, but its been going for a month now. I actually had threatened preterm labour a month ago which they had to stop with meds, and its just made me hyper sensitive to anything my body is doing.

Am currently sat on the couch drinking milk to stop the burning in my chest thinking "now. I want this baby out now".

Lookingforfocus · 08/10/2014 11:05

The day before I went into labour with my first my ankles suddenly swelled up to the point they disappeared and my legs joined my feet with no bendy bit. Later I realised that was a sign of imminent labour.

katienana · 08/10/2014 11:21

I had Braxton Hicks for about 3 weeks before my due date, convinced every day that it was the start of labour. It was painful and you could visibly see my bump contracting, but was nothing like the real thing. It takes your breath away. You will know!
I lost the plug in one go on a Saturday (I was watching Dr Who, how apt) felt very very tired and had pains on the Tuesday evening. Went to bed, couldn't sleep, just before midnight got up to use loo. Sat down on loo and waters went - felt like a balloon popped inside me and there was a gush. Proper contractions kicked in straight away. It really hurt but I'm not a screamer so I just kept saying 'ow'. Woke DH up, rang the unit was told to come in, examined, sent home, went back at 5am and was 9cm!!! I think it was the 'ow' the midwives didn't take it seriously!!!

squizita · 08/10/2014 13:59

Felt a pop like twinge at 5pm. No waters. Thought nothing of it as had been checked that morning and no signs of dilation or soft cervix.
Then stomach cramps... then worse cramps, couldn't talk or walk during them... then mad dash to the hospital . Baby arrives shortly after that.
Not much warning for me AT ALL!

StepDoor · 08/10/2014 14:14

Woke up at 4am, contractions every 5 mins, decreased to 3 mins.

BauerTime · 08/10/2014 15:44

I was 37+5. I literally said the words 'I should probably start carrying my notes about with me' at the same time as my waters broke all over my friends couch. No plug, no pain for probably another 4 hours, but by then I was in hospital waiting to be taken down for a c-section (breech).

LizLimone · 08/10/2014 15:53

Just woke up the morning before DS was born with bad cramps and then contractions that lasted all day and were anything from 5-10 minutes apart. Despite trying earlier in the day, I didn't get admitted until midnight though as I had only got to 4cm by then. My waters never broke (had ARM in labour) and I never had any bloody show.

This time round (35 weeks with DC2) I'm interested to see if I'll get more of the classic signs like waters breaking or a bloody show. I definitely knew it was labour last time around because the pain was too intense to ignore and I spent all day doing breathing and squats and leaning over the bed so it was definitely different to the BH and lower back cramps I had had previously.

DayLillie · 08/10/2014 16:15

My contractions did not hurt at all the second time and no waters breaking. I just recognised the familiar 'pulling' feeling. I had already lost the mucus plug (and been in for monitoring) and felt tired and 'ready'.

It is worrying that people get turned away. I called the hospital at 4.30am as I had had contractions for over an hour, they were now 3 mins apart and I was 35weeks pg with twins.

The midwife said to come in at 9am. I told her that the doctor I had seen a couple of days before had said to come in with the first contraction, and I had already waited too long, so was coming in now. I had them at 7.30am.

Thankfully, everything was straightforward, because although I had managed to get to the hospital, it turned out their policy was to keep people comfortable at that time in the morning, then hand over to the day staff at 9am, so they were not ready to deliver them at all. Obviously, it is not normal to deliver your babies between 4am & 9am at our local hospital

Greyhound · 08/10/2014 16:18

Waters broke at 36 weeks and contractions were regular - about every four minutes and lasting about 40 seconds each.

Good luck

Olive1987 · 08/10/2014 20:26

I didn't have any signs at all. I went out for dinner that evening with a friend. Came home about 8 and went to bed soon after. Woke up at 1am with pain, didn't think much of it, went back to sleep. Woke again at 3 and knew for sure it was happening, stood up and my waters broke! 4 hours later ds was here :).

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