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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 it's starting??

20 replies

writerwrites · 08/03/2015 12:43

Hi all!

I'm forty weeks today with my first - feeling fine really, baby's still moving lots, stomach has been rock hard for last few days, no sign of plug or waters breaking... Have had a bit more of a pushing down sensation, but nothing hugely different.

Just wondered what your first signs of labour were?

Am getting impatient - though not too bad as I don't feel too uncomfortable - just want to meet the baby now!

And hi to anyone else who's due in the next week or so!

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TheSingingMonkey · 08/03/2015 13:05

With DS1 my waters broke and contractions started an hour later.

DS2 contractions started mildly, built up, eventually he was born two days later.

Couldn't have been more different!

weeblueberry · 08/03/2015 13:19

I didn't.

Well my waters went on the Friday. I wanted to leave it til the Sunday morning for induction and nothing much happened apart from some aches during the Saturday night but nothing awful.

Went in on the Sunday morning and was 4cm. But if you'd asked me if I was in labour Id have said no, definitely not.

Choccywoccydodah · 08/03/2015 13:20

Mine were like a pushing feeling every few mins on my bladder. Was almost like cystitis, like a tingling feeling. Was 2cm 3 hours later when MW checked into me on her way home. Went in 5 hours after that as I was in proper uncomfy pain and was 5cm, baby born another 5.5 hours after that :)
My waters didn't break until I was pushing!
Good luck!

GotToBeInItToWinIt · 08/03/2015 13:28

First sign of labour was first contraction.

muddylettuce · 08/03/2015 15:52

My first sign was contractions. I woke up at 5 am with them. Started timing them and they were every 5 minutes! So I calmly ran a bath, lounged around until 7 am before I woke dp up to tell him I was in labour. We didn't get to hospital until 10am as I went for a midwife appointment first, convinced as I was that this couldn't possibly be it! Turns out I was 4cm dilated already. Still took another 10 hours though! X

jennifer86 · 08/03/2015 15:54

Hi writerwrites, its my due date today as well, also my first so I know how you're feeling! Getting very impatient, I was born at 39 weeks so kind of expected my little one to be a little early as well, but apparently it doesn't work like that! I've had braxton hicks every day for at least the last week, occasional period-type pains, weeing very often and also intermittent diarrhoea, and yet nothing is happening!! Like yours, baby is still very active so I'm not concerned just getting fed up of waiting and want to meet him or her! Hoping things start for both of us soon and everything goes smoothly :)

JamesAndTheGiantBanana · 08/03/2015 16:03

With my first I knew something definite was happening when I lost my plug (tmi alert! It was unmissable, a ping pong ball sized glob of yellowish jelly, like rubber glue, streaked with blood) it came out about 12 hours before baby arrived, whenI was busy contracting. However I had been contracting on and off in a minor way for 3 days before it got serious (started Monday, cx "got serious" and lost plug about midnight Wednesday then had him late Thursday morning)

It was more straightforward with the next two, no slow labour, it was just strengthening contractions which didn't go away with a warm bath or a walk.

Original poster

writerwrites · 08/03/2015 16:13

Amazing stories!

I think I'll have to be patient - clearly it could go a million different ways...

Jennifer86 - congrats! It sounds like you're on a good track though, so hopefully won't be too much longer til you meet your baby - fingers crossed!

So hard not to go a bit nuts trying to spot when labour's starting... Lots of luck!

OP posts:

M1985 · 08/03/2015 16:14

I'm due DC3 in a week.
Both my pregnancies have started with contractions. There was no denying it was 'it' as it was a stabbing pain that came in a pattern & wasn't a pain Id felt before

Shlurpbop · 08/03/2015 16:22

Big loud pop noise, followed by a LOT of liquid and regular contractions. There was no mistaking it!!

18yearstooold · 08/03/2015 16:32

I woke up in the morning and just knew it would be that day

I don't know how I knew but I was convinced despite no show, no leaking and no contractions

My first actual sign was a strong dragging feeling in my thighs

I'm obviously very strange

mumofmunchkin · 08/03/2015 16:46

Contractions, which for me felt like bad period cramps. I'd been having them a couple of times a day for a few weeks, then suddenly they started coming every 15 mins or so.

jennifer86 · 08/03/2015 16:46

Yes, its so frustrating, isn't it?! I've tried all the old wives tales to try to get it started but really we just need to relax and know it will happen eventually! Have a midwife appointment tomorrow for my first sweep so hopefully they will be able to let me know whether my cervix is getting there or if its not even started to get ready yet! Have you had / are you going to have a sweep?

jennifer86 · 08/03/2015 16:49

That makes me feel a bit better, mumofmunchkin. MIL said her labour started with period cramps so when I've been having them I keep thinking maybe this is it, but then they just peter out. Glad to hear yours took a while to get going as well and it's not just me!

WannabeLaraCroft · 08/03/2015 17:15

With my DS, the start of it was when I woke up one morning feeling like I really needed a fart (sorry tmi) cramps across my tummy. 48 hours later I had him

CointreauVersial · 08/03/2015 17:36

Contractions kicked in, felt like strong, low-down period pain which came and went. Quite gentle at first, and spaced apart, so it was a good few hours before I needed to worry about it.

Waters didn't break until I was half way through delivery, and I don't remember any show either.

Original poster

writerwrites · 08/03/2015 18:22

I've got an appointment on Tuesday and I think I'll see how I feel then about a sweep... But really hope that gets things started for you tomorrow - fingers crossed!

And congrats M1985 - hope you're managing to get some rest with two others to look after

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lmb21010 · 08/03/2015 23:13

Water broke at 6am, that was 7 years ago today! Dd not born til 10th tho and idiotic mw told me my waters hadn't gone. I don't usually make a habit of peeing myself! Lol.
I remember "running" upstairs to bathroom trying not to get anything on the carpet as we were renting the house! To me it did feel like peeing but with literally no control.

lovetheautumn · 09/03/2015 11:21

My last began with contractions, the timing was good, they were coming regularly when I woke up, but not particularly painful just like strong braxton hicks. I told my husband to stay with me as I thought this was it, but at about midday they had slowed, but I wasn't ready to admit defeat lol so we went and got some castor oil tablets. I took these and within half an hour the contractions were scream worthy!! Got to hospital at about 4 cms, plug came out there during contractions and waters broke a bit later in the pool. Things subsequently went backwards with me going back to 3cms, as he was a back to back, and ended with an emergency c section :/ this time I am booked in so hoping they can wait until next Tues! Good luck!

wigglybeezer · 09/03/2015 11:29

Diarrhoea followed by vomiting with me, then cramps while stuck on loo.

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