How did your labour begin?

[lananzack]

I was induced with my first and had no telltale niggling/cramping to indicate anything labour-like prior to my induction. So, have no idea what to look out for this time basically - but I'm becoming a bit suspect of what's going on with my body the past couple of days!

How did yours begin, and when did you start to think "ah shit, this is actually it!" ?

Mine began with period type pains, one every ten minutes or so. Not that painful but regular enough for me to know that things were starting. The "ah shit" moment came later when the pain got worse!

The day before my due date I awoke at 7am with "bad guts" as in dioriah.
It didn't even occur to me this was it.
I emptied my bowels (sorry) and the pains got worse (I was shaking badly) when I finally clicked.
Labour pains for me feel the same as though you are badly constipated.
My waters broke at the hospital on the toilet and baby was born by 2pm.

Second child I went 12 days over and had to go in for them to start me off (via breaking my waters)

I'm scared for my 3rd one (4 weeks to go) as I remember the pain very much so

I woke up to my waters breaking both times. First time contractions didn't properly kick in for nearly 50hrs, second time 2hrs.

It started with a bad stomach, and niggling back pain which extended to my lower abdomen and groin. Bit like period pain. I was only 30 ish weeks so thought I was constipated and labour didn't enter my head! Next morning, I felt a gush as I was laying down, and knew my waters had broken. That was my 'oh shit' moment as it was obvious what was happening.

Dc1- I knew straight away. Got up from a nap and had my first contraction then next one 5 mins later. They just kept going until she was born 13 hrs later.
Dc2- induction at 38 for GD
Dc3-induction at 40 for severe SPD
Dc4-contractions on and off for a week then one day they didn't stop. It wasn't until dp pointed out they were 3 mins apart and I was breathing through them that I realised that this could be it and phone the hospital. I suppose I should have known considering it was dc4!

With DS it started with bad period type pains, which progressed to full on contractions.
Waters were burst by midwife and mucous plug went during the contractions.

With DD (feels funny typing that, she's 9 days old 😊) I lost my mucous plug in the morning, started getting the period pains and by lunchtime I started getting gushes of waters.

Never got the full on flood with either of them.

Ds- started with my waters going, dribble to begin with and then a whoosh. Went into labour shortly after, had to be augmented 24 hours later and ds was born 6 hours after that.

Dd- had all kinds of false starts for two weeks before due date. At 40+4 I woke up with an almighty contraction and dd was born 5 hours later.

I was steadily losing my plug for a week or so but it regenerates so that was a bit grim! On my due date I had loads of Braxton Hicks and went into The City to meet my partner for lunch and was so uncomfortable, nasty period type pains and bad tummy too. That evening I was having quite frequent BH and went to bed sobbing, I was weirdly emotional but didn't think anything of it as was always told first babies were commonly late.

Well, I woke at 2am mid contraction and instantly thought 'oh shit!' off to the loo I waddle and was pinned down by another intense (or so I thought at the time) contraction, which is when I woke partner up and then proceeded to vomit twice and then have steady contractions for the next 13 hours, I was turned away from the birth centre the first time as was 2cm so went for a walk and was back an hour later in agony, checked again and 6cm! DD was born 2 hours later.

The best bit was when the midwife had me lie on the bed to check my progress (I was starting to bear down and push but no one believed I was progressing THAT quickly and my waters exploded with an almighty bang all over the room whilst I contracted and started pushing simultaneously I whipped my clothes off and waddled into the pool and the rest is history!

TLDR - Period type pain, bad tummy, emotional, burst of energy and then it all popped off and I was steadily contracting with increasingly intensity for 13 hours. When it starts you'll know, all my pain was in my back too, ugh!

The way everyone reckons it never happens ie waters suddenly breaking like in a soap opera or something. Undramatically though I was just sat on my own sofa at home. Not the slightest sign before that.

Waters broke and woke me up in the middle of the night. Wasn't the tv-style massive gush though, more like a steady trickle. Period style back pains started about 24 hours later.

All three were induced on a given date. DC1 as an emergency for pre-eclampsia, DC2 because "due to your past labour there's no sense in letting you go overdue" and DC3 because my blood tests (LFTs) were "confusing and erratic".

I feel cheated. I wanted to go into labour in Tesco.

DC1: Waters went while I was getting ready for bed. Quite a spectacular amount, and unexpected as not yet 37 weeks. No sign of labour, induced 24 hours later but things moved too slowly, c section 12 hours after that.

DC2 arrived by elective c section at 39 weeks, still remember getting on the tube with DH knowing we would be having a baby at 11am. Quite surreal!

Reading these stories whilst my own going-into-labour naturally story is unfurling today!
Now that I'm in pain I can't bloody think of why I wanted it to happen so badly!

Ooh exciting! Good luck OP!!

I also had an induction for my first, OP so didn't have a clue with my second either!

I was 38+4 and had been obsessing about getting fairy lights for around my pool (planned homebirth). I decided I needed to walk three miles uphill into town and sent my husband off with DS to go and entertain him for the day. I got home a few hours later and kept getting pains in my pelvis. I thought it was ligament pain from the walking until they began to get regular. I completely freaked out, all I could think about was getting food in for my son Walked to the shops to get him dinner, DH and DS came home and we ate then put DS to bed at 6.30. DD was born about four hours later.

Ooh OP just saw your last comment - good luck

Good luck OP!! Hope you're relaxing and cuddling your wonderful healthy baby now.

With dd my waters went and then there was a big fat nothing! I was induced when I got to hosp because there was meconium in the waters.

With ds I'd been having some pains all morning. Went to the toilet in Asda, I'd had my show. Went out of the loos to find dh and dd and immediately started with strong contractions 3 minutes apart.

My waters broke two weeks before the due date and then it all kicked off from there, DS was born 27 hours later. No symptoms leading up to my waters breaking.

Period cramps for 15 minutes before the first contraction then proceeded to empty bowls for the next 1/2 hour contracting every 2 minutes. Fully dilated within 3 hours.

First baby, really intense.

Apparently I should opt for a home birth next time as I won't make it to hospital an hour away