First Signs of Labour - First time Mum

[Baileysmum220118]

Hi,

Now 40 + 4. Went for a sweep Monday and cervix was closed so couldn't do anything. This evening I have started with back pain and cramping. Also getting some shooting pelvic pains (think daggers).

Seem a bit to close together to be contractions but are quite painful. Could it be the start of labour?

Got me thinking What were the first signs of labour for you guys?

Will I know when it happens? Appreciate that's probably a stupid thought! 😊

Any help or info would e really appreciated!

Thanks everyone.

For me, it was my waters going, then had a clear out and bloody show within about 20 minutes and mild period cramps started after that that came very rhythmically. But to be honest, if my waters hadn't gone so dramatically and I hadn't had the blood show, I would have had no idea I was going into labour as it was all very subtle at first until consistent contractions started (which was in about 2 hours).

I'm pregnant now with my 2nd, 37 weeks, actually 37+4 and I had my dd at 37+5, so could truly be any minute. I've been having loads of cramping and lower back pressure the past 2 weeks that haven't led to anything (thankfully, as I was still really early). Last night I had a lot like you describe, lots of cramping, really start BH which made me wonder if they were contractions, but they were pretty close together, and low back pressure. It's weird but I can't really remember now what contractions feel like, so it's hard to know what I'm feeling. But at least with my first, they started as period like cramps, but weren't constant. They came for a bit every so many minutes like you would expect contractions would and eventually got more intense and turned into proper contractions in about 2 hours.

With my first I had some contractions which stopped, Day or two later waters burst and contractions came hard and fast.

2nd & 3rd, nothing! Induced @ 42 weeks with 2nd, many failed sweeps and induced early with no.3.

Could be, OP! I had a sweep the day after my due date; like you, cervix totally closed. The next evening I started getting cramping, very mild at first. It intensified overnight. Checked at 3am, still totally closed. By 8am it was intense enough that I had DH drive me back in to the hospital, and waters went on our way in. I was 10cm when they examined me . DD born that afternoon.

I was also 40+4 when a similar thing happened, I started with back pain that wouldn't go away and twinges 15 mins or so apart. 28 hours (and a lot of contractions) later DD was born!

It could be something, are you timing between the cramps?

Thanks everyone. Have started timing and between 10 and 12 mins apart but not very intense. Only lasting 10/15 seconds and not changed in last 90 mins or so. Back pain still there though. Pelvis is really sore too. Kinda throbbing.

Not helped by baby being wiggly too!

I woke up with contractions in the early hours, they got increasingly strong and close together throughout the day, went into hospital at 7pm I was 8cm dilated and my waters went at about an hour later. Baby born 3 hours after that. I didn't have a mucous plug, a bloody show or any other symptoms at all prior to waking up with what I just knew were contractions. I was 2 weeks late and my DB was late too so I assumed I would be waiting a long time to meet DD, as it was she was born at 39+1.

Fingers crossed for you OP, sounds like it could be the start of something!

I thought I had trapped wind from about 6am. Went to work and it gradually got worse through out the day until I decided that I was actually in labour at around 7pm. She was born 1151am the next morning.

I had what I can only describe as twinges in the evening, happening every hour or so and continued all night. By 6am it was becoming more regular and stronger, gave birth at 6.20. Was my first but I kind of knew from the first few twinges that something was happening x good luck op

6.20PM that should have said