What to look out for?

[0310Star]

I am 37+2 and am aware my baby could come anytime now. She's also measuring on the larger side so I'm not sure if that will have an impact on how soon she will arrive.
I am on maternity leave, trying to keep busy until she arrives, but I'm feeling anxious about what I'm supposed to be looking out for!
DP works half hour away and we were talking last night about if it happens whilst he's at work, but I don't know when is the right time to call him if that happens?!
I've had lots of niggles/pains in the last week, 3 times I've thought I could be going into labour due to really painful Braxton Hicks and today is constant lower back ache, like a period pain in my back. From what I've read on here, these are all things that could indicate it's approaching.

I guess my question is, will I know when it's the real thing? I don't want to get DP home and ready to go to hospital if, for example, it's just trapped wind 😂

Follow your instinct, it really is amazing how you just know when it's the real deal. If it's your first it can take a while to build up to it, you might have other symptoms too like waters leaking, loosing your plug. You can also call the hospital any time if you are unsure and they will advise you. Good luck, it won't be long now.

If you think your waters have broken then contact hospital. If you have a warning sign of something wrong eg sever headaches reduce movements then contact the hospital.

If you are not sure if you are labour then you are not in labour or in the very early stages which often lasts for days.

My ds was born at 41 weeks. I knew it was the real thing immediately, I never had any braxton hicks beforehand though - so that might have made it easier? However my contractions started pretty strong and with only about 5 minutes between them, went to the hospital within an hour of them starting and he was born 5 hours later!

Thank you ladies.
I am a very prepared kind of person so tend to worry about the things I can't control 🙄
I guess I will know when it's time, kind of hoping it's at night so DP is at home!

Even if it starts while he's at work usually nothing happens very suddenly, if you start getting pains or if your waters break there will be plenty of time for him to get home if he's just 30 minutes away. The pains don't usually kick in so suddenly that you'd need to leave for hospital within the first few minutes.