When did you first KNOW you were in labour?

[LeaM]

Out of curiosity as I am extremely anxious and constantly looking out for signs of labour (37 weeks)...

When did you first have an inkling that your labour was approaching?

When did you first KNOW for sure that labour had arrived?

Because i couldnt breathe or think through the contractions, and I couldn't stop vomiting. I didn't really have any painful braxton hicks/false labour beforehand. I just woke up niggling one morning, which quickly developed into contractions. I wasn't officially in active labour until 4pm, but then went from 4-fully in 2 hours. Good luck!

Period pains became unmistakable contractions within about 3 hours.

Thanks hope - I've never had Braxton Hicks! Couldn't tell you what they feel like 🙈

At about 40 weeks, I would wake up at night with strong Braxton hicks that would go after a little while. The next night I'd have nothing, then the next Braxton hicks again and so on for a week. I kept waking up thinking is this it?? How will I know which is the real one!! Then one night a weird pop woke me up, such a weird sensation and I had wet underwear but not a massive gush. I thought I'd just wet myself and that was what had woken me up but the minute it took to get back into bed the contractions started and were every 5 mins so I knew it was time.

Following this as also curious. 36 weeks and pretty sure there's been a huge movement in there of it being further down!

I didn't first time around. When the nurse said at the drop in centre that I was in labour, I was gobsmacked. Having said that, I'm not sure most people would think back ache at 27 weeks was labour

@namechangedtoday15 oh wow! No I definitely wouldn't!

My waters broke.

My friends and I have a very different view of this - obviously coming from experience as referred to above. My friend at 39 +5 I think thought she was having contractions, went to hospital and was turned away (she wasn't in established labour). She was very upset at having made the journey/ got excited to be a false alarm. For me, I would have gone 10 times (and happily been turned away 9 times) if I knew everything was ok. I think at your stage OP, I would just err on the side of caution, if you feel any sort of pains, something's not quite right, just go to the Labour unit.

Started with milk period like pains that lasted only a few seconds initially, but were every 7-10 minutes or so. I remember sitting outside in my gardening just knowing this was the start of it! By midnight they became a little stronger, more regular and closer together. At 4am my waters broke and they came thick and fast after that and DS arrived later that afternoon :)

Mild period pains. Not milk!

Dd1 after no hints or niggles I was just woken up by a painful contraction at half past midnight. She arrived at 07.59am.

Dd2 i had a sweep on Thursday afternoon, lost my mucous plug Friday night and my waters went Sunday afternoon after I had felt them bulging whilst walking round Tesco’s. No pains whatsoever so had to be started off with a pessary the next day which got things going and baby out in less than 6 hours.

With DC1 I woke up with a mild contraction at about 3am. Went back to sleep but was woken again by another at 6am. I had a few more until about 11am when I lost my plug, then they started getting gradually more frequent. The little so and so didn't arrive until just after midnight the following day though. I was 39+2.

When my waters broke and I had period type pains that kept coming and going....these got increasingly stronger and 3 hours later my dd was here!

I had light cramps and then a small amount of waters go at 1am, so I knew then. Waters properly broke at 10:30, DS born a little after noon.

After not one twinge,niggle,cramp etc I was 40+6 & had my first strong period type cramps at Fri 3pm came every 20 mins. Very strong contraction at 8pm. DS born 9.30am Sat. Plug came away at 8cm in delivery suite bath. Waters didn't go until I was fully dilated.

Felt period crampy for 15 minutes which then turned into contractions every 2 minutes. Unmistakable. Bowl emptying for the next half hour (at least I wasn't going to poo myself whilst pushing!)

Arrived in hospital after 3 hours and fully dilated, stood up from being examined and my waters went movie style and really needed to push.

35 weeks pregnant with 2nd, slightly terrified that I won't make it to the hospital this time.