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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 labour start for you?

38 replies

Jsnb9319 · 15/01/2020 16:07

I'm 36+2 but in going out of my mind overthinking every twinge, cramp, pain and feeling I have, and I know I still have a little while to go yet potentially!

So did it start with with contractions or waters going, or a show for you? Or did you have any other symptoms that you knew labour was on it's way?

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Needadviceplz · 15/01/2020 16:12

I had contractions and a show like half hour after they started I knew straight away that it was contractions as it felt different from twinges and crampy sensations.

Im expecting my 2nd now. My waters didn't go or anything with the first.

MerryDeath · 15/01/2020 16:18

mild contractions, then a show, then all hell broke loose.

Booobarella · 15/01/2020 16:28

Mine was like really bad period pains, then it went all into my lower back

DinoMamasaurus · 15/01/2020 16:36

First time - show when I got up in the morning, mild contractions started in the evening, and increased overnight and was ready to go in about 9am the next morning. Was 7cm when we got there.

Second time - not so much as a twinge, slept well but woke up in proper pain, went straight in (about 15/20 min) drive - when they checked me in triage they were like - oh that’s the head!! She literally said “this is triage - you can’t do this in here!”

Russell19 · 15/01/2020 16:48

My waters broke, no other signs at all before that but apparently that's rare.

SapphosRock · 15/01/2020 17:02

Period like cramping that gradually got stronger and stronger then the mucus plug. Waters didn't break until literally 10 minutes before DD was born.

afternoontwee · 15/01/2020 17:19

My waters went all over the bathroom floor just as I was about to get into a bath (great for cleanup).

Then mild period type pains for 8 hours until I went in to be checked over and they did a sweep then sent me on my merry way. Contractions only started properly when we were on our way back from the hospital and decided to stop at a McDonalds drive through, so the poor guy at the window got to see me mooing into my arm while gripping onto the car headrest.

Itwontrainallthetime · 15/01/2020 17:35

With my first I had cramping then a show, then went up to the hospital was only 2 cm dilated so got sent home, contractions were about 5 mins but we're painful, but no change all day and night but in pain. Got to the next day and all of a sudden the pain ramped up contractions in my back. Got to hospital was 7cm dialated and after about and hour or so on labour ward my waters were trickling out every so often.

With my second I was due to be induced but went in and on the monitor it said I was having contractions ,I couldn't feel them, but when I could they weren't as painful as the first time , would have happily of waited it out at home but they kept me in, my labour was shorter and more painful back and front as my labour progressed. My water was leaking every now and then but just before my DD came out my full waters gushed out. I wondered what had happened as it didn't happen with my first.

FireflyGirl · 15/01/2020 17:43

38 weeks, hadn't had any signs, got up at 4am for a wee, sat on the loo and my waters went. Was gentle enough it took me a minute to realise I hadn't started weeing yet. Then contractions every 90 seconds or so as soon as I stood up off the loo. As Russell says, I was told it is extremely uncommon.

RuthW · 15/01/2020 17:44

My waters broke

Jodie567 · 15/01/2020 18:21

I woke up thinking i had wet myself 😂 walked across to the bathroom and could tell then it was my waters! That was at 5am then no pain all day until around 7pm then contractions started and my daughter was born at 3am. Apparently its rare for the waters to go first though

Original poster

Jsnb9319 · 15/01/2020 18:23

Thanks all...some funny stories here about waters going!

But good to know it totally varies and it will just happen in whatever way it is going to happen!!

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ToTravelIsToLive · 15/01/2020 18:26

I woke up at 1.30am randomly after going to bed 2 hours before. Decided to go to the toilet just in case that's what woke me (could never tell at that point if I needed to go!) and the first part of my waters went on the toilet followed by contractions. 3 hours later the rest of my waters went on my excercise ball that I hadn't left since I got off the toilet haha

DennisSkinnersMolotov · 15/01/2020 18:38

DS1 - waters went at 10pm, contractions started overnight, he was born in hospital 23 hours later.

DS2 - waters trickled slightly and got some niggling pains but nothing too bad. Had 3 or 4 very short string contractions and gave birth to him on the bathroom floor while DH was taking DS1 to grandparents. Less than 90 minutes from the first tony twinge to delivery. I just thought I needed a poo...

fonxey · 15/01/2020 18:42

Waters broke as i squatted down to pick something up. They were green. Light contractions started half hour later.

Shmithecat2 · 15/01/2020 18:50

Got woken up by waters breaking about 1am. Mild contractions from about 4am. Ds arrived at 2pm.

VesperLindt · 15/01/2020 18:51

I was like you a few weeks ago! Had been having cramps at night for a few days but always disappeared after falling asleep. Had a sweep 3 days after due date and that really kicked things off. Didn't have a show until I was 4cm and waters went just before I started pushing. It's true that you will know when it's the real thing!

firstimemamma · 15/01/2020 19:00

Was overdue and for a few nights I was having contractions in the evening but nothing during the day. Plug lost at some stage but can't fully remember.

Then one morning I woke up with contractions. I thought this might be it because nothing had ever happened in the morning before. Then again I wasn't 100% sure so got up without waking my fiancé so he could rest as it was only half 5.

When my fiancé woke 4 hours later I told him things were underway as the contractions had got stronger instead of disappear.

Waters didn't go until within the final hour so that's not always a sign for everyone.

Baby was born at 41 weeks, a straightforward 16 hour labour which was mostly spent at home.

BatleyTownswomensGuild · 15/01/2020 19:16

Waters broke, followed about 15 mins later by a rather dramatic bout of diarrhoea. Contractions started about an hour later.

Apparently it's not that common for the waters to break at the very start so I wouldn't read too much into this.

bobble53 · 15/01/2020 19:49

Lower back ache like period pain that wouldn’t go away and then my waters trickled.

kemosabeimalone · 15/01/2020 19:57

First time 1 week overdue waters went but then nothing else so I was induced in hospital. Second time I was again a week over came back from my second of two sweeps and then had these wired clicky type sensations in my cervix - didn’t registered them as early contractions and was not until later at a friends did I realise what they were. Once these became crampy and regular I went off to hospital (was 6 cm dilated on admission). Waters broke quite late on - just before pushing stage. Don’t remember a show with either labour.

Chocol4te · 15/01/2020 23:13

I am 38weeks today, don't have any symptoms yet that labour is close but I am scared that either I'll miss my water breaking or I will not know that those are real contractions and I will wait too long... Hopefully will not be the case

MerryDeath · 16/01/2020 06:19

re waters for my first they broke quite early/before i was really aware labour was coming. they just sort of let go as i was going for a wee.

second they popped quite noticeably once i was in hospital and pushing.

earlycat · 16/01/2020 07:03

I've never experienced waters breaking.

I woke up feeling uncomfortable with back pain and mild stomach cramps. Followed by a 'show'.

Lou2120 · 16/01/2020 16:22

Both my pregnancies my waters broke and woke me up in the morning

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