What was the first signs you were in labour?

[DaisyRose144]

As the title suggests really.
I am 38 weeks and today whilst sitting on the sofa I noticed that I was leaking, however it wasn't wee. It was only a small amount and I haven't had any more since, so I am unsure if my waters are slowly leaking or not. I have also had some different types of pains in my stomach today that I don't usually get. Nothing too consistent that makes me think that they are contractions.

I was just wondering what the first thing was that made you think you were in labour?

[DaisyRose144]

I'm sorry for how bad my grammar is in this. Just read the title and had a little shudder

[RhymingRabbit3]

Cramps which were a bit like period pains but got gradually stronger whereas period pains tend to be quite consistent.

With my first pregnancy I also had diarrhoea and lost the mucus plug but had neither second time

[Bobbiepin]

Exactly the same. Little leak of fluids, then plug when I wiped. Mild tightening started then, gradually got stronger, waters properly went after about 15 hours and baby was born after 19. Good luck!

[Redwinestillfine]

Dd1 sharp pain in my tummy and waters broke spectacularly, ds1 bloody show followed quickly by contractions. Both Labours were 3 1/2 hours end to end. They didn't hang about once they decided to come!

[lovelyredwine]

First pregnancy my waters broke and I started contractions quite soon afterwards.
Second pregnancy I felt like I had period pains, took paracetamol and ignored it for a few hours as I wanted a few more days to get stuff done in the house! Eventually conceded that I was in labour and second DD was born 8 hours later. Both at 38 weeks.

[HipHipHippo]

Mine started with back ache and I just kind of knew. I'd had a sweep earlier that day (it was my due date) and lost my plug a few days before.
For a long time everything was in my back and it took a while for me to feel any contractions round my front (DD was back to back so that might be why?)

[ImNotShpanishImEgyptshun]

DD1: Funny twinges, so went to the loo. Then a massive poo, followed immediately by waters breaking and strong regular contractions. 2.5 hours start to finish.

DS1: Not a damn thing, until I sat on a birth ball funny at a week overdue. Waters went pop, then straight into strong regular contractions. 5 hours start to finish cos he had a massive head and I was constipated.

DD2 due in four weeks, so we shall see...

I have movie-style labours, no 36 hours of twinges for me!

[MonaLisaDoesntSmile]

Child 1- waters broken spontaneously and almost fully in the middle of the night, followed by diarhorrea and vomiting and cramping.

Child 2- period-like cramping, followed by diarhorrea and contractions, waters broken artificially in hospital

[avocadont]

Tiny little bit of plug came away in the middle of the day and then my waters broke at 2am the next day

[Mmsnet101]

Pain like someone was stabbing me in the vag repeatedly on and off, and lower back pain, which very gradually got worse and worse and closer together. My waters then broke on the loo (wasn't sure at the time) and pains got much worse and closer together.

[MichelleOR84]

My waters started leaking a bit, then within a half hour I lost my mucus plug then a half hour later my waters completely broke. 3 hours after that I started getting strong , regular contractions!