How you felt just before labour

[Rockdown2020]

I am 40+5 and trying to pass the time until labour starts. This is my second so but I have forgotten so many things!

I’ve hit a bit of a nesting phase which I was hoping for because I need to get cleaning in here really! (TMI alert) I’ve also lost my micas plug over the last few days so I know it’ll likely be soon but I just want to know what your signs were so I can stay distracted for the next few hours, days or god forbid...week!

How did you know labour was near?

Currently pregnant with third but with my first two it was definitely the diarrhoea!! It was literally never ending in one go, I couldn't control it, I then googled it and it is a sign Labour is near as it's your body's way of cleaning everything out. With my DD I then had her the same night, with my DS the next morning after I had the diarrhoea. Thats one of the most telling signs for me for both of them.

The night before I went into labour (labour started at 4am), I really felt a need to be alone and quiet. I went to bed early and just read for a while (I never do this as my DH and I always chill on the sofa Netflix surfing). I just needed to be away from everything and didn't know why...

Following this! 40+3 FTM and spent the last few days in bed exhausted and feeling fluey. Few twinges but thats it

I remember i came out in greasy hair and spots just before

@SamK93 is it wrong I’m now hoping for diarrhoea! Congrats on your third.

@CountryGirl36 congratulations on your first!
It’s so much harder waiting on them to arrive. I’ve got a toddler so he does tend to help take my mind off it when he’s here. Today is nursery day.

@itsmylifebonjovi I have been a bit like this but mainly because I’m binge watching reality tv and my OH is a bit like eye roll

@Julmust I think I’ve been like that most of my pregnancy sadly.

I was just 100% fed up, I spent the Monday walking 5 miles, bouncing on a birthing ball, ate an extra extra hot nandos, and spent hours doing nipple stimulating desperate to get my baby out. I went into labour the next morning.

I had a dull ache down one side of my bump (possibly from overdoing it dismantling my office desk) and if I pressed on one side of my bump it made a squelchy noise on the Saturday afternoon. My waters broke at midnight and I went into labour at 3am baby born by lunchtime.

With my first I remember waking up at 6am feeling "different" but nothing I could put my finger on so carried on as normal. Had a leak of waters at around 8.30am and then labour slowly built up through the day. In hindsight, I think the different feeling was probably the baby having moved fully down.

With my second, I just had stop start contractions that started as braxton hicks but became more and more frequent over about a week. It turned out she was positioned poorly, head down facing to the side so there was insufficient pressure from her head on the cervix.

I just thought I’d update to say thank you so much for your hand hold. Our baby arrived safely on Thursday. I had been to the midwife the day before and they’d booked an induction. I had no feeling of what was on the way and after a cake date with my toddler, contractions started!

To those still waiting for their babies, good luck.

@Rockdown2020 congratulations