Did you get any signs before going into labour? Or did it just happen with little warning?

[Duesept20]

Hey everyone!

My due date is tomorrow, and I'm now intrigued by how I might go into labour.

I'm well prepared for baby to be 2 weeks late, and am not considering induction at this point. But I dont really feel like labour is happening soon. In fact, I feel remarkably ok.

So I was wondering... Is it traditional to have a couple of days warning before labour where you feel a bit rubbish, or have period pains?.....Or, is it also possible to just go into labour and your contractions start suddenly/your waters break with no warning?

So far I've not lost my mucus plug, not had many Braxton hicks and dont really feel like I'm going into labour in the next week 🤷‍♀️

I was 10 days overdue and had 2 sweeps. I had no warning signs, I was booked on for an induction and 2 days before that I felt the urge to poo ( a lot!) But I thought nothing of it until my waters broke . DS was born about 5 hours later ! I'd lost a bit of my mucus plug about 3 times so that didnt alert me .

I had no warnings. It was a normal day, actually put the finishing touches on the nursery and did a food shop. My son was a week early in the end but I was adamant he'd be late. Just sat down to dinner and my waters broke! He arrived 8 hours later.

My waters didn't break until quite far into the process. Already in hospital and probably quite a few cm dilated.

I cleaned our double patio doors. That was the first sign. I never clean them normally...

@NatalieH2220, wow! That's amazing! ❤ I dont mind baby being late at all....But I reallllly dont want to be induced if I can help it 🙄

No warning. Every baby I’ve been completely normal (well, miserable as sin, because late pregnancy) then suddenly in very hard labour with a baby very much imminent. It made me really nervous with second and third babies because I always thought I’d be able to tell that something was going to happen but I seem to miss the build up part and go straight into a punch in the gut, never ending contraction until the baby makes an appearance. Like being hit by a bus.

Good luck!

@Duesept20 Yeah I don't blame you, I feel the same (DS2 due in Nov). Hopefully they make an appearance naturally in the next couple of weeks. Good luck!

No warning signs - felt better than I had done in days, then woke up needing a poo in the middle of the night, as soon as I'd finished the contractions started. Mucus plug and waters went in hospital and I was 6cm the first time they examined me.

I didn’t realise they were warning signs at the time, but I had mild, painless braxton hicks for several days, and period type achey cramps lying in bed every night.

Once labour started I was busy on a walk with a friend, and didnt truly acknowledge how regular they were for about an hour, by which time I was having to crouch down for each one but could still talk.

Then they ramped v v quickly and baby was born in the water at an MLU about 4.5 hrs later - very intense and painful but completely wonderful and I recommend hypnobirthing techniques!

So I also recommend walking in early labour if you can - gives you something to do, and gets baby down on the cervix!

With my first I had just had sex and had a bit of blood so I went to the hospital just in case (I was only 30+3) I had really bad pains in my lower back that gradually got worse. I was put on a monitor and told I was showing no signs of labour. My waters broke about 7 hours later and he was born at 6 the next morning.
With my second my waters went in the middle of the night but I didn't have contractions for a while and he was born the next afternoon at 33 weeks

Hi @Duesept20

My due date is Monday so I completely feel your pain right now lol.

DD was born at 38+3. My waters just broke after finishing tidying the house. Looking back I had felt a bit tough for a few days but we had been away for a wedding and put it down to tiredness.

DS was born at 40+1. I went for a sweep on my due date and the midwife said "you are already 2cm dilated but we will do the sweep anyway to get you going". Within a few hours my contractions started.

My last pregnancy was 10 years ago now so I'm not really sure what to expect this time but I'm hoping it hurries up 🤣🤣🤣

I felt a bit off (tired and sickly) during the day and my waters started trickling the same evening!

Nope no signs at all, then had a sweep and that kicked things off, instantly got cramps, started loosing my plug and the next day it was proper labour but prior to my sweep absolutely no sign at all

Woke up between 4-6am with a really sharp period type pain, 10pm that night my waters went! I was 36 weeks pregnant exactly.

None that I clocked but the dog knew. He wouldn't leave me alone and then he dug me a den under the play house. He had never dug a hole in the garden before. By midnight I was in labour and the baby was born at 6:30 the next morning.

My first 2 just started intense out of nowhere and my 3rd I was having contractions on and off the day before she come.