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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

How "sudden" is labour?

69 replies

Dontjumptoconclusions · 07/12/2020 21:13

I'm 38 weeks pregnant with my first. Really excited for my Christmas baby!

I've read a lot online about how to know when you're in labour - contractions, water breaking etc. But how sudden are these instances?

Are you just going about your day, taking a walk, having a shower and bam... First contraction? Or is there more of a build up with BH, mild cramps and then progression to contraction and birth?

OP posts:
ChocolateEmergency · 07/12/2020 21:21

I was lead to believe you would have your show a few days before, then your waters would go and then contractions would start. This was not the case for either of my births.

First labour, I woke up one morning with lots of pressure down low. After a couple to hours the contractions started. Very intense very quickly. Trying to decide whether we should make our way to the hospital, that’s how frequent the contractions were and I finally had my show. Baby born an hour later in the waters.

Second labour, I was induced but all very similar. Was experiencing strong contractions and the midwife suggested I have a bath. Stepped in the bath, had my show, called for the midwife as I needed to push. Baby born stood next to my bed within 5 minutes of the show.

DaisyF1986 · 07/12/2020 21:26

I had cramps on and off for a week before midwife appointment and sweep at 40+6, where I was 3cm dilated. Contractions ramped up after the sweep and I knew it was happening as they were more intense and regular. 4 hours after sweep I was in hospital in active labour.
Second baby was elective c section at 39 weeks so didn't go into labour but did have some mild cramps for a week or two beforehand.
I know people say this (and I didn't believe it!) but I really did 'just know' when it was labour.
Good luck!

DaisyF1986 · 07/12/2020 21:27

Oh and also with both I had my show at 36 weeks (midwife confirmed) and nothing happened until weeks laterConfused

GoldenOmber · 07/12/2020 21:30

It can really vary. My first one: gradually increasing contractions, felt like BH to start with but very slowly and steadily increased over the next 5/6 hours or so. Next one: waters broke out of the blue, followed by really strong contractions right afterwards.

Mol1628 · 07/12/2020 21:31

Gradual both times for me. I was aware it was happening and had plenty of time to prepare before having to go into hospital.

inappropriateraspberry · 07/12/2020 21:31

No warning - first was induction but still a very sudden birth and second was contractions kicked in and baby born on the loo! No counting or timing, no chance of calling midwife for advice etc! It's not always like the movies - I think it's actually quite rare for your waters to break in the middle of the supermarket!

Original poster
Dontjumptoconclusions · 07/12/2020 21:32

@ChocolateEmergency what's a show? (I'm sorry I have no idea 😂)

OP posts:
Whereland · 07/12/2020 21:34

I stood up from the sofa and a gush of water flooded the floor with zero warning so yeah pretty sudden!!

PrincessBuggerPants · 07/12/2020 21:34

Varies a lot. My waters went and once contractions started ramped up quickly. Still in labour for days though 🙄.

Sausagefingers999 · 07/12/2020 21:37

OP a show is when you lose the mucus plug which seals the cervix.

Indoctro · 07/12/2020 21:40

I was fast asleep , woke up screaming the baby was coming , 2 minutes later I was sat on my bathroom floor alone in shock holding my baby wondering WTF just happened

So for me the grand totally of 2 minutes Confused

inappropriateraspberry · 07/12/2020 21:40

Basically, be prepared for every scenario! It could be quick, slow, sudden or you may have some kind of warning.

carleyemma91 · 07/12/2020 21:56

I lost my mucus plug over a period of about a week. The day I went into labour I woke up and started having mild contractions around 10am, which built up over the day. By 6pm the contractions were getting stronger and closer together, but my waters didn't break until 1am when I was 5cms dilated. I was in labour for 26 hours overall haha, was a pretty long day.

Gardenermumtobe · 07/12/2020 21:59

I didn't notice that I had a show so perhaps it came out when my waters broke, which was 10.30 at night in bed. They kept trickling out for a good hour, had to stand up and sit down on a bath towel repeatedly, I wanted to get them out as I had to go to hospital so they could check it was my waters. Contractions started the next day at 5.30am, became unbearable by 12.30 so went to the hospital, fully dilated by 4pmish but contractions slowed down and baby didn't come until 8.18pm.

Changedmynameagain1 · 07/12/2020 22:00

A few hours, plenty of time to get to the hospital.
1st waters slowly went in the am, contractions by the PM and he came the next day.
2nd sweep in the am, contractions pm born early the next morning.

Lots of time to prepare, but still forgot stuff I wanted to take to the hospital 🤣🤣

Both times 7cm when I got to hospital. Both times is slowed down once in hospital

Superscientist · 07/12/2020 22:02

My waters went at midnight, my contractions were 3 in 10 minutes by the time I could feel them. I was in active labour for 3h and baby was born 12h after my waters had gone.

Flamingolingo · 07/12/2020 22:06

I had a prodromal labour both times - so days on end of going to bed with mild contractions, expecting to be woken in the night by some action and waking up in the morning as normal. Both times my waters went without warning, once at home (home alone, stood in a slippery puddle, clutching the banister, thankfully not for long), second time outside Waitrose. Both times took a while to get going. First Labour 47h including induction at 36h and forceps, second Labour 21h and in the pool. So different overall experiences but both were slow starters for me.

Ritasueandbobtoo9 · 07/12/2020 22:06

My second took days, days I tell you. I drove to pick my DS up with contractions as they weren’t that bad, I kept wondering “are you not at all bothered about coming out?”

DramaAlpaca · 07/12/2020 22:07

It varies from woman to woman, and even in the same woman's different pregnancies.

For me in all three of my labours, I had a long, slow build up starting with a mild contraction and building up over a few hours. It was unmistakable when it started. My waters didn't go until the baby was just about to be born.

Disappointedkoala · 07/12/2020 22:08

Everything I read/attended suggested a gradual build up but with my first I needed a poo in the middle of the night and as soon as I flushed the toilet I was having contractions every 3 minutes! That continued until DD was born 16 hours later.

JumpingJamboree · 07/12/2020 22:08

I had nothing to warn me. Was casually joking with friends about trying to bribe the midwife into giving me a sweep as was fed up of being pregnant. Got up, went to the kitchen and bam, waters went without warning. Contractions started about an hour later. I think all in my labour was just under 7 hours from waters going to baby arriving.

Molehillfromamountain · 07/12/2020 22:09

With my first my waters broke at 6am and woke me up, no contractions for a couple of hours then it ramped up, DD was born 6 hours later.

With my second I felt a bit off all day no pains, just niggles. Tried to go to sleep around 11 when the pains started suddenly, DS was born with a gush of waters after 2 hours.
Each experience totally different!

TokyoSushi · 07/12/2020 22:09

Mine started very suddenly, woke in the night with one massive pain and waters went about 20 minutes later. It was still 30 hours until DS arrived though...

Fruggalo · 07/12/2020 22:13

My first - I don’t really remember how it started but I had a week of on off contractions. My second felt like back ache and then I realised it was back ache every 10 minutes (but it was fine, just a bit niggly. I did the school run/went to the shop during this time). My third absolutely start with a twinge that I recognised as a contraction. I’d spent the whole day walking and it was bedtime and I was unamused...

SexyGiraffe · 07/12/2020 22:15

I do not remember the show. I think it was light and lasted a couple of days. I do remember my first contraction - it was at 12noon and was a very gentle tingling sensation. They got gradually stronger and closer together until by around 6pm I was bent over the sofa 'breathing' to manage the pain, then I was in hospital by 8.30 and had given birth by 11.15.