First signs of labour?

[babydust2412]

I'm 37+2 at the moment, midwife says my baby will likely arrive early because his head is engaged and he has been head down for ages now. I've been having more braxton hicks, my bump has been really tight, I've had a lot of lightning crotch and also lots of period like cramping for days now, keep getting hopeful baby will come soon. What were your first signs of labour? Any of mine sound like things could start soon? :) x

I think everyone is different. I had period pains and contractions for about 12 hours (I was at home and they were perfectly manageable), then my waters went, went to hospital and was 6cm, 4 hours later my son was born. Good luck x

I’m 39 weeks today and have had all of the above for the past 2 weeks. Still waiting on little one arriving 😭 been living on my birthing ball & taking raspberry leaf capsules & lots of walking, spicy food etc. Desperate for baby to come now 🤦🏼‍♀️

@mrsed1987 I hope my labour is that manageable, Thankyou xx

@ShanLou24 tell me about 😩 I just want him out now, I'm so constantly uncomfortable xx

Is it your first, with first babies the head can engage weeks before labour. Unfortunately it doesn’t mean anything. Being head down doesn’t mean anything either (I wish it did) fingers crossed he stays put until full term for you

@Oneandabean yes it's my first, I've been having lots of signs he'll arrive early, luckily I am full term at 37 weeks so my midwife has advised me he's all safe to be delivered now if I was to go into labour. Thankyou! I hope I'm not in this much discomfort too much longer 😂 xx

It must be different depending on where you live. Where I am you’re not full term until 38 weeks as some organs aren’t fully developed until then.
My friend was told she’d definitely deliver early and had to be induced as 2 weeks over so take it with a pinch of salt as it can be so disheartening.
I was expected early this time but currently just over 38 weeks and not even engaged yet 😩

@Oneandabean it's so unpredictable isn't it, that's the aspect I'm not enjoying at the moment 😂 xx bless you! Hopefully bub plays ball and engages soon 💙
I'm having shooting pains/ lightning pains in my cervix at the moment and just generally not feeling very well 😩

@babydust2412 I’ve been getting those, they’re so uncomfortable. I’m hoping that means the cervix is dilating. I don’t remember being this uncomfortable with my first. Fingers crossed both baby’s make an appearance soon.

@Oneandabean they are so uncomfy ☹️ yes hopefully!! Xx

Period pains Coming in waves Every 15-20 minutes or so for a few hours and my bloody show started. Approx 10 hours after the pains started, my waters went and contractions started within 10 minutes of that. I went straight to 2-3 contractions in 10 minutes.

I think u had a sore back/backache type niggle. I had a bath saturday night. Woke up Sunday and it was still site had another bath and I think I was like hmmm this maybe feels like contractions now. I went for a pee and lost my mucous plug then I knew! Good luck op :)

@Horehound @Scaredykittycat Thankyou guys 😊 trying to see as many peoples starts to labour as possible just so I know all the things to look out for, so hard as a first time mum x

It is. Just be prepared for contraction pain...I was shocked at just how sore they were, I was afraid of each one coming. I had a tens machine which helped initially but when they ramp up get in touch with your midwife.
I was trying for a home birth and had gas and air all day and then they ran out! I had to wait an hour and a half for them to get more and during that time I just totally went in to a zone on my own, was very, very quiet just laying almost sleeping I suppose and then when the midwife returned with the gas and air it all got crazy sore again. So I do think there's some mind over matter at play.
Download a contraction timer! And try and sleep as much as you can now In the run up to it. Be well rested. But everyone does have their own experience I doubt two are the same.
Xx

I don’t remember having any particular signs in the days leading up to labour. Was just shy of 39w, woke up one morning to a show, waters went mid-morning and contractions started a little after that - started like period pains but ramped up quite quickly. Baby born that evening.

36w now with 2nd and hoping for similar!

Everyone is so different! I had no signs of labour at all, nothing and woke up in hard fast established labour in the middle of the night 5 days over due! Good luck hope baby comes soon!

I've been having period like pains for a couple hours now, that are accompanied by bad pressure down below. I've not felt this before it's a bit more intense than usual, so unsure what to think x

Hi guys I’m currently 38 weeks today, and last night I got about 2 hours sleep I was just so on edge for no reason at all I just could not sleep and every time I did I would suddenly wake up, I lost my mucus plug about a week ago but no blood, I’ve had braxton hicks and bad backache for about 3-4 days and today it’s been constant and all day! I took my son to the park and I had to lie on the bench I was that uncomfortable and when I walked home I had hugeeeee twinges inside my vagina that stopped me from walking this was earlier this morning I’ve only had strong braxton hicks since could this be something do we think!? Keep you updated for further 😆😳

@Frankie1223

Hi guys I’m currently 38 weeks today, and last night I got about 2 hours sleep I was just so on edge for no reason at all I just could not sleep and every time I did I would suddenly wake up, I lost my mucus plug about a week ago but no blood, I’ve had braxton hicks and bad backache for about 3-4 days and today it’s been constant and all day! I took my son to the park and I had to lie on the bench I was that uncomfortable and when I walked home I had hugeeeee twinges inside my vagina that stopped me from walking this was earlier this morning I’ve only had strong braxton hicks since could this be something do we think!? Keep you updated for further 😆😳

I've felt this way for weeks now and had to stop walking because of being uncomfortable. I'm 40 weeks currently 😩

For me it was crampy pain and feeling tired and like I needed to lie down. And I randomly texted DP saying 'Hope you're ready for baby to come??' even though I wasn't sure why I texted that. Then around 1am I had a show and labour started.

Hey OP just wondering if your baby did indeed arrive early ? X

With both of mine I went very very zen the last few days before labour- definitely the clearest sign for me. I had dreadful pregnancies and was in a wheelchair & in a lot of pain by that stage so the total zen state was very striking!

@tobeornottobe1 hi! He ended up arriving 7 days overdue on the 10th of February 💙

@babydust2412 aww congrats!!