39 weeks and really don't feel like labour is happening anytime soon! When did you know?

[Fleetw00d]

Hi all, I'm currently 39 weeks and really don't feel like I'll be going into labour anytime soon! I'm a FTM so not really sure what that would even feel like, I have pelvic pressure and some pelvic girdle pain, and baby is head down, but on the whole don't really feel like bump is particularly low or causing me much discomfort!
Did anyone else get any inklings or changes in their body just before going into labour? Or will it be a complete surprise and just happen with no prior warning haha!

I went into labour at 41 weeks, in the early hours after having my 41 week appointment where I cried because I didn’t want to be induced. We left the appointment, I got a blue slushy, my husband went into Halfords to buy a bin whilst I sat in FaceTime to my mum in the car, then we got a takeaway for dinner that night. Woke up at 3am with weird tightening which I’d not had before and that was the start of labour!
No signs, didn’t feel any different, totally mundane.

With DC1 an overwhelming tiredness I had.... from about 2 days before my waters went. I was sooo much more tired than I was before.... My waters went at 39+4 he came
the next day.
With DC2 I was high risk of pre term labour... her head was so low in my pelvis from 29 weeks that I thought she’d fall out a lot of the time 😬

I went to sleep 38w pregnant not feeling like labour was near and woke up at 1am as my waters had broke. I was in a bit of denial and didn't go straight to the hospital 🤦‍♀️ Contractions started a few hours later, what a fun journey on the motorway to hospital that was at 5am! Baby was born by emergency caesarean just before 7am. Thankfully my bag was packed and ready to go.

DS1 I was 40+4 I had a sweep done at 1pm and she said I was already 4cm I'd been cramping on and off all day, went home and kept having period pain and about 10pm they were getting pretty uncomfortable so decided to go to the hospital, as soon as I got out of the car my waters broke...
prior to having my sweep done I was VERY irritable I was very snappy at a cashier In Asda the day before like really horrible (have since been in with an apology and a box of malteasers)

DS2 the same really cranky and just a horrible person to be around generally, I woke up at 3am with bad pains again and stood up to go to the bathroom to run a bath because that was my go too place for easing my cramps my waters went... he was born 2 hours later his little head popped out in the lift at the hospital 😅 (Christmas Day too)

Ohh I was 40+2 with DS2

Felt absolutely normal, routine self when going to bed at 39 weeks. Then my waters broke at 3am 39+1 and it all started from there.

Came on naturally and completely out of the blue 5 hours before we were due at the hospital for me to be induced (41 weeks +). Felt twinges and cramps that gradually got stronger. Was 5cm when we arrived at the hospital, things moved fast!

I was 38 weeks when my waters randomly broke one morning. Contractions didn't start until that night.

Both of my labours started with waters breaking and I had no idea anything was up until that happened. First at 39+1, second at 40+4. The first I was basically completely comfortable - I'd gone for a long walk and then spent the evening in the pub, went to bed and woke up when my waters went at 2am. The second I had been having lots of Braxton Hicks and was massively uncomfortable but that had been going on for weeks, there was no change in the days or hours before labour and about an hour before my waters broke I had been complaining that I didn't think this baby would ever come!

38+1 today and wow I am so fed up!! Been having so many painful Braxton hicks this week and lost my mucus plug at the start of the week but still nothing. DS1 came on his due date, woke up at 5am with period pains and he was born at 1:51pm. I know I'm not due for another 2 weeks and have no problem staying pregnant til then it's just all these symptoms and signs which are driving me mad thinking of all you ladies who are full term and due soon xx

@JustAddCoffee91 I just had to comment on the malteasers. I am 24weeks and I've had HG. Anyway: I was positively ridiculous in a sports direct in my early pregnancy (with 2 arguing kids in tow and I just felt awful).

The young gent who dealt with my tantrum and then tears also got a box of malteasers 😂😂

First sign was waters breaking at 40+8. No other signs before that at all

I felt like I would go over by weeks. At 39 weeks I still had tonnes of energy, no waddling, no back ache....nothing.

Then my waters broke suddenly at 39+5 and he was born on due date, so it is possible to have no signs at all. The morning my waters broke I was in a right grump for no reason though lol and had a few very mild tightenings before my waters broke.

Thanks everyone, really interesting to read all the different stories! Been having braxton hicks/period like cramps over the last few days that seem to be getting more intense each day so hopefully she doesn't follow me with being 17 days late haha!
As for the irritability, I'm generally quite irritable day to day so not sure that would be a clear sign haha!