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Pregnancy

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

Original poster

What were your first signs of labour?

51 replies

Lou98 · 08/05/2021 21:44

I'll be 38 weeks tomorrow and feeling very fed up and in pain from SPD so just wanted to start a lighthearted thread to pass the time!

I'm just wondering what everyone's first signs were that labour was starting and whether you knew at the time or not that it was labour!

This is my first baby so no idea what to expect! I've been getting period type cramps on and off for a couple weeks now and occasional tightenings but nothing painful or regular.

Today the baby has been super active compared to how he has been, loads of cramping and feeling very heavy down below so think he's dropped!

Interested to hear others experiences 😁

OP posts:
boymum1x · 08/05/2021 21:53

Following as Im 38 weeks Monday and it's my first baby & I have not an idea what to expect
Having the Same a few tightenings & dodgey belly but other than that nothing xx

Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 21:55

@boymum1x congratulations! I'm assuming it's a wee boy you're having from your name? 🥰

I've had a bit of an upset stomach today too, not diarrhoea as such but needing to go a lot more than usual! Also needing to pee every 5mins!

I'm hoping things are starting moving but my partner works away and won't be home for another week so equally don't want things to move too quick!

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Horehound · 08/05/2021 21:55

Started getting a sore/achey back Saturday night. Not bad enough that I couldn't sleep, I thought I just had a and back! Woke up 5am Sunday morning and it was really quite sore, went for a wee and my mucous plug fell out of me and straight down the toilet!

SillyBry · 08/05/2021 21:56

With my first, I spent most of the weekend in bed with killer headaches, which is unheard of for me.
On Monday, I lost a bit of mucus plug (but nothing too drastic.) That night, my boobs started leaking and i woke up at 2am with some mild contractions.
They went through the night, but it was manageable. Next day, they were about on and off and then I went into active labour the following night.
My waters didn’t break until I was 8cm though!

Horehound · 08/05/2021 21:56

And I was 39 weeks x

toffeebutterpopcorn · 08/05/2021 22:01

Waters broke. We had got home from our last prenatal class, and I had just sat down for dinner and it felt as if I had peed myself (no control whatsoever!)

I sat in a towel, ate my dinner, argued with DH over how to time contractions and what space apart they should be before going to hospital (he said 45 mins Hmm) we argued a bit, checked out prenatal class notes, I gloated a bit, watched the end of newsnight then we went to the hospital.

boymum1x · 08/05/2021 22:02

Thank you & congratulations to you too
& yes a little boy Grin
Ah don't the weeing is driving me crazy every few minutes I'm busting again
& hopefully baby stays until he is home but it gets to the point and your over it don't it and just ready for them xx

DeltaFlyer · 08/05/2021 22:09

My waters broke when I was drying my legs after a shower pointless exercise
I was 9 days later and needed 2 lots of the stuff they use to induce you as I didnt dilate at all. Ds must have been quite comfy in there. Ended up with emcs as there was an increased risk if infection as it had been more than 24 hours after waters gone.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 08/05/2021 22:12

Contractions. I've had 3 and never had any signs of labour coming until interactions started.
Sounds like your getting braxton hicks. I never had them with my boys, but started getting them around 23 weeks with my girl (third pregnancy). Took me a while to decide wether the contractions with her were just braxton hicks or labour pains.

Iminaglasscaseofemotion · 08/05/2021 22:14

My waters have never broke themselves, and I only lost the mucus plug with my first because I had a sweep. My children don't seem to want to leave the womb. They have all been late 12 days with the first, 10 with the second and 7 with the third.

Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 22:15

@Horehound my back is really painful aswell but I've been getting that anyway, and with the SPD already waddling and am thinking that's probably what's causing my sore back just now!

@SillyBry ohh I have had an agonising headache all day today, started about 10am and a nap and paracetamol haven't been able to shift it at all! I've had the odd headache but nothing that paracetamol wouldn't get rid of until today. Wonder if that could be a sign then!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 22:17

@toffeebutterpopcorn haha sounds a bit like my DP! He's very much a worrier, he thinks that at the first contraction I should be going to hospital, even though I've tried to explain it can still take days 😂

I'm so uncomfortable and in pain now that I'm willing for labour to start but equally my partner works away and isn't due home for another week! Although if I go in to labour sooner he can come home but he works at sea so it's a helicopter ride then a 3 hour drive home so just looking for things I can look out for that might indicate labour starting 🙈

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Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 22:18

@boymum1x it's a wee boy we're having to! It will be the first in my family so everyone's very excited, up until now it's just been generations of women 😂

Yeah it definitely is at that point! Feel like the time is dragging in waiting for him to get home now that I'm finished up work!

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PFin · 08/05/2021 22:21

I literally had no signs with first baby. No pains, cramps, tightenings, mucus plug nothing. Went to bed early feeling slightly sick and 5 days over due. Woke up in full blown labour at half 1 in the morning baby born at 10 to 6. Dont lose hope can happen so quickly!

Horehound · 08/05/2021 22:22

Could maybe be starting then op! I'm sure your partner will get home in time but what am added worry! Do you have someone else who could be with you in case he doesn't get home?

When all my stuff started happening I didn't give birth for another three days, it was hell!

Horehound · 08/05/2021 22:23

My husband told me I had been acting weird though! He was on a staff night out on the Saturday evening and he'd told his colleagues I was acting very strangely. Then boom that night was when my backache started.

Have you got a TENS machine?

boymum1x · 08/05/2021 22:25

Ah congratulations Smile
And amazing how odd same for us! All girls everyone was so sure he would be a girl as there is no boys between us we have 7 nieces so it was a lovely surprise

& Yeah time is going to drag bad isn't it now I feel like pregnancy has flown by but after I finish work tomorrow for the last day I bet until he is here seems ages away xx

Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 22:27

@Horehound Yeah my mum is going to come with me if my partner doesn't make it back in time. I know he is desperate to be there though as it's his first child too so I'm just so hoping he makes it!

I'm dreading that aswell, I've heard a lot of people saying it took days! I'm just really hoping I don't go overdue, I've had a miserable pregnancy and I'm so ready now to just meet him!

OP posts:
Original poster
Lou98 · 08/05/2021 22:29

@PFin ah that's so quick! That would be my ideal scenario to go progress like that if my partner was home! Luckily we stay fairly close to the hospital so could get there quickly if need be!

OP posts:
Horehound · 08/05/2021 22:29

Aw fingers crossed he comes soon for you to start your life as a family Flowers

PrincessesRUs · 08/05/2021 22:30

Both times my waters went first before any contractions

Haybo26 · 08/05/2021 22:31

None..until my waters broke bang on due day and he was born 10 hours later.

Cattenberg · 08/05/2021 22:34

I was watching a film at my friend’s house on a Saturday evening and couldn’t get comfortable. I started to get a few twinges, but they wore off. I also noticed a small amount of pink discharge.

That night, I was woken up by a contraction (just the one) and got up, thinking my baby would arrive in a few hours’ time. I wish I’d known that my baby wouldn’t appear until Monday and to get as much sleep as I could. I also wish I’d known that for me, the latent phase would be the hardest part and I’d have to be very patient and try distract myself.

Slub · 08/05/2021 22:38

I was expecting twins and at 35 wks was due to be at a wedding of one of DH's relatives.
Woke up that morning feeling 'off' and tried to cry off attending but DH was having none of it and insisted I attend.
During the reception I drank and ate nothing which pissed DH off (he thought I was being rude and disrespectful)
He finally agreed to take me home so he could carry on enjoying getting pissed at the reception and I took myself to bed where my waters broke.
This was before mobile phones so I couldn't get hold of him.

Incredibly we are still together Confused

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 08/05/2021 22:38

First sign with DD1 for me was my waters breaking at 37 weeks. Labour didn't start on its own so they were inducing me until they realised she was breech. So I ended up with an unplanned C section. I don't like to call it an emergency because neither of us was in distress (thank goodness) but it certainly was unexpected!

Then with DD2 I tried for a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) but same thing happened - waters broke but labour didn't start. We waited 3 days but then the consultant said the danger of infection was getting too high. Apparently they can't induce you if you are doing a VBAC, it's too dangerous.

So I have two lovely DDs but never had one single labour pain.

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