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

Original poster

How did you feel the 24 hours before labour started?

23 replies

boymomma33 · 29/07/2021 16:59

Would love to hear people's stories on how they felt the 24 hours leading up to labour?
Any signs? Or things you didn't think of as a sign at the time but maybe now looking back are something you'd look out for next time?

Looking back at my last labour I honestly don't remember any signs whatsoever apart from reduced movement! I had no 'bloody show' or loss of plug, no diarrhoea or feeling of needing the toilet more often, I felt absolutely fine just had reduced movement that resulted in me staying in hospital over night for monitoring and contractions started that evening out of nowhere!

Now coming to the end of my pregnancy I kind of wish I had signs to look out for. Some days I feel like it's starting and then the next I just feel completely normal ☹️ also the complete opposite of reduced movement I feel like he's having a leaving party in there!!!

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Dinotruxagain · 29/07/2021 17:03

I remember waking my other half up at 3am when I'd come back from the loo to ask him if this was my mucus plug.. Hmm No idea why! I was in labor by 7am, contractions going strong by 11am.. DS born at 4:34pm!

Oh and no, he didn't reduce his movement either, party central until the last minute. 🙄

Original poster
boymomma33 · 29/07/2021 19:33

Oh I hope all this movement doesn't mean he's not coming soon then! Really ready to have him now

OP posts:
Paquerette · 29/07/2021 19:54

Both DH and I had horrendous insomnia and barely any sleep. Labour started around 10 am, and DC arrived around 2 am the following morning. We were both absolutely exhausted (but also delighted!) by then. Hardly any sleep after that either (typical NHS maternity ward 😫).

ValancyRedfern · 29/07/2021 19:57

Completely normal. I was at a pub quiz and my team won. Glad I didn't know what agony I would be in 24 hours later!

Londonlady84 · 29/07/2021 20:03

The only thing I recall about both of mine (and I didn't make the connection at the time) was extreme insomnia for the two nights beforehand. Great way to start labour, already sleep deprived 😂😂

HalloHello · 29/07/2021 20:05

I was extremely anxious and tearful the evening before, and had brown discharge. Had a bath and an early night and was woken at 3am with contractions. She wasn't born until 6am the following morning, spent the first 15 hours pacing my house and bouncing on my birthing ball. Hoping for a slightly quicker time this time, 36 weeks and counting!

BertieBotts · 29/07/2021 20:09

No signs that I can remember before my first. Braxton hicks, but nothing unusual.

Before DC2 we did a really big walk around a shopping centre/garden centre and I remember moaning about it and saying it was too much - went into labour the next morning.

TheVanguardSix · 29/07/2021 20:10

Always felt totally normal but I would get the runs the day before (not like, can't get to the toilet in time type of runs... but runny).

SeagullSong · 29/07/2021 20:17

Very sleepy, I had terrible insomnia throughout the pregnancy until that point. My cats were all over me too, woke up to one of them washing my hair which he never did before or since. So borrow a cat if you don't have one Grin

Redpanda21 · 29/07/2021 20:58

I don’t remember the 24 hours before but I do remember having the best night sleep I’d had the whole pregnancy and then waking at 9.30am and immediately having contractions and having baby 2.5hours later!

Hardbackwriter · 29/07/2021 21:02

Absolutely no sign either time! Both times my waters broke quite spectacularly and then a few hours later contractions started; I was asleep when my waters went with DS1 but with DS2 I had been moaning to DH that this baby was never going to come (he was a bit late) minutes before so I definitely didn't have any signs he was on his way!

Sunshinedaisymeadowsxx · 29/07/2021 21:06

I worked part of the 24 hour before both of mine were born so not a huge amount.
I remember my mum saying with my first I looked washed out, that I put down to working FT and being 39+4 weeks pregnant. 🤣 with my 2nd I had sweep that sent me into labour…. So nothing to indicate it was happening apart from a sweep

Roystonv · 29/07/2021 21:10

No signs at all until contractions started.

Kittyswhiskers · 29/07/2021 21:11

Exhausted, sick, total loss of appetite (same both times) I slept but was also restless. Just unwell. I am currently pregnant with 3rd and wondering if it’ll be the same!

unidentifed · 29/07/2021 21:14

Dd1- little movement and an incredibly hard bump. I also had a bit of discharge that may have been the start of a show. Nothing else.

Ds: nothing apart from Braxton Hicks. Went to bed as normal and all night my bum hurt. I was convinced it was hemorrhoids, I even put cream on! Waters broke before I got out of bed. He was born 2 hours later.

Buddywoo · 29/07/2021 21:16

I felt a bit off colour all day and when I stood up to wash up after supper I felt a pop and my waters broke. My contractions didn't start for 36 hours after that.

Katyy · 29/07/2021 21:16

Awful niggling backache went to bed as normal and just tossed and turned all night.I didn’t realise this was a sign of labour it was a long time ago . Next morning I had a show, pains started about 2pm and he was born at 2am .

girlmama32 · 29/07/2021 21:18

I had no signs she was coming at all, everything was just like it had been with movements etc
I'd been trying everything to get her to come as I was fed up at 41+1 weeks. went for a huge walk before dinner, bounced on my ball after, had a nice bath, me and DH did the deed and it worked because I went to bed at 10pm and woke up at 2.30 with contractions and had her the next day.

Original poster
boymomma33 · 30/07/2021 08:39

These have been great to read, given me a bit of hope that some of the things Iv been feeling could be signs too!

OP posts:
mumofmunchkin · 30/07/2021 10:09

Fed up.

I have gone overdue 3 times, always just totally fed up by the time the baby comes!

MaryBoBary · 30/07/2021 10:15

I went for a really long walk and had some pain and twinges part way through but other than that, absolutely nothing until my waters broke about 6 hours later. I was bending over to pull the plug out of the bath when it happened!

Superscientist · 30/07/2021 12:59

I felt really good. In the morning I dismantled my home office and set up the nursery with a changing table and a chair for night feeds.
I then helped my partner put the office furniture into the loft.
After lunch I had a sharp pain in my side which went after a lie down. I assumed it was because I had exert myself too much.
I had always had a really tight /taut bump but in the afternoon it went really squelchy when I pressed on one side. I otherwise felt fine. My waters went Hollywood style at midnight.
In hindsight the squelchy bump probably meant my smaller waters (hind?) went in the afternoon
Labour started around 4 am she was delivered at 1pm after 3h active labour.

VariantL1130 · 30/07/2021 13:02

Weirdly calm the night before, which is not like me.

Woke up next morning at 6am feeling desperate for a wee. Sat on loo and after a couple of minutes I thought "this wee is going on a bit...ohhhhh"

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