What were your first signs of labour?

[babydays123]

I'm 38 weeks and feeling paranoid that I'm in a slow labour

My DD2 was born within 2 hours of first contraction but when I thought back retrospectively there were signed for the 2 days prior that I was in labour (hot achy back being the main giveaway)

That was 11 years ago now though so my memory is super rusty.

Currently have a bit of a sore stomach and an achy back, I am however still working quite a labour intensive job so it could just be general muscle ache from lifting and bending.

What were your first signs of labour outside of the usual show/contractions etc.

No signs at all. My waters broke out of the blue both times.

I was in slow labour with my second for about a week, mild to moderate cramp pains during day that would taper off when I went to bed. Then at 40+13 the midwife did an examination and it was all over in a couple of hrs after that. But that was way different to my first who took forever, since you had a fast first labour that may inform your second.

@Barrawarra

I was in slow labour with my second for about a week, mild to moderate cramp pains during day that would taper off when I went to bed. Then at 40+13 the midwife did an examination and it was all over in a couple of hrs after that. But that was way different to my first who took forever, since you had a fast first labour that may inform your second.

I'm hoping for a fast labour again, both my girls were born in a hurry.

DD1 - induced by pedsary but nothing all day, not even a twinge. Then waters broke at midnight but still no contractions so put on a drip and born at 4am.
DD2 - nearly born at side of road 😆

Really hoping for the same again but it's been almost 12 years since last labour and midwife kindly suggested that my body may not remeber what to do so it may not be so fast 😫

I actually don't know how I'll cope if I'm in labour for hours and hours. I can imagine I may be a right wuss as I'm banking on it all being over quickly

Constant what I thought were braxton hicks all day long for two days before

Achey back too- I remember telling my husband I thought I had a uti! Stupid me didn’t link it to the fact I was heavily pregnant and due a baby!!

Period like pains and lower back pains for me.

Period type cramps for me but had to be induced as waters broke early

DC1… unmistakeable contractions, on/off over several days. DC2… I was ironing and thought “oof, my back twinges” and then “oof my back hurts again” and the third time round I realised that they were ten minutes apart and possibly, two hours after my sweep, something was happening.

Third time round I was reading in bed and that low down back/cervix pain.

Following with interest - only 35 weeks but I have been having what I can only assume is BH for the last couple of hours but not 100% sure. Cramping that feels like a mix between period cramps and UTI pain. Seems to be becoming more regular so god knows what's going on!

Tightenings (not painful) during the day at regular interval for some time. Maybe a little bit of period type pain?
Then nothing for 5 hours. Then waters breaking and strong contractions and in active labour immediately...

So not much at all.

I had absolutely no symptoms with DD. I was going to be induced and once I got to the hospital my contractions started but felt like period cramps. Found out I was 0.5cm dilated so induction didn't happen. I'll be interested to see what happens this time round with baby no.2!