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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How does labour start?

13 replies

BlueBunny23 · 12/09/2022 12:07

I’m 37 weeks and feel crampy like period crampy. I wonder how others felt when labour first started? I tried to Google but it says contractions and I’m sure your not just sat nicely watching tv with no pain then suddenly get a sever contraction? Is there a build up? What time of day does it usually start?

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Wide0awake · 12/09/2022 12:09

I felt very restless in the hours before the contraction pains started. Hard to describe but it’s like your body knows it’s getting ready for something.

Mrsjayy · 12/09/2022 12:11

Yes there is a build up the camps will move up over your bump in waves but you can have those period cramps for ages , also you might get the runs which you never see on TV.

Velvetbee · 12/09/2022 12:12

Two of mine started with me getting up for a wee in the night and my waters going.
A third was very crampy on and off for a fortnight then he was born within an hour and a half of my waters going. We barely made it to hospital.

ifoundthebread · 12/09/2022 12:13

I was out walking the dog and i would get cramps every 10 minutes, not major but sometimes i would have to stop walking and take a moment until it had passed.The cramps did get worse and once i had to remind myself not to hold my breath and to breathe during these pains did i realise it was the start of labout

ohCARP · 12/09/2022 12:19

I was asleep and got woken up by a contraction in the early hours of the morning. The day before I was in a really bad mood all day but otherwise no signs.

Keroppi · 12/09/2022 12:29

For my pregnancies I feel generally gross and achey, especially in my lower back. I always throw up as well and then my general aches turn into period cramps, they get worse and more regular over the course of the day/night etc

Hatscats · 12/09/2022 17:09

Like period pains which get closer together and more regular! Mine started Tuesday night very sporadic, by Wednesday night they were much more intense and regular (but I still had some gaps) she was born 3 hours after I got to the labour ward. i used the freya app to record them!

Hatscats · 12/09/2022 17:11

Oh and I also threw up twice, I didn’t think I was in established labour due to still being irregular but arrived at 8cm dilated 😂

Libmama · 12/09/2022 17:20

I just felt like I had trapped wind for a few hours. Then I realised the trapped wind feeling was coming in waves and actually it wasn’t wind it was baby that was trapped 😂

LT2 · 12/09/2022 17:22

I had period like cramps in the middle of the night. They were so mild that I just thought it was something I might feel late in pregnancy. I was 38+6. They stopped by the morning. Then at 11am my waters broke. My contractions started maybe an hour later. Baby was born 15:06. A very quick first labour!

BertieBotts · 12/09/2022 17:27

You'll normally have intermittent bouts of contractions in the weeks before labour starts, they are called Braxton Hicks.

When you're actually in labour, 2/3 times for me it's just been that I've realised these BH have been going on for ages now, why don't I time them, and realise actually they're pretty much 10 minutes apart. That's labour. Over time those contractions then get closer together and stronger. The early stages of labour can be incredibly long and slow; you should rest as much as you can, eat anything you feel you want to (you probably won't feel like eating later) and try not to get really excited and text everyone you know saying you're in labour! You don't want to use up all your energy early on by being excited by the idea of being in labour. Do double check your bag is packed and you know where your notes are.

I find distraction type techniques are great for early labour - hot water bottle for the pains, pacing around, stamping feet (a great one last time was me telling myself "My feet don't hurt; focus on the feet") and watching a good old comedy programme that makes you laugh.

They normally advise to go into hospital when the contractions get to 3 in 10 minutes.

Bumpsadaisie · 12/09/2022 17:44

I was 40+10 and had loads of aches and pains of late pregnancy. I was thoroughly fed up and I was on the phone to my mum, saying "I'm so fed up I've been getting these aches every 30 minutes! Typical. I'm so fed up bring pregnant etc etc"

My mum gently suggested that regular pains could be the start of ... erm ... labour? Especially seeing that I was 40 weeks and 10 days pregnant...

I just hadn't made the connection. I think I thought I'd be pregnant forever.

I can't even use the excuse that this was new to me as this was my second baby!

The power of denial ....

2020firsttimemum · 12/09/2022 18:42

Just for some comparison; when I had my first born they didn't start slowly or miles apart.

I went to the toilet about 11am, lost my bloody show and almost instantly contractions started. By 5pm I was in the hospital at 5cm. Baby wasn't due until the next morning due to complications but the initial start of labour was very quick and intense for me. Somewhat enjoyable though (weird I know)

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