Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Pregnancy

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

Flip

1 2

Original poster

How did labour start for you

38 replies

eatsleeprepeat123 · 04/04/2023 19:42

I'm 39 +3 and looking out for any signs this baby is on its way! I'm also panicking about whether I will 'know' I'm in labour althohgh I'm sure I will from what everyone says!

So how did it start for you?

I had a dodgy tummy last night followed by some stomach tightenings (worse than Braxton Hicks), but then they stopped again and have had nothing since!

Did it start in the day/overnights/etc?

I know it's different for everyone but just curious really...

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

BelleSauvage9 · 04/04/2023 21:09

With dd1 I was 41+3. Woke up in the morning and got up, shortly after started feeling some cramping. Had an appointment for a sweep that morning so I went in and told the midwife I thought I might be in labour. I think she checked and I was maybe 1cm so sent me away (long time ago so can't remember exactly). Contractions continued, went in that afternoon but not in active labour so sent home. Went back the following afternoon and had dd just before 10pm.

Dd2 was failed induction so ended up having an emcs.

Wishing you luck 😊

BelleSauvage9 · 04/04/2023 21:10

Oh and with dd1 they had to break my waters, they didn't go on their own.

UnicornRainbowSky · 04/04/2023 21:13

I was 41+3 and woke up at 3am to regular contractions. Waters only went right before my daughter was born exactly 12 hours later. I'd had zero signs beforehand that labour was about to start, just weeks and weeks of Braxton Hicks.

Rachaelrachael · 04/04/2023 21:18

Period type pains that would come and go through the night. Gone by the morning then proper contractions started again that afternoon and feeling like I had a bowling ball stuck up my bum (sorry!). Another 2 full nights of that before she finally made an appearance!
2nd baby was much easier. I wouldn't worry about not knowing, you will definitely know

Perfect28 · 04/04/2023 21:47

Woke up in the middle of the night in early labour, cramps and regular tightenings. I could kind of sleep through it. Built up gradually over the day and was in active labour early evening.

H44123 · 04/04/2023 22:39

Baby born 12 days overdue, induction was booked for that day but not needed. First baby born 8 weeks ago. Had my 3rd sweep. That evening I woke at 4am with pains in my bum. Didn’t know what they were but didn’t get any closer/regular and stopped mid day. Happened the next morning but more painful. Went into hospital who said I wasn’t in labour as I could still walk/talk and wouldn’t examine me. Monitor picked up contractions though so they examined me and I was 5cm. I had no braxton hicks so I think I thought these pains were them and not Labour. All the pain was in my bum not belly. I used a tens machine at home which was great until I broke it. Kept in at 3pm, baby born by 2am after epidural and a ventouse. I remember looking at how peoples labours started and I didnt know until they confirmed it had started. Even by 10cm I wasn’t having regular contractions. Also no idea when/if my waters broke and also didn’t loose any plug/mucus until that morning either!

FunnysInLaJardin · 04/04/2023 22:41

It never did. I was induced at 42 weeks both times!

SnookyPook · 05/04/2023 08:30

Around 5pm at 40+6 I went for a wee and after I finished there was suddenly another trickle of liquid but I knew I wasn't still weeing. Put a pad in and kept leaking and hospital asked me to go in to check if it was my waters. They confirmed it was and sent me home to wait, having booked me in for an induction late the next day (due to infection risk now waters had gone). Overnight and through the next day I had fairly mild contractions. Went in to hospital and said I really wanted to avoid induction if poss. They did a sweep instead and broke the hind waters and then everything kicked off without further intervention 👍🏻

Yourteaisgettingcold · 05/04/2023 11:57

Waters broke as I turned over in bed when I woke up. 12 hours later I started having very mild contractions. 12 hours after that I went into hospital and baby was born later day in the afternoon

GodspeedJune · 05/04/2023 12:01

Woke up in the early hours with what felt like period cramps. Went for a wee, got back into bed and there was a ‘pop’ then a gush as my waters went. That was at 39+3. She was born the following evening, although by EMCS in the end.

Good luck!

Cheapcookies · 05/04/2023 12:07

I started having contractions at 9pm that I realised were not braxton hicks about 2 hours layer. Very different type of pain and feels like it is coming from the top of your bump going down. Went to hospital at 1am. Midwife broke my waters at 9am.

Seeleyboo · 05/04/2023 12:16

Induced with 4 of mine and one was like labour in drama show. Literally hit me with oooooo ahhhhh. Quick get me to hospital. Pop.

fairtrauchled · 05/04/2023 12:25

My waters broke early hours of the morning. I'd got up just to have a wee and realised there was no way my bladder could hold that much!
I phoned the labour ward and was told that since I wasn't having contractions I should wait and go in at 8am when the staff changed over.
About 30 minutes later my contractions started coming thick and fast.I phoned labour ward again and told them I was coming in. When I arrived I was fully dilated and told to start pushing,no time for any pain relief.DC was born 2 hrs after my waters broke.

Flip

1 2