37 weeks- spontaneous birth stories please share :)

[NewMamaToBee]

Hey all,

I am 37 weeks today as a FTM. I absolutely love reading people’s stories on how they went into labour and I’m sure others could relate. How did you know you were in active labour? I sometimes have period cramps on/off and my initial thought is “nah it can’t be 🤣”

I would love to hear your birth story if you don’t mind sharing please and if there was anything you would do differently in terms of preparation what would that be?

Thanks in advance! 🥰

I love birth stories too!
My first spontaneous labour was in the early hours when I was 40+1. I woke up at about 3am and felt wet and when I careful scooted off the bed and stood up, my waters went all over the floor! Pains started at 5.30am, managed at home until 1.30pm but he wasn't born until 11.23pm (I had an epidural at about 5pm when I was 6cm). He was a forceps assisted but no complications and I healed well from the episiotomy.
My second spontaneous labour was at 36+6 and just stood up from bending and my waters went. This was about 5pm. Went to hospital as I was technically early and had an epidural about 1.30am (about 5cm dilated), he was born 6.10am! Hardly any pushing!
For the record, these were actually my 2nd and 4th child, the 1st and 3rd being elective sections.
If I could do it again, I would have like to have changed positions more with my 4th, to see if I could have gone longer/managed the whole labour without pain relief, but his was the best pregnancy and birth out of them all and I often replay the whole event with happiness....no regrets with any of them!
Good luck!

That sounds amazing! Literally smiling so much to hear this! Isn’t it just crazy how each and every birth can be so different?

Im having hardly any symptoms of onset of labour so I’m thinking it’s gonna all hit me at once and be quite spontaneous but I wouldn’t mind, less time to panic maybe?

I’m curious to when and how my waters will break too.. I have heard that many people don’t actually have the whole waters break first and it can happen during active labour at the hospital. I was told I had Polyhydramnios and to expect a big whoosh if my waters did go and not going to lie, it sounds like a big relief haha! Let’s find out but thank you so much for sharing!

I went in to labour at 37+1. I had no signs (no plug or anything) until I went to the toilet and my waters broke as I went to stand up - about 7.30pm. It was like a bursting water balloon, like you see on TV. Phoned hospital and they said to come in and check it was my waters but within half an hour my contractions had started and ramped up pretty quickly. I was in hospital maybe an hour later and contractions were just over one min apart, however, they sent me home because apparently first babies can take days to arrive. They actually booked me in for an induction two days later! I lasted about an hour at home and the pain was unbearable so went back - I was 5cm dilated and was admitted shortly before midnight. Baby was back to back and pain was excruciating but had to wait until about 3am for an epidural (only one doctor that could do it on shift and a busy night). I had morphine while I waited and was 8cm by the time I had the epidural. The epidural slowed things down and it was early morning before I reached 10cm. Apparently you don't start pushing as soon as you reach that point (unlike on TV) so the epidural let me rest a bit until it was time. Baby was getting distressed with every contraction so asked me to start pushing sooner than they had liked (thank goodness, I was absolutely shattered) but he wasn't for moving or turning to the right position so at about 10am they decided it was time for a c-section and he arrived shortly after 11.

I'm really pleased I had a spontaneous labour and that it happened at home (given the flood). I'm a worrier so baby coming early unexpectedly didn't give me the opportunity to think about when it might happen. It was a lovely but also terrifying experience, just me and DH. We were both shaking, a bit clueless but also excited and we had a moment of omg this is the last time it's just two of us, baby will be here soon. DH and I are also quite private about bodily functions and things that happen behind bathroom doors but that also immediately went out the window as I ordered DH to bring maternity pads as I sat on the toilet and had him help me out of soggy clothes - definitely developed a whole new level of closeness at that point! I also remember having a panic I hadn't packed a cardigan for baby in to the hospital bag - it's amazing the things that come to mind.

On reflection, I think I ought to have known baby was on his way. I went in to labour on the Monday but the Thursday before, I was in pain and a lot of discomfort all day at work. I had been quite upset and remember speaking to my mum saying if it wasn't so early, I'd think baby was coming, however, I'd seen my midwife on the Tuesday and she'd said baby wasn't in position, he wasn't arriving any time soon and she'd see me back at 40 weeks talking about options for being overdue. Mum asked if I thought it worth phoning maternity assessment and I said maybe, if it continues through the night but it seems far too early. The next day, I was back to normal so put it all out my mind but I think that had definitely been my body preparing. We actually went away for a couple of nights that weekend and there was no other hint I'd go in to labour although, that said, I had been feeling quite bruised and swollen down below and it crossed my mind that I didn't think I could carry the weight to 40 weeks. Hindsight is wonderful - can't believe we actually went away that weekend and I went in to labour about an hour after getting home.

Sorry for the long story. I do love birth stories and I'm not sure I've actually had the opportunity to tell anyone, although DH and I have spoken about it a couple of times.

Wishing you a safe and speedy labour. Please come back and share your story once baby arrives.

Ahhh! I’m 37+2 today and reading this story has got me super excited!! My baby is also back to back, so I’m trying my absolute best to stay active, but since baby has moved b2b, I literally cannot lift my left leg.. so I’m stuck between wanting to lie down all day or walking but in excruciating pain :(. Thank you so much for sharing!! I’m really excited to hopefully be able to share my birth story soon, but just hearing about others gets me so excited! 🥰

Hi OP! I lost my plug when I was 39+4, it was like snotty egg 😂 then had a bloody show the next day, then the Friday which was the day before my due date I woke up with period pains & had watery/blood so triage told me to go in and check if it was my waters, it wasn't my waters & I had a really patronising midwife and said it was normal pregnancy discharge, that I wasn't in any sort of Labour and my baby isn't coming anytime soon even though it was literally the day before my due date, so get let out the hospital at 1pm, by 5pm I was having contractions about 3 in 10/15 minutes so I just bounced on my ball, got to 10pm and I rang triage to say I think I'm in Labour, they told me I'm not in Labour as I wouldn't be able to talk to them, told me to have a bath and paracetamol and ring back if it gets worse. Rang back after an hour and told them I am in Labour and I'm coming in, I get to triage about 11:30pm and the minute I arrive there my waters gush all on the floor, they check me and I'm 6cm so I go round to Labour ward, my waters went a couple more times so I didn't lose it all in one go it was just little gushes. I laboured until 6am the following morning when they checked me again and I hadn't progressed past 6cm so I had to go on the hormone drip and that got me to 10cm in just under 3 hours, think I went on it until about 8:45 then you don't push for an hour but my body started pushing by around half 9 so I pushed for an hour and half and I couldn't get baby out so had to have forceps and an episiotomy but just 2 minutes after forceps were put on my whopping 9lb2 baby was born on their due date 🥰😂 recovery was okay, was fully healed after a couple of weeks & I'm currently pregnant with baby number 2! Im so excited for you, I can't wait to hear how your baby comes into the world! X

I had a couple of sweeps with my second (first was planned cesarean for breech). Woke up at 5am at 40+6 with pains in my pubic bones that quickly became unmanageable, 3 in 10 longer than 1 minute within an hour. Never felt anything like it but didn't think I was in labour as the pains were in the wrong place. Was in hospital by 7, diamorphine injection by 8 - which made things almost pleasant - and baby girl came out at 12 (with a little internal help due to shoulder dystocia).

They thought my waters had done a slow trickle at home but nope - they exploded while she was crowning. That gave a lot of pressure relief! I didn't actively push either, my body did it all, at some points against my will as I was holding out for an epidural or morphine top up 🤣

Until I started mooing I didn't believe she was coming, I was confused with the intensity of the pain haha. They also didn't confirm when I asked if I was in labour! It was all a bit of a shock somehow!

I do regret a bit not having dp there simply so he could marvel at my achievement. He stayed home with ds who is very sensitive. I would have found him annoying though during labour, which I didnt realise before actually going through it.

Hi OP! I honestly had no warning signs with my first (and only baby so far) other than feeling a bit under the weather for a couple of days (this was right over Xmas last year)

I went into Labour at 39 weeks exactly - again no signs just woke up at 1am in the morning with contractions which were 10-15 minutes apart. They carried on through the day then got closer together so got checked at the hospital who confirmed (it was 10pm at this point) that I was still only 2cm so I had to go home. They did a sweep though and that led to me having my bloody show.

My contractions then increased a lot and by 2am they were back to back, so we went back to the hospital. My waters broke in the car en route 😂When we got there they checked and I was 10cm so went straight to a delivery room. Finally got pain relief in the form of gas and air, and after an hour and a half of pushing she was born at 4am at 39+1. Unassisted but I did have a grade 2 tear which I needed stitches for but it has healed well!

I had such a positive experience, so just wanted to share that it can be like that with first babies (as I know there are a lot of less positive stories out there!) All the best OP, such exciting times waiting the birth of your first baby xx

The week leading up to my waters breaking I was having a lot of braxton hicks if I walked much and a lot of lightning crotch. Then maybe 2 days before I randomly threw up.

Day before I was getting lots of cramps but not regular etc. Went to bed at 10, woke up at midnight to leaking. I didn’t really get a gush, just leaks. Waters broke at 39+3 I think.

pregnant again and I’m 38 weeks on Christmas Day so feeling a bit anxious that I’ll spend it in latent labour 😂

I'm due on December 21st so I'm anxious I'll be mooing away at 8cm's on Christmas Day 😂😂🙈

Eeek here’s hoping we’re both pain free and tucking into a huge Xmas dinner. I’ve said anything after 28th I’ll accept 😂 midwife tried to book me in for a sweep on Boxing Day! I said absolutely not.

@buckingmad hahahaha fingers crossed! We'll have to come back here and update each other 😂

Hey!! Thank you so much for sharing!

OMG I’m 39+4 tomorrow!!! I’ve had slight contractions, got insane loose bowels for a week now and having cramps hips down, but I just don’t think baby will come any time soon.

Baby is due this Saturday- would love for them to arrive on the due date but unless something miraculous changes over night, think it’s quite snuggled up in there ha!

Thank you!! I’m so excited too!!

@NewMamaToBee that's all good signs! All signs leading to the exit 😂 has anything changed in the last few days? Is baby here?!? 🤞🏽 good luck OP! X

No changes! I’m 40 weeks now and DC has made themselves comfortable! I have been having false contractions, false hope but nothing haha!

I have booked in for acupuncture on the weekend so fingers crossed that’s the gentle nudge we need to get things moving!

@buckingmad how are you doing? Baby arrived very swiftly after a sweep at 40+2 😰 I get to celebrate Christmas Day with a beverage 💪🏽😂

@MissM94 Congrats!

im 37+4. I honestly think I’m maybe in early latent labour as I had such bad heartburn that I was sick last night twice despite taking my omeprazole, been having back and stomach cramps on and off and very breathless and tired. I just want to get through the next 2-3 days before going into proper labour 😭

good to hear your sweep worked though, I have one booked in for next Wednesday and the following Tuesday.

@buckingmad ahh thank you! Aww I hope so for your sake baby holds off for a few days.. but I know how shit these last few weeks are, I was completely over this pregnancy by week 36, PGP destroyed my soul haha