What were you signs before labour?

[DH31]

Hi all,

I'm currently 35+3 weeks pregnant and I'm getting some new things happening today.

I had some VERY painful lightening crotch this morning it made me gasp and shout out it was very uncomfortable. I have felt some pain around there the last few weeks but
nothing like this felt today. Since then (sorry tmi) I've had very loose stools which is uncommon for me during this pregnancy as I've been extremely constipated and I keep getting a dull kind of period pain around my lower stomach/pelvis. I just wondered if anyone had experienced this and whether it was a sign of things to come? Is baby
moving down? Is my body getting ready to give birth? Does it not mean anything at all? 😂 I have gestatational diabetes and as much as I don't want her here too early I would like to have her naturally and she's already looking a little bigger for her gestation 😂.

Tia for any replies ☺️

I had no signs at all except a gigantic pop noise inside my belly at about 1am and then my waters flooding out everywhere at soon as I stood up! 😂 I was 41+4 I think so very much ready to give birth and expecting it at any moment.

The low level periody pain feeling accompanied me having a bloody show at 37 weeks - and then early leaking of waters a few days later (plus contractions on and off for days)

@L00k4m3x omg no way? Were you in labour long? I've got a 4 year old already and her labour was pretty much intense but quick and I lost my mucus plus the day before but it seems like that long ago to me I can't remember whether I had anything I'm feeling leading upto it

@moderationincludingmoderation where did you feel your contractions? I've not had a bloody show yet I had one with my daughter the day before she was born but everything just feels really sore and dull aches in my pelvis with this full period pain.

It was 10 years ago so my memory is hazy... once the contractions started properly,
Sometimes it felt like I was being stabbed up the bum!

I was extremely emotional for about 24 hours before...laughing at something unremarkable until I cried and not being able to stop it, getting so angry about something very minor I cried on the sofa for an hour...fun! In hindsight it was definitely early labour :)

@lisa5795 strange you should say that I've just come out the other end of an episode of crying. To be fair I've been feeling very tearful for the last week or so I can tell my hormones are definitely ramping up again. Oh the joys ey haha. It's just the aching down below that's constant 😂 hopefully I won't be waiting too much longer

I had a lot of lightening crotch with my first but it stopped a few weeks before he was actually born so seemed to be unrelated.

My first sign was a (mild) contraction. I’d been happily eating dinner minutes before with no idea.

I did have horrendous diarrhoea but it was later on, once the contractions were properly going.

@moderationincludingmoderation yeah I've been getting some sharp pains all around that area since late this afternoon so we'll have to see if it means the same for me hahah

@DuploTrain I've read lightening crotch means they're moving down so maybe that was what was happening for you as I had the same as I've had today around 5 days before my daughter was born. My last growth scan at 34 weeks she was head down but not engaged so I'm wondering if thats maybe what's happened today ☺️. I actually can't think off the top of my head what early contractions felt like I just remember the ones that started at the back and came to the front like a wave so these pains I'm just not sure. I try not too think about it too much but at this stage any pain etc makes you wonder doesn't it ha

I had absolutely nothing, in fact I was 4cm when they went to induce me early for reduced movements at 38 weeks on the Saturday night. I had her Monday afternoon after my waters burst at 6am Monday morning.

I’ve had similar kind of things (34+5) The lightening crotch started ages ago and was horrendous (would stop me in my tracks and nearly take me down) thankfully that’s stopped, touch wood.

Ive finally been able to poop recently which has been nice and then last night I was woken up at 3am with what I can only describe as low crampy period pains in my very low back and low tummy. Exactly how my periods used to start. This went on for an hour trying to get comfortable and baby was moving like crazy which wasn’t helping. I felt a weird bubble moving from my cervix which felt like a “pop” and freaked out because everyone says that’s the feeling of waters breaking!! Thankfully no waters and got back to sleep (pain woke me again at 6am but fell back asleep shortly after)

I also had horrific SPD which just randomly stopped last week and I could walk again. Very weird.

Today my back just ached but kinda all over mid/lower and baby is moving normally? Idk if she’s coming soon?!? I have no more room for her to grow too, I’m 5ft1 and she is measuring slightly big!

@Glitterb didnt you get any pains or anything? I bet that was a shock when they told you 🤣

Yes my pains were definitely all in my back.

I’m 37 weeks with my second baby now so will be starting to analyse every little twinge very soon!

@Nttttt yeah the lightening crotch isn't anything new I had it from about 30 weeks but it's bloody painful isn't it 😂😂

did you speak to your midwife about the popping sensation or you just going to see what happens? To be honest I had a really horrendous nights sleep lasT night. I couldn't get comfy and whatever side I lay on my hip would hurt I've also got carpal tunnel 😂. Maybe I've just had all of this and thought 'omg I'll be able to sleep on my back soon she just be on her way'

oh bless you I bet you can't wait then for her to come then. I'm 5'7 and I feel like there's no room 😂😂

37 + 2. I was having tightenings all day and felt quite a lot of pressure in my nether regions. My plug hadn't come away but I'd definitely noticed the odd bit of stringy mucus when I wiped from around 36 weeks. I also then felt a giant pop after lying in bed, and then what felt like a never ending stream of water 😂

Omg back sleeping is my dream right now - I’m so with you there!!!! I often wake up feeling so guilty because my body just automatically flips me onto my back every time.

I’m seeing my midwife this weekend and will bring it up, not to be too crude but it felt like a tiny fanny fart 😂 I just don’t even know how to explain that to her and keep a straight face.

I’m Totally feeling your pain - let’s hope we both end up getting our bundles of joy between week 37 and 40 (I want her to be totally cooked but the idea of going over is terrifying!!!!!!!!!)