How did you feel in the 24-48 hours before active labour?

[glasspaw]

I’m nearing the end of my second pregnancy, but the labour with my first was preterm and started very slowly (4 days of regular but painless contractions). I ended up in hospital for monitoring until it started to escalate so I wasn’t exactly doing normal things in the days leading up to it.

ever since getting past the point in my pregnancy when my first was born I’ve been noticing every little feeling and trying to search my memory to remember whether there was anything that really told me it was almost go time.

for those of you who remember, were there any signs? All I recall is an upset stomach which at the time (because I was nowhere near my due date) I thought nothing of. My waters and plug didn’t go until active labour, about an hour before the baby arrived.

I just remember feeling really chilled and quite tired but in a warm, cosy way. Calm before the storm haha…and maybe oxytocin kicking in?

I was having contractions for about 24 hours continuously before active labour with my first and third. Before that though, no signs at all, totally normal like any other day.

With DS2 my waters broke as the absolute first sign but I still had mild contractions all day before labour actually got going in the evening. Again, nothing weird about the night before.

Like PP contractions were the start with both my labours. My first it was about 21hrs of contractions before I was in active labour and with my second it was about 15hrs of contractions before active labour. The main difference for me was that with my second the first 3hrs or so was extremely mild cramping type contractions which I'd actually had on and off loads of times in the preceding couple of weeks. I didn't have any of that stop start early cramping with my first. So I didn't realise it was Probably It until about 3hrs in when they were getting stronger rather than stopping completely.

My waters broke before I had contractions with both of mine. No contractions, tightening or any symorons before.

I didn't feel anything to suggest labour was imminent.Went to bed as normal, then got up to go to the toilet early morning. Realised either my waters had broken or I had developed a bladder the size of an elephants. No contractions or twinges at all until around an hour after waters broke.DC was born just over 2 hrs after waters broke.I was fully dilated by the time I got to the labour ward.

Sounds like everyone has really different experiences 😅

its so frustrating not knowing how much longer it’ll be. I feel lucky that I escaped this bit with my first!