How did labor start for you? Currently 39+5

[user1473880439]

39+5 weeks pregnant with our rainbow baby boy 🩵👶🏻🌈.. had our first born at 37+3 due to being induced for medical reasons however, have no sign or anything that baby boy is on his way anytime soon! Although- I know it can change in a second. As I was induced first time round, I am wondering what everyone’s first little niggles were and how labor/delivery went for them.. what should I be looking out for?

I have a scan on Wednesday which is my due date at fetal medicine as I caught parvovirus (slapped cheek) and have been getting scanned fortnightly since 28 weeks! Consultant said she would look at scheduling an induction if he doesn’t make an appearance and the midwife is offering a sweep on Thursday! I’d very much like baby boy to come on his own accord but I feel this is very unlikely. Would just absolutely LOVE to go into spontaneous labor instead of have the pessarys/hormone drip as it was hell the last time.

cant wait to read everyone’s stories 🥰

Bump!!

I was 40+1 and started leaking a little bit, but thought I was just weeing! At 40+3 I texted the midwife about the fact that I was leaking and she told me to immediately go to the maternity assessment unit who checked and confirmed it was my waters. Because I’d not started contracting in the 48 hours since my waters had started trickling, they sent me for an induction as soon as possible, but checked me before I www induced and declared me 1cm (enough to get a hook in to break any further waters). Waters went EVERYWHERE and covered two midwives (I had polyhydramosis or whatever it’s called)! Contractions came thick and fast after that, so no gradual build up, more a sudden “oh shit this hurts!”

@retrievermum omg! It’s crazy isn’t it that your waters can leak I always expect this big gush or this big moment of omg my waters have went 🙃 i’ll keep note of that!

With my first I didn't really have any signs at all, went to bed as usual, I was 41+1 and well and truly fed up. I was seeing my midwife the next day to schedule induction, then woke at 2am with painful contractions in my back and they were frequent and constant until she arrived 28 hours later lol
My second was a section at 39 weeks but never had an ounce of a sign she was making an appearance either

@whereistheplot it’s nice to know that it can just start out of the blue. I’m sick of going to bed every night thinking is this the night as I get up to pee a hundred million times! I’ve been having lots of braxton hicks and he’s engaged according to the midwife but absolutely no other wee signs or niggles! I feel like I’ve done everything possible, the walking, on my ball etc! I guess he’ll let me know when he’s ready either that or I’ll be induced 😖

Had my one and only 3 years ago.

DC was born 39+4. It was a mix of sweep, hot curry and stimulation from DP that caused the labor. It started off as Braxton hicks every 2-3 hours. Then started aching over 24 hours and became every hour until it was 10 minutes apart when I called maternity unit at 3am. They kept fobbing me off until I pretend cried (it was not as painful at the time but at least I got seen) and they checked me and I was 7 cm dilated and I was admitted quickly.

The reason I had a sweep was because they wanted to induce me on my due date which I refused. My water level was low from 36 week scan and they were scanning me every week.

Yeah absolutely it can just happen, my friend had no signs either, went out for the day with family on her due date got home that evening and 6 hours later baby was here 😂
Good luck, hope it all goes well for you!

My first, I woke at 5.19 with contractions and they initially were 30 mins apart. He wasn't born for 24 hours but just progressed over the day. That was at 40w+6

My second I was booked an elective on my due date. But woke at 4.30am with contractions and baby arrived naturally in less than 2 hours.

Side note - How have you and baby been since slapped cheek? Both my son and daughter have just had it and I'm not immune so waiting to see if I have caught it at 27w. Xx

@MrsM89 oh no sorry to hear about the slapped cheek!! My little boy had it and I had the blood test to check for antibodies which I didn’t have! So I had to have my bloods rechecked in 3 weeks. During the wait to get the second lot of bloods back I woke up at the weekend and had slightly pink cheeks and thought hmm that’s strange so I just called over for my results and it said I had an active infection at the time which was almost 4 whole weeks since my son first had his! Before my cheeks came out I had a slightly sore throat but didn’t think anything of it.

anyway sorry I’ve rambled! But I’ve been absolutely fine and so has baby boy. We’ve been scanned every two weeks since I was infected and he’s growing perfect, no signs of fetal anaemia or any other complications! To reassure you, the consultant said it’s very uncommon for complications to arise and they just do the scans as a precaution due to guidance. Hope everything works out ok for you ❤️

@user1473880439 thank you so much. I didn't mean to hijack your post. Xx

No signs, no niggles - after spending weeks prior googling every slight 'sign' i had! Had a sweep at 39+5, 1cm, nothing happened. 2nd sweep at 40+5, still 1cm. Went home, cried, napped, felt absolutely no different, then went for a walk that evening and contractions began!

Dc1 - induced
dc2 - went into labour naturally 2 days before due date
dc3 - induced
dc4 - induced

All inductions were lovely, quick labours.
Natural labour - no inkling or build up at all. Woke up at 8am, felt small regular pains, built up throughout the day, dc born early evening. Again, lovely labour, no different from the others.

I had baby at 37+2 (Tuesday). Thursday before I was working and had stretching and pulling sensations all day, uncomfortable but no pain. I thought something was happening but everyone thought it was too early, community midwife included who told me the day before I'd be back in weeks talking about being induced. When I woke up the next day I felt brand new and there were no niggles or anything else. We went away for the weekend and there wasn't a hint of baby arriving. Came home on the Monday night, went to the toilet and waters broke as I stood up. Contractions started almost instantly and were just over a minute apart within two hours. Despite going in to labour early and things escalating quickly, baby wasn't in position so arrived by EMCS the next morning.

The sweep worked for me.

I had it at 40 weeks and had a few contractions that evening, then the following day I took it easy until the afternoon, then went for a nice long walk and it started the contractions off again. She was born in the morning of 40+2.

My ds was born at 39 weeks, bang on the due date predicted at my first scan.

I had what felt like low level period pains from when I woke up that day but went and visited my dgm as planned. The cramps got very gradually stronger until at about 2pm I thought "actually maybe I am in labour?!"

It didn't really hurt at that point any more than bad period pains would, but there was a specific rhythm to the throbs that I hadn't experienced before.

By 8pm the contractions were painful enough to start using my tens machine. At around midnight I was sick and had my show. The pain was intense by then.

I went to hospital at around 1am and ds was born at around 5am. My waters broke with an almighty pop not long before I gave birth.

Congratulations on your very soon to be new arrival and good luck with everything 💜

My first was classic water broke then an hour later contractions started
Second, it never started! Well my waters broke but never had contractions. Due to first ending up being a c section (undetected breach) I had to have another section. They didn't want to risk tearing scar tissue if they put me on the drip, I had 3 days of waiting.

Ps. When my waters went with my first They kept going! I think due to not having the head in the right place to act like a plug like the second one.

Hi I don't have experience but just wanted to say I'm in the same boat 39+3 and no signs at all. Apparently baby is engaged and ready..it's IVF and I'm 40 so have induction booked for this Saturday on my due date and a sweep on Wednesday, hoping she makes an appearance of her own accord but as I said zero signs so far!
Was planning to refuse the induction but blood pressure has been a bit all over the place,. circulation in my legs is not good and I'm very uncomfortable now so think it's best she makes an exit! Good luck!

@JRTfan

tbeyve said baby boy is 4/5ths engaged as well and has been for about two weeks now! Midwife suggested hip circles on my ball etc to get him to engage deeper which I’ve been doing but who actually knows if it’s working! I’m 40 weeks on Wednesday and they’ve said they would give me a sweep then and book me for an induction on Thursday probably for next week but really praying he comes on his own soon! I’m the same my legs are so sore when I walk and just so ready to meet him now!

wishing you all the luck in the world can’t wait to hear about your new arrival ❤️

Mild contractions started on the Tuesday evening, on and off for 24 hours and then every 5 minutes, went to hospital when they got to 2 minutes apart, baby born Thursday morning. Waters broke at around 7cm.

2nd: Very mild contractions from around 8.30pm, regular from 10.30, baby born at 01.34. So much quicker. Waters broke at around 9 or maybe even 10cm, right before pushing.

Did anyone have creamy white discharge before labor? I was cramping a bit lastnight and I’ve had an increase in discharge and a wee wet patch along with in my underwear! Just curious.. still feel a bit crampy just now but need to just see how the day goes I guess

No I didn't OP, I had no symptoms at all before the contractions started.

@LauderSyme I’m probably just reading too much into it now because I’m due tomorrow 🙈

1 of mine was head fully engaged for a full month before they were born .. midwife kept saying they were so far down they’d be popping out my knickers 🤔 still went over and had to be induced 🤷🏻‍♀️

@50plusproblems it’s annoying isn’t it! My midwife said to me 2 weeks ago he was down so far she didn’t think I’d see my due date which is tomorrow 😂!! I was seen at daycare today and he does seem to be engaging deeper which is good but still no sign of his wee face! I imagine I’ll be induced also. I have a scan at fetal medicine tomorrow so will see what they say!