Signs of labor?

[Skywalker]

Just wondering for those of you who've gone into labor before...

I've been in prelabor for a week now with contractions that were 10 minutes apart for days and now I can't really tell because their intensity has gone down so drastically.

However, I am swollen like crazy with water retention (not even eating anything particularly salty or high in sodium!) my joints all hurt, I have a terrible persistant headache I can't get rid of today no matter how much I drink or eat, I'm sore, my nipples have been sore ever since my prelabor started and I just feel crampy and horrible and tired and agitated and unable to focus. Any of this sound promising for going into labor soon?

 

[lovebabyhopes]

When you say you have "contractions", are you experiencing braxton hicks? Painless tightenings? Or do you have painful contractions?

I've been suffering from BH, swelling and general discomfort for a month now. I'm still going strong. I've also had cramping on and off that I can only guess is my body's way of prepping.

What has your doctor said about being in pre-labor?

 

[jenny82]

I had no signs of going into labour either time, it just happened. I had awful water retention with my first (you could actually see the water under the skin in my hands!) but it didn't mean anything in terms of when I went into labour at 40+5. For me, as soon as my plug goes, labour starts. I keep checking and hoping, but for now, plug is tight tight tight. I have been having tightenings and really bad BH for weeks and noooooo sleep whatsoever but pfft, it has meant nothing for me :/

 

[Skywalker]

When you say you have "contractions", are you experiencing braxton hicks? Painless tightenings? Or do you have painful contractions?

I've been suffering from BH, swelling and general discomfort for a month now. I'm still going strong. I've also had cramping on and off that I can only guess is my body's way of prepping.

What has your doctor said about being in pre-labor?

No, these are painful contractions, though they started out really painful for the first three days and then have chilled out over the past two days. I was put on the monitor and they could see that I'm having contractions still at 10 min (this was the day before yesterday when I was monitored) I was told I am in pre-labor but I'm not even dilated at all yet from all these contractions! Errrrgh.

As I'm full term tomorrow, I'm going to start walking and drinking tons of raspberry leaf tea every few hours. I know that this doesn't always work but maybe the walking will at least help with the water retention and make me feel like I'm at least doing something.

Aw and thanks for your response, too Jenny82! I've been losing bits of my plug for the last two weeks or so but I think the majority of it must still be there or else I'd probably be in active labor, right?

 

[LittleAngel09]

Swelling and a persistent headache can be a sign of pre eclampsia. Maybe ring to get checked? Could just be the joys of the third tri, but best be safe. Have you started loosing your plug yet? Or is it just contractions? Are you seeing spots in your vision?

X

 

[Skywalker]

Swelling and a persistent headache can be a sign of pre eclampsia. Maybe ring to get checked? Could just be the joys of the third tri, but best be safe. Have you started loosing your plug yet? Or is it just contractions? Are you seeing spots in your vision?

X

How fast can preeclampsia come up? I just was at the doctors two days ago to be monitored and my blood pressure was checked and was in a good, low range, as it's been this whole pregnancy. They know about the swelling, this headache is new... I have another appointment on Monday but do you think it's something that can happen in a matter of just a few days? Should I give them a call? And yes, I've been losing bits of my mucus pug for a few weeks, no spots in my vision. Thanks for your help

 

[Little_Roo]

I'd give midwife/maternity unit a ring hun. I had pre-e with my 1st and had the same symptoms, all of which manifested really quickly over a matter of days. xx

 

[LittleAngel09]

Yes, I agree. I've not had it but know people who have and it can develop very quickly. Hopefully it's nothing to worry about but I'd ring just to get checked. Xx

 

[Misscalais]

Definitely ask to be checked for PE, could be nothing but best to be checked anyway because it can just come on like that.
As for your question I felt fine before going into labour. The only signs I had that something was pending was a 'clean out' of my bowels for 2 days prior to going into labour. I did feel agitated before going into labour with my 2nd but that's only because I was overdue lol

 

[OnyxSnowfall]

I can't say there were any blatant signs of close imminent labor in either of my former pregnancies.

With my first, my plug was loosened at 36 weeks --- at 37 weeks I'd been dilated at 2cm and it stayed that way until I went into full labor --- I didn't give birth to my oldest until I was 41w6d though --- just woke up one night with intense contractions, timed them at 6 mins apart, closing in on 5 for over an hour and then decided to go in.

With my youngest, it was similar --- except I don't recall losing my plug and I wasn't dilated for several weeks prior. Just woke up again one night with intense contractions that I'd timed at regular intervals.

I had lots of braxton hicks through-out both pregnancies (and this one as well).

Hopefully you don't have PE but I agree it's worth further investigating as it can develop rapidly.

 

[Leids]

Go get checked out!

As for signs of labor, I feel like they're all lies. With DS1 I was 2cm dilated for 3 weeks (36-39) and 3cm from 39-41. I had braxton hicks at the end of the pregnancy, lots of false labor, and still went late.

With this baby I've already been in the hospital for painful contractions that were coming every 5 minutes and I was told they were absolutely nothing (they showed up on the monitor too). Eventually they faded about a day later, but I was getting 7+ contractions an hour for the entire day and it really freaked me out.

It sucks, but this time around I'm not holding my breath even if there are signs. I'll just wait until either my water breaks or it's so painful I can't talk and then consider it serious.