What happened before you went into labor?

[ser523]

So I'm eagerly awaiting little girl's arrival. And I was wondering... What kind of things did you ladies experience before you started labor?

Like what were the clues that I can over analyze while I wait? *lol* Everyone is different, obviously. And I know nothing is a guarantee, but humor me! ^_^

 

[jessmke]

I started having false labour. I got my first contraction around 2 am, it lasted about a minute and was very painful. Then I got another one at 4 am. Then had one at 4:30 am that only lasted about 15 seconds. This irregular pattern continued for 2 days when things became more regular and I started actual labour. I didn't lose any plug until I was in active labour. I also didn't get the "clear out" that a lot of people get.

 

[bbbbbbb811]

Following! I've not experienced one BH or cramp(plenty of other aches and pains tho!!) So I'm not hopeful that labour is near lol.

 

[Chiochick]

With my daughter, I felt sick all day. It was the 4th of July and everyone wanted to drag me out to do fireworks and stuff and I just didn't want to leave my bed. I laid around all day but I can't really say I knew at that time I was in labor. I also didn't feel contractions. Later that night, I went to the bathroom and I'm pretty sure I lost my plug.
I laid down for bed at around midnight and I remember I finally got comfy and closed my eyes and then I felt the gush. My water broke at home. I went to the hospital after that.
With my son, he was 7 weeks early so it was hard for me to believe I was in labor. I had a terrible back ache but I brushed it off. Then, I went to the bathroom and I just kept leaking and leaking and I was like "yeah.. this isn't normal"
I put two and two together and went to the hospital.
I never felt any actual contractions until well into labor at the hospital. If I had felt any at home, I dismissed them as BH.
My water just always broke at home :S

 

[ProudArmyWife]

With my first I had the "clean out" people speak of. I had cramping that just felt like I needed to use the bathroom so went and sat on the toilet went to the bathroom. Went back to bed and had the same feeling about 10 minutes late. I spent the first hour sitting on the toilet contraction and using the bathroom

With my second I woke up that morning and went to go pee and when I stood up the toilet was full of blood scared me half to death. Called my midwife she said just monitor the bleeding and call her back if I was filling a pad but she was pretty sure I was just going into labor. I took a quick shower and got a light breakfast and sure enough 30 minutes later contractions started and we were off to the races

I hope something happens soon for you! I hate thw end because it feels like the days are dragging by and you are just analyzing everything looking for any small sign of impending labor your almost there mama!

 

[bcos21]

Nothing. Felt fine all day then at midnight had a spot of blood on toilet paper. Went to bed couldn't get comfy, had first contraction about 20 mins later and She was born 5 hours later.

Same with my first, worked all day then went home, went into labor baby 5 hours later.

Don't get discouraged because it seems like nothing is happening. It started out of nowhere both times for me. I was CONVINCED it was never happening ❤

 

[ser523]

Thanks for all the responses, ladies! Honestly, how I feel reminds me of waiting for that BFP - analyzing every little twinge and thinking "could it be?!" *lol*

 

[Pne1985]

I went into labor on my due date which doesn't happen too often. But the night before, we went out to eat with our friends, I felt perfectly fine. Then that night, woke up around 2 with mild contractions. I wish I would have wait to go to the hospital but it was my first so I didn't know what to expect. Mine felt like period cramping in the beginning but not constant.

 

[second.time]

I was due late November with my son (almost four years ago now). On Thanksgiving, I had the worst upset stomach of my life -- just brutally painful, nearly as bad as labor. The next day, all day Friday, I just felt weird. Kind of in a limbo, sort of "blank" emotionally. I didn't want to upset my stomach again so I was basically eating Saltines and plain oatmeal. I went on a brisk walk that evening, and that night my contractions started coming on stronger. I saw a bloody show a few hours later and that's when I knew it was really happening. But I didn't dilate and got sent home from the hospital twice. Finally, about 24 hours after the first contractions, I was suddenly dilated to six centimeters. No wonder it hurt so badly!

The contractions just felt like period cramps at first, but more pressure and squeezing. They got very intense pretty quickly. My water never broke naturally.

I was so incredibly impatient. People said to cherish those last few weeks of pregnancy, but I was just ready. Maybe this time I'll be more patient?

 

[greats]

I went into labor naturally with my first at 38 weeks. I kept getting braxton hicks contractions for a few days before. Had a checkup at 37w6d and was already 4cm dilated... had done A LOT of walking around the mall the day before. The next night, she was moving around so much that I was in so much pain (like my bump felt so sore). I fell asleep around 11pm after she finally stopped moving like crazy. Woke up at 1am to pee, laid back down and started getting some braxton hicks but these had a lot of pressure that I could literally feel in my vajayjay! They died down around 4am so I got some sleep, but I already had a checkup later that morning. I was at 4.5cm and still contracting every 15 mins so they just kept me lol

 

[cupcake.girl]

I had no warning before my waters broke. I went visiting family earlier that night and told everyone I thought i would end up overdue. That night i lay in bed and my waters broke. A few hours later the contractions started. So no warming at all for me

 

[JT2013]

I went in to labour at 37+4 with my first one, but started to loose my mucus plug about 5 days before that.

I was a parody of a nesting pregnant woman the day before - I tidied my office (hadn't gone on maternity leave yet!) frantically and then went home and had an early night, slept really well for over 12 hours (having had really bad late pregnancy insomnia up to that point). Went to the toilet about 11am the next morning and my waters broke and contractions started straight away.

 

[xQuinnx]

At 40+1 I felt really restless all night, couldn't sleep, couldn't put my finger on why. Next morning I had a bloody show and period like cramp/backache all day....also had to keep going to the toilet. That night contractions started but think it was more latent labour. Next day things got a bit stronger especially in the evening then I went into hospital, had my little girl at 40+4.

Looking back on it now my body gave me plenty of early warning signs I just excited too quickly I think lol!

 

[Nikko88]

I was 12 days overdue and prepared to go in for an induction. I had started experiencing some strong cramping at midnight but was able to get back to sleep. By 7 in the morning, I had a few more bouts that made me thing maybe labor was starting. But I could still talk through them.

At 8 am, I did a bowel evacuation and started timing the contractions as they'd gotten to the point where I couldn't do anything when they hit. I threw up. After timing for an hour, they were 3 minutes a part. We called the hospital and were advised to go in.

At 11AM, I was admitted dilated 4 cm.

By 1PM, I threw up again and was in transition. Had a bloody show.

Pushing lasted 1-2 hrs (I can't remember). I had a cervical lip that made it tougher.

By 3:18PM, my daughter was in my arms. 2 hours before my induction was scheduled to begin. My water never broke and the midwife had to break it once LO's head was out.

Expecting #2 in the next 2 weeks. It will be interesting to see how it goes down. Lots of cramping early but nothing productive.

 

[kimmy04]

With my first I was 10 days overdue. I started feeling minor cramping around midnight and tried to sleep but it slowly got more painful. I got up took a bath and my mucous plug came out. Was able to sleep on and off through the night then went to the hospital in the morning and he was born that evening.

With my 2nd I was at a kids birthday party with my son 2 days before my due date and felt totally fine. Got home cleaned my entire house top to bottom and as I finally sat down I started feeling a bit off. By the time I was getting ready for bed I was having noticeable contractions. Called the grandparents to come watch DS amd barely made it to the hospital before DD made her appearance. It was very quick!!

 

[Bubbles1088]

I had my 39 week appointment on 38+6; I was 2-3cm dilated and 75-80% effaced. I set up an induction date at that appointment just in case. That night around 11pm I started having contractions that were 10-15 minutes apart all night and gradually got closer together as morning neared. Was losing bits of bloody plug all night as well. I went in and I was 3-4cm and contractions were 6-8 minutes apart so they broke my water. They expected her to be there by the evening, but she got stuck and I ended up in a c-section. She was born at 9:13pm, almost 24 hours after labor had begun!

 

[Tui]

Absolutely nothing to give me any clues! I was watching tele, got up from the chair and woosh ! Waters broke. Born on due day. Good luck.

 

[Literati_Love]

The day before I went into labour, I had some practice contractions but they never progressed. Definitely felt crampy that day. Also had my first and ONLY nesting urge the entire pregnancy (I am horribly lazy and unmotivated while pregnant) and scrubbed the floors on my hands and knees as well as cleaned out the inside of cupboards and the pantry. Went to bed and woke up at 6 am in labour! It was a long 23 hours of labour before she was born, but those were my warning signs.

 

[wtt :)]

Played Nintendo wii Tennis with my DH around 9pm or so hit the tennis ball, had a contraction, continued playing Eventually around 10 or 11pm we went to bed. I layed down wanting to sleep but the contractions didn't let me. I was really tired and just wanted to get some sleep but DH said "i think we should go."
Good call! Arrived at the hospital 4-5cm dilated, water never broke so they broke it there. At 9:05am the next day (Thanksgiving!) our son was born

 

[BabyDustxx]

For my first, I had a membrane sweep and went home to take castor oil. I went to sleep that night and woke up around 3 AM with contractions. Went to the hospital around 7-8 AM. After monitoring I was told I was in early labor but not progressing (stuck at 3) and had to get to 5 CM to be admitted. I walked a couple of miles (squatting and bouncing slightly between contractions) and went back at 5 CM. Really smooth and easy labor. After my epidural... I napped until it was time to push (which I also didn't feel) lol.