What happened right BEFORE you started labor?

MSUMands

Peeking over from 3rd trimester, ready to be not pregnant. Did any of you use one of the "tricks" and labored started right away? Or where you just sitting/laying down and it happened on it's own? My MIL just told me she was pushing on the toilet right before labor started with my husband... nice image! I'd love to hear your story.

AliciaS1411

I had to have an emergency induction at 36 weeks, all they had to do was break my water and my labor took off on its own and only lasted 9 hours. I had, however, started EPO once a day at 35w and had planned on increasing to twice a day at 36, then three times a day at 37. I'm 100% positive it helped me because i was dilated to a 3 when they came to break my water for induction. 

[Deleted User]

Honestly, I tried most of the OWT in the book (except castor oil), and I can say that none of them will work unless your body is ready.

When I went into labor (at 40w4d), I was sitting on my yoga ball surfing the web. My contractions started at 10 minutes apart. That was around 3 PM. I was admitted to the hospital the next morning at 9:30 AM.

GL! Try to be patient. 

hdine22

Right before labor started, my hubby and I were joking around and I was laughing really hard, and shortly after I got up maybe too fast!? to go wash my face/brush my teeth/get ready for bed, and just as I sat down on the toilet I felt and heard a pop, and a little fluid came out.. I couldn't really be sure if it was my water or not. It wasn't coming out consistently. I layed down, more came out, I called and then it was confirmed at the hospital that my water had broken. About 17 hours later my son was born! :

Laur7

I was 5 days overdue and had been trying everything- walking, pelvic tilts, spicy foods and nothing worked. I woke up in the middle of the night with really bad back pains, which then moved towards the front, and next thing I knew, I was getting regular contractions and in labor!

Hyaline

That old saying, the way you got the baby in there is the way to get it out?

That and spicy Mexican food.

Honestly, I have no idea if it "worked" or was just a coincidence, but I woke up in labor at 1 a.m. 

JayandEmm

I didn't try anything. And I wasn't going to until I was overdue. I didn't make it that far!

My water broke randomly at 39 weeks 5 days at 11 pm. Ds was born at noon the following day.

JHough578

Hyaline:

That old saying, the way you got the baby in there is the way to get it out?

That and spicy Mexican food.

Honestly, I have no idea if it "worked" or was just a coincidence, but I woke up in labor at 1 a.m. 

 

It worked for me!  I was also 9 days overdue and had my membranes stripped for the 3rd time the day I went into labor! My midwife insisted I go home and do the deed!! So we did (NOT FUN but neither was being 41 weeks preggo!) and literally 10 mins later I started have VERY strong contractions about 4 mins apart.

 

I read everything and tried a lot of stuff.  Honestly I think the baby will come when he's ready! 

bluestarbaby

I'm a FTM but had a scheduled c-section for 39w2d because of my tiny pelvis.  Dr. said that she really didn't think I'd be able to deliver vaginally and wanted to prevent me from going through the stress/exhaustion of labor if it was just going to end in a c-section anyway. 

I was scheduled for pre-op blood work at 39w, my dad came to pick me up since DH was working, I went up stairs to change my shirt and started coughing like crazy.  Next thing I knew, there was a FLOOD between my legs.  I had polyhydramnios (excess fluid), so it literally did not stop.  I soaked through several giant overnight pads, my underwear and sweatpants several times in 15 minutes. 

I think that happened around 11:30 am.  I went into surgery at 4:00 pm and DD was born at 4:37 pm.  When I first arrived at LD, the doc said I was only a fingertip dilated and baby wasn't even engaged in the pelvis yet.  I was also not really having contractions yet.  

thatoneredhead

Nothing sent me into labor and I tried everything. I was taking my little sister to the park every night, literally pulling my 41wk pregnant bottom up and down the steps on the little play thing. Nada.

To be honest, I really enjoyed the last week pregnant. I was in labor for days and it was long, but it was the calm before the storm. I have a ton of memories of my family, husband, and LO from that week. It was alot easier than when we had the baby! -hate me if you must!-

Good luck! 

 

002994182

Hyaline:

That old saying, the way you got the baby in there is the way to get it out?

That and spicy Mexican food.

Honestly, I have no idea if it "worked" or was just a coincidence, but I woke up in labor at 1 a.m. 

We weren't necessarily trying to get the baby to come out, but this combination worked for me - woke up very much in labor at 4AM.

Jams1002

The stretch and sweep was the kick start for me!

weberm05

With my first..i was playing monoply and i reached over to grab the dice and i heard "POP"  and my water broke

 2nd one.....i just couldn't sleep all night long....no pan or anything just couldn't sleep...then around 7am my contractions started..2-3 minutes apart........made it to the hospital by 9am and i was 7 cm dialted....that really happended fast

MaryMaleska

I delivered my son 4 days before his due date. The say before he was born I had to work a 9 hr shift, I have a standing job and I was trying to do as much activity as possible and ignore the pain. Honestly I was just so uncomfortable I wanted him out. My shift ended at 7 pm, I went to bed at 9 pm and had contractions every hour all night long. I woke up at 4 am to get ready for work and started having contractions every 5-10 min while getting ready. My doctor said the activity the previous day helped push it along, I was 3 cm 3 days prior to giving birth.

zaramarie81

lurker... ftm w/a 7wk old... I had BH contractions for several days often about 9 min apart, but never active labor. Then, one Sat. morning I woke up feeling totally peaceful and confident labor would not be happening that day, when that very moment I had a small contraction and felt a "pop"... I flew out of bed just in time for my water to break in the toilet... I still, however, needed pitocin to start active labor (was only 1cm upon arriving at the hospital).

MrsKM82

We had just picked up our dog from the vet after she had knee surgery. My husband had to work, so I had to lift her 75 pound butt in a sling up and down stairs and to help her walk in our yard so she could go to the bathroom. My lower back started to hurt but I figured it was just from the strain. I went into active labor a few hours later. I was 38 weeks.

catapult32

 Starting at 36 weeks I started taking evening primrose oil.

at 37 I added walking and sitting on an exercise ball and as much sex as DF would allow

at 38 weeks I added eating spicy food

at 39 weeks I was doing pretty much everything I could think of (foods, pressure points, massage, orgasm, nipple stimulation, etc.)

at 40 weeks I made labor cookies and ate 3 dozen.

I had BH contrax up until my due date and then NOTHING, not even a whisper of tightening.

The night before my induction  DF and I  DTD, I woke up the next morning at 4:30 am (3.5 hours before I was supposed to check in to the hospital) with contrax coming every 6-7 minutes. Piper was born at 10:30pm that evening. I was 40W 6D

Good luck, be patient

babybologna2012

I was almost a week past my due date so we decided to get in the pool we live in san diego so its always warm lol. I walked, squatted, and also did lunges in the water and started to have real contractions that night. Had my baby girl the next day : everyone is different but i know this is what kickstarted my labor!

sweetiebird726

I had my membranes stripped on the morning of the 18th, had some minor contractions off and on during the 19th.

But they stopped. On the 20th, right before the strong contractions started, I ate a turkey sandwich.

Kasi80

I decided to try pressure points.  I had no expectations that it would work but I was overdue and thought it would be nice to at least try.  DH pressed on a few points on my feet and on my hands and 2 hours later I was in labor.  Can't say our technique was what made it happen but maybe it's possible.

lildevil968

Lurking, but with my first I felt like I had the worst stomach bug of my life. At about 1am, I woke up, got sick the bathroom, this continued until 0930am when my mom called the Dr. The Dr. said to bring me to the hospital to receive fluids. I got there, they got the fluids hooked up, decided to check to see if I was having contractions, I was. They checked my cervix, and I was 4cm dilated, and 100%. Just the day before I was only 3, so I was in labor, and didn't even know it! My DD was born that night at 733pm.

With DS I had a scheduled induction.The morning before the induction I was barely a cm dilated, we decided to take DD to the zoo, and walk around. I had contractions at the zoo, but not painful by any means. I arrived for my induction the following day, and was 4.5 cm's, and 100%. I arrived at 0900, he was born at 144pm.

michelle7482

Sleeping!  Got up to pee at midnight and my water broke while I was wiping!  And boy did it gush and it didn't stop!!! I was 36W6D when I went into labor!

aylafsu88

For me it happened out of the blue.  I was laying on my couch 4 days before my due date watching TV.  I felt a weird pop and a trickle of liquid came out.  My contractions started right away and they were 10 mins apart.  During labor I lost my mucous plug and started to bleed a little.  From the time of my first contraction to when I pushed LO out it was only 11 hours.

Jillwithani

I did EVERYTHING! Tried tons of sex, castor oil (twice), climbed 250 stairs, eggplant parm, anything that was thought to induce labor I was trying. Then one afternoon I did some outlet shopping and did lots of walking and he was born 24 hours later. It was also my due date that could have helped too! 

Carla6394

 Sunday - I was 39 weeks.  Had been feeling really really restless (and grouchy).  Went for long drive with DH.  Stopped to eat spicy food.  Didn't know WHAT I  wanted to do, but was feeling really edgy and not content.  

at 5 pm I used washroom and lost mucus plug.  Contractions started at 6pm, were 10 minutes apart.  Stayed between 8-15 minutes apart until 330 am and then BAM!  every 5 minutes. 

 Arrived at hospital at 6 am, baby born at 430 that Monday afternoon.

Also, the day before  (Saturday) I had done a LOT of walking.  Like, 5 hours of walking.

buffyverrban1

My experience is that nothing will get that baby out until he or she wants to come out. 

I had a stretch and sweep done every other day starting on my due date. I used my pump (for nipple stimulation) I had sex, I drove down bumpy roads, I walked (brisk walk, not "window shopping" walk). After my S&Ss I would go for a walk and I'd get cramps but they went away when I went to bed. I also took these naturopathic "labour starters" 2-3x a day. 

Finally at 41w 4d, I woke up at 3:30 in the morning in labour.