Signs of Labor?

jandd2014 · November 2016

I'm copying this from the November board for selfish reason...

What signs or symptoms are you having that make you think labor *might* be near??

jandd2014 · November 2016

I think I just lost some of my mucus plug. I called L&D and they said it doesn't really mean anything until/unless contractions start. I've had a few BH(??) throughout the day today, but not bad or anything out of the ordinary. So now we're off to my parents for dinner and just waiting to see if they continue or pick up.

ajstevenson · November 2016

Good luck! hopefully things cool off and its regenerates for a couple more weeks!

princesslockness · November 2016

Losing your plug can or cannot mean anything. It can regrow. I lost mine last Thursday and nothing has changed yet.

I'm having contractions that are regular and long enough, but so far haven't done anything to my cervix. They start on the sides of my pelvis then move in&up.

When my cerclage was ripping out/I was dilating, I would have a sharp pain that would fade to a dull ache. They were located behind my pubic bone.

allicat89 · November 2016

I've been having lots of BH, cramping, and lower back pain. When the BH come, they usually stay for three to four hours at a time, but they always settle down in the end. Ever since my doctor told me that the baby has dropped, and my cervix is thinning, I have become obsessed with the idea that baby might come early. Doctor said that those changes don't mean anything other than my body is preparing for labor in the vague near future, but the esteemed Doctor Google says that the baby dropping usually occurs 2 to 4 weeks before labor actually starts. Doctor Google is telling me what I want to hear.

gowenc · November 2016

@allicat89 Dr. Google told me the same thing - baby dropped this week and it is noticeably harder to get around. That's not necessarily a good thing, since our house is nowhere near being ready!

R0824H · November 2016

A couple coworkers said I have "dropped" but I don't see it...I do definitely feel "lighter" in the sense breathing is easier. I also lost part of my mucous plug Thursday. I've been on tiptoes the past two days because I'm just not ready for her to be here yet lol

DiFazette · November 2016

I think I lost part of my MP yesterday, then thought I had trickling of waters today. I guess I'm just peeing myself... so that's fun. I told H it might be go time today and he said 'okay, I'll finish painting the powder room now then.' I'd give my left arm for his composure.

whitneyp26 · November 2016

I've been having weird sensations downstairs that I recall always feeling at the very end. It's not exactly the crotch lightening. It kind of feels like a weird prickly sensation right on the cervix. I personally think it happens when the cervix is changing. I have also questioned if I could be leaking but probably not.

yellingbanana · November 2016

Ok, this is going to be weird. But I had to be induced with my 1st, ended up with emergency c-section after 26 hrs of labor, and had RCS with my 2nd. Now that I'm on my 3rd and last, I'm kind of feeling a little jealous that I never got to experience my water breaking or losing my mucous plug. My body is great at BH, I get a ton, more than I'm supposed to and often they are painful and timeable. Then they stop because my body just isn't good at the whole dilating/effacing/labor stuff. But I would be so excited if my water broke before my RCS this time. It would be nice to have the baby when he is ready instead of planning it.
My baby has definitely dropped, I'm waddling like crazy and able to eat more than I could 2 weeks ago. Maybe, just maybe.... I could have baby before the scheduled RCS. Not yet! I'm 35 weeks, but Thanksgiving would be perfect timing!!! Lol

Gizmo1231 · November 2016

@yellingbanana I could have written your post myself minus the third pregnancy as I'm on my second. I am praying I go into labor spontaneously just to be able to experience it- even if we end up just getting to the hospital to have a RCS.

DiFazette · November 2016

@yellingbanana and @Gizmo1231 we can start a club! I'll have 3 kids and possibly never have the experience either! I'm quite sure I'll never have a vaginal birth but some of the excitement before the cesarian would be okay!

cjt121413 · November 2016

@yellingbanana @DiFazette @Gizmo1231 add me to the club. I'd be thrilled to go into labor.

Channytee · November 2016

I've been losing my mucous plug for a couple weeks, and baby has seriously dropped in that time too. But I'm having issues with prodromal labor. At first I thought the contractions were just painful BH but my cervix has been dilating and thinning and the contractions are timetable so I was told that it isn't just BH. Always happens around the same times of day (8am - 10am and 4pm- 9pm). It's not fun because I constantly feel like "okay is this it?" Makes me second guess if I really want to have a natural birth too

. The only thing keeping me content with all of this happening is that apparently when you have lots of prodromal labor it better prepared your body and pain threshold for real labor and it tends to make labor go faster. Can't wait for Thursday when I'm 37 weeks and my OB said it's fair game and I can start all the fun tactics to try and kickstart real labor and make all this teasing hopefully end.

maamawaabangi · November 2016

There are two things that signal to me that the end is near...
1. About 2 weeks prior to delivery I start waking up every night with prodromal abor or fairly intense BH for a few hours. They will have a pattern and often keep me up, but not be painful. It will stop by morning and generally just really annoys me. I've learned to totally ignore it or get up and have tea and take a bath and for back to bed. It will wear you out worrying or wondering.
2. About the week prior I generally have lots of energy, nest like crazy and want to go out and do things and have dinner out. Or if I go over due ill feel despairing and a total mess emotionally.

Iv had my water break to start labor, lost mucus plugs, but generally it will start in the early evening for me (like 5 pm) and be mild but then get very noticeable with in an hour or two. Usually my husband realizes I'm in real labor before I do.

Mamax2 · November 2016

Add me to the "never gone into labor club". This is my 2nd, and last, and we've got a scheduled RCS. OB says even if I go into labor on my own, it will still end with a c-section. I hope I at least get to experience some feelings of labor though.

whitneyp26 · November 2016

I remember wanting to experience the labor thing. It's funny how nothing ever works out the way you want... there is no ideal. My water broke the last two times and while it was a little exciting it ended up just being a pain because my body doesn't get any further than that without help. So this time im
hoping I make it to make induction so the process can be planned and I don't start this baby's life dilerious from exhaustion after a 24+ hour ordeal. I don't want to come home feeling like I'm going to die already. I'm hoping for a nice smooth predictable and SHORT experience. Leave my house clean, go in and start the induction early, have a baby by lunch and stay on a regular schedule!

dmontgo · November 2016

Here's a tip so others can learn from my bone head experience:

Thursday I had noticed my pee was smelling sweet. I assumed it was something I ate since that has never happened to me.

Friday I noticed that the sweet smell was not going away. I thought maybe I was leaking amniotic fluid (I'm a n00b and had read that it can smell sweet). I was starting to get worried and reached out to my labor buddy and some others from the Bump to see if they had similar experiences. I let DH know about the sweet smell, but told him I didn't think I was leaking although I wasn't sure.

DH came home and he smelled the sweet scent. Yeah, he smelled the " pee" on the toilet paper... he's a medic so he's smelled worse lol. Anyway, he was taken aback at how sweet it smelled and thought it was very strange since I don't have diabetes or anything like that and my breath smelled normal. He asked me to lie down to rest and went to the bathroom and noticed the smell in there:

We had unknowingly bought SCENTED toilet paper! The package said lavender but smelled like candy!

He switched it back to normal paper, and my pee smelled like pee again. Whew! So before you think you are leaking fluid... make sure that your TP isn't scented lol. I felt so dumb!

In my defense... I did not know that they made scented TP!

SmashJam · November 2016

@dmontgo this is the funniest thing all day. I honestly did NOT KNOW that there was scented TP either! also @DiFazette I am with you on the peeing myself slowly club-last time around I went to the doc at almost 38 weeks thinking my water had broke and it was just pee. SO embarassing, lol.

Also, add me to the list of people who want to experience labor! I'd like to not be induced. In the way of things that happen that make me think it might be it....having to go to the bathroom makes my lower abdomen cramp, and then my back hurt, and I am like, oh shit, contractions....then the having to go to the bathroom gets more obvious and I'm like, nope. Poop labor. that's all. sigh.

sourlemon · November 2016

I had 42 hours of labor with my first...I think that's enough for me. I would like my water to break a few days or so before my RCS is scheduled mainly because I'm just done so a few days early would be nice. but real labor? no thanks.

slartybartfast · November 2016

@dmontgo

whitneyp26 · November 2016

@dmontgo omg that is hilarious! Your pee smells so calming and fresh

mom2fallbabies · November 2016

After doing a 15 hour failed trial of labor with my second, I'll pass, thanks! Although I wanted it at the time, if I could go back in time I'd love to have a repeat of my first experience (scheduled c-section, no labor) - no contractions, no water breaking, relaxed environment, easy peasy spinal - it was so nice! This time I'm hoping for another like my first, though I'm not sure I'll make it - everyone comments daily on how much I've "dropped", I waddle like a serious penguin, the BH are getting crazy, and the backache has been pretty constant for 2 weeks. I'm just hoping to make it to Thanksgiving - 37 weeks is early enough!

aevan011 · November 2016

@dmontgo I needed that story today. DH too. We didn't know they made scented TP either. I have scented trash bags for the bathroom but that's it!

dmontgo · November 2016

@aevan011 I am the FTM guinea pig ( and DH, the official pee sniffer), at your service. I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know scented TP is a thing. At least we can honestly say that our shit don't stink?

Hahahahahaha aaaaand I'm spent.

aevan011 · November 2016

@dmontgo after informing DH that yes, the sweet smell can be an indicator of amniotic fluid, I could see the gears turning as he probably thought "....nobody told me I would have to smell her pee....why me, God?"

DumbledoresArmy · November 2016

This morning I woke up with a decent amount of fluid leaking (not gushing... just leaking slowly) and also lower back cramps that feel like menstrual cramps. Uh oh! I don't think it's amniotic fluid, based on the smell, but I also have no idea what I'm doing. I also had some pretty intense pelvic pressure last night. If this crap continues by the afternoon, a call to the doctor is probably in order...not panicking yet.

cgss11 · November 2016

@DumbledoresArmy, Put a pad on if you haven't yet. I was told to do that, and lay down for like an hour, then get up and assess. I would definitely call later!

I had the fluid issue earlier and it ended up not being fluid (amniotic fluid at least). I didn't have the cramps and pressure though. Good luck!

Kacie209 · November 2016

FTM, and after some on the board had already gone into labor, etc... I started having dreams about my water breaking, or not really knowing what to look for when it does and everything else to look at. Even after our birthing class and the instructor saying that it's not always a gush of water, I'm like... yup! That will be me. I'll have a little bit come out and not realize it. Obviously the pain of contractions should set in, but I do get BH often but probably not often enough for them to count as regular contractions.

My mom was telling me that with my younger sister, she was asleep and woke up to being in massive pain and bleeding. She basically skipped over all the labor stages and was straight into the "this kid is going to come ASAP". It was in the early morning, so she stuffed a bunch of towels down her PJ pants to not bleed all over, threw a winter coat on and they were out the door. She wasn't in labor for very long before my sister came out. So, there is that.

uromys · November 2016

@Kacie209 this is pretty much how I feel things may go this time around. I watch a couple children from home on top of my two so if something happens mid day I'm screwed. As long as it's quick I don't think I mind having to deliver my own baby in the bath tub. I would just prefer not too!

Little mnd has been locked and loaded in my pelvic canal for two weeks now. His movements are decreased and the lower back pressure is getting pretty impressive. I essentially feel like a ticking time bomb for labor to start.

brittnic86 · November 2016

@dmontgo hahaha I

you LB! The things we text each other crack me up sometimes.

So um, back spasms???? Not like solid pain, or cramps. But actually like feels like my back is pulsating in pain? And then it'll stop.....and the start again? I've had several back spasms before...but this morning I've had like 4 since I woke up at 6am....

juliehollz13 · November 2016

Friday night (after putting the Christmas tree up, going shopping for more decorations and doing some cleaning) I was up most of the night with off and on contractions. Saturday and Sunday I had some mild contractions too but sporadically. It seems like every night I wake up to some uncomfortable contractions but they always go away.

pregnantgingerx3 · November 2016

Add me to the "idk what to expect if I go into labor on my own" crowd. My first pregnancy I was induced 6 days late and was only half a centimeter dilated. At my appointment this morning (36 weeks) my doctor checked my cervix and I'm already 50% effaced and a full centimeter dilated. so needless to say, I'm kinda freaking out about not knowing that I go into labor on my own. It doesn't help that my mom is going on a cruise the week before I'm due -- what am I gunna do without my mommy there?!

sourlemon · November 2016

@mamatake2 not to burst your bubble (if you have one) but I've been 60% effaced and 1 then 2cm dilated since my preterm scare at 31 weeks. been having tons on contrax every day and still no noticeable change...in 5 weeks! so...you can be where you're at for weeks...or just a few hours.

labor signs suck y'all.

slartybartfast · November 2016

I also had a preterm labor scare and things have been callllllm the last 2 weeks. I'm ALSO in the camp of didn't have to guess about labor the first time as my water broke first and labor started about 3 hours later. No question.

My midwife said "you'll know" so I'm just rolling with the sea of symptoms until I "know"... whatever that means. But actually, I kinda feel like I do know what it means.

But also I'm continually baffled by pregnancy and childbirth and how, for such a fundamental function for a species, it's SO CONFUSING AND VARIABLE!!!

ea301 · November 2016

So... I just finished childbirth classes and the instructor said that only 10% of women have their water break outside of the hospital. I find that fascinating, if true. It seems like (anecdotally) more than 1 in 10 women I know have had their water break before getting to the hospital, but maybe I'm not keeping track very well.

whitneyp26 · November 2016

You won't necessarily know, but you'll find out... TB ate my post.

What i I was saying...

The first time my water broke it was obvious. The second time it was a small leak and I walked around all day thinking I was just having a lot of discharge. I finally called after a very small
gush when I went to the bathroom. I went in thinking it was pretty 50/50 that it may or may not be. It was... I went home and showered, cooked dinner... never had contractions either time.

tinattt23 · November 2016

@ea301 Interesting. Our class said 25% have their water break before contractions start, which would typically mean not in the hospital. Maybe inductions/scheduled c-sections bring that 25% to 10%?

jandd2014 · November 2016

My mom said she didn't realize she was in labor with me for a couple hours (her whole labor only lasted about 6) because she didn't have any noticeable contractions at first- she was just really restless and couldn't get comfortable in bed or in the recliner. After a couple hours of that, her water broke, so she showered and they went to the hospital. I was born 3 hours later.
So I'm not sure what to think of the "you'll know" saying.

ea301 · November 2016

@tinattt23 I thought it was interesting too! I actually asked in class and the 10% does include c-sections, but she mentioned that many times the nurse or doctor will end up breaking the water after mom arrives at the hospital, which should be when contractions are at least 5 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute.

The stat you mentioned (25% break before contractions start) sounds more reasonable to me to be honest.

kbduke · November 2016

Apparently everyone I know, and even strangers on the street, think I'll go into labor at any minute. I still have 4 weeks to go guys, calm down.

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