The day(s) before labor began for you?

[webjefita]

If it's not your first, what do you remember the day(s) before your labor began being like?

I went back and read my last two pg journals, and found both times I had a major burst of energy on the day before I went into labor (both times I started having contractions about midnight). The first time, I cleaned all day because my mom and my sister were coming to stay with me. It was 10 days before my EDD. That evening I wanted to walk. I told my husband I wanted to put on my tennis shoes (not something I normally wear) and go to Target and walk--not shop, not get a cart, just walk! (Something I would never do at Target, lol!) Baby was born next morning after laboring all night.

The second time, I spent all day organizing. I ran out of ideas so when I was talking to a friend she suggested I organize and label the pantry, so I did! When I finished that, DH was home from work, so I went upstairs to sew. I had been making lots of newborn diapers but they still needed closures, extra soakers, etc. I finished them all up in about two hours, and by that time was having noticeable "real" contractions. The diapers were put to use the next day! He was born 16 days before my EDD.

How about you? What signs are you looking for that labor is imminent?

[MI_Dawn]

Probably falls into the TMI category, but... I'll start getting zits again about 2 weeks before I go into labor. My skin stays clear for the whole pg for the most part, until those last two weeks, adn then it's almost like a period is coming. It's weird. And the day I go into labor (or the day before) I'll have bad diarrhea, (I told you it was TMI! lol) that clears me out entirely. Happens every time. I never have to worry about pushing anything but the baby out, anyway...

As for nesting, too hard to tell. I've been "nesting" (i.e. planning, cleaning, etc) for months. So no way to know if it's attached to imminent labor.

[Murph12334]

not a single sign for me, I went to work like normal few days leading up. Actually the day i had her, I went to work, came home and just got done watching american idol when my water broke

[Fridaxsky]

I was nesting/organizing for a few weeks before DD arrived at 33 weeks. The last few days, I felt even more of a push to have everything done and ready. I also started to feel like being home all the time, not wanting to go anywhere.

The night before I went into labor, my sister was visiting. Even though I was still 7 weeks away from my due date (and even after losing her twin, the OBs all said I would likely go full-term), I told her I felt like I was going to have the baby soon - just had a strong feeling. Sure enough, the next morning my water broke and DD arrive the next day.

I'm just now getting that urge to start nesting and organizing so I'm pretty sure this little guy is going to stay put for a while yet!

[MissyLissa]

I had an exam where I found out I was dilated 3 cms and 50% effaced. I started losing little pieces of my mucous plug that afternoon. Two days later I had a little bit of spotting and started having what felt like BH about 10 minutes apart. We had a pretty good feeling the baby was coming soon and since we weren't prepared for him to come yet we spent most of the day running errands and buying last minute items. (Oh and pre-registering at the hospital and taking the tour! lol) Each time we were out and about that day my ctxs got pretty close together and got more painful as the day progressed. The next morning started out pretty much the same but then my water broke! What's interesting though is that I cleared my schedule of all responsibilities the week before he came without any good reason. I told my voice student we were done with lessons until after the baby was born, I quit teaching my class at church, and I quit work (last day was the day after that exam where I found out I was 3 cms) early even though I had been planning on working until I gave birth/due date, whichever came first. He was born at 35 wks, 6 days so it's not like I expected the baby to come soon and needed to quit all those things right away.

[webjefita]

I'll have bad diarrhea,

That is a good thing to remember, I think I've had similar both times!

He was born at 35 wks, 6 days so it's not like I expected the baby to come soon and needed to quit all those things right away.

That is interesting, somehow you "knew" anyway!

[Sasharna]

I didn't have any sure signs at all until the first strong contractions began. I'd lost my mucus plug in one big clump several days prior, but other than that I felt completely normal. I didn't even start getting that loose stool people talk about until hours after I arrived at the hospital.

[Azreial]

my signs all started a couple of weeks before birth (except for the twins but they were early) nothing right before. Every time I knew with in the 1st 30-60minutes that this was it, not "it may be it" like I thought with my "practice runs"

[acp]

I didn't have any particular signs. I was 4 days past my due date, and had been really impatient, but was just starting (that day, really) to get into a zen, it'll-happen-when-it-happens state, and not expecting anything very imminent. In fact, I had just made plans for the next day, and went on a 20-mile bike ride with my mom along Lake Michigan (I rented an upright cruiser bike) that afternoon. Then that evening I was about to go to bed when my water broke and I went into labor a few hours later.

So I don't know what to look for this time (except maybe to try a bike ride again if I start going really past due.... )

[MI_Dawn]

Originally Posted by acp

went on a 20-mile bike ride with my mom along Lake Michigan...

So I don't know what to look for this time (except maybe to try a bike ride again if I start going really past due.... )

Uh yeah. That might have been what pushed you over the edge there!

[nancy11]

I'm gonna go rent a bike now. BRB

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by nancy11

I'm gonna go rent a bike now. BRB

Yours has to cook longer!! Don't kick the peanut out for 3 more weeks!

[MissyLissa]

Originally Posted by nancy11

I'm gonna go rent a bike now. BRB

LOL!! I know this woman whose mother rode a bike to the hospital when she was in labor with her because her dad didn't believe his wife was really in labor!! He refused to come pick her up (he was/is a doctor) and told her there was no possible way she could be in labor yet. If I remember the story correctly, once she got to the hospital she was fully dilated and ready to push! I can NOT imagine riding a bike through transition like that!!

[wobblykate]

Originally Posted by MissyLissa

LOL!! I know this woman whose mother rode a bike to the hospital when she was in labor with her because her dad didn't believe his wife was really in labor!! He refused to come pick her up (he was/is a doctor) and told her there was no possible way she could be in labor yet. If I remember the story correctly, once she got to the hospital she was fully dilated and ready to push! I can NOT imagine riding a bike through transition like that!!

Wow. That's grounds for divorce, if I've ever heard any.

[nancy11]

Originally Posted by missylissa

lol!! I know this woman whose mother rode a bike to the hospital when she was in labor with her because her dad didn't believe his wife was really in labor!! He refused to come pick her up (he was/is a doctor) and told her there was no possible way she could be in labor yet. if i remember the story correctly, once she got to the hospital she was fully dilated and ready to push! I can not imagine riding a bike through transition like that!!

denial

[inky leeuhhh]

i dont remember anything happening at all that made me think labor was coming with dd1. the only things i remember were this huge, strange movement in my belly the night my water broke (it broke at midnight exactly)- i guess maybe that was the baby moving down? it was really strange. i also remember thinking the afternoon before i went into labor that i had no idea how i would make it through the last two weeks till my due date, or possibly longer! i was just thinking "i am DONE". luckily, i really was done. lol.

oh, and tmi, but i had the diarrhea issue too. i remember being glad i wouldn't have to worry about birthing a poo along with the baby. while i was actually pushing though, i couldn't have cared less about anything coming out BUT the baby. i get the runs whenever im nervous or excited (again, tmi sorry), so im sure as soon as i recognize labor this time around ill have the same issue.

[KnitLady]

I had soft stools in the weeks leading up to labor. I lost my mucus plug about a week before labor. I also had a lot of BH's that were continually getting stronger as the days passed. In fact it took me awhile to know I was in labor because I was ignoring the contractions thinking they were Braxton Hicks and would go away.

The lesson I learned is to go to bed early every night from now until baby comes. I stayed up WAY too late watching a DVD with DH the night I went into labor. I started out exhausted and went on to labor for 23 hours. Not a great idea!

[Peony]

Absolutely no signs with the last two kiddos.


Though I swear DD2 came out from spite. We had remodeled a house during her pg, and the very last thing to do was to replace a outside door, it was late Oct in CO so winter was setting in and it had to done. DH kept pestering me as to when was baby going to come, I finally got peeved and told him under no circumstance was I birthing that baby until that door was replaced. He finished it late Sunday night, I woke up with contractions 4am on Monday. I just had to wake him up with a "I told you so."

[Sasharna]

Originally Posted by KnitLady

The lesson I learned is to go to bed early every night from now until baby comes. I stayed up WAY too late watching a DVD with DH the night I went into labor. I started out exhausted and went on to labor for 23 hours. Not a great idea!

Isn't that the truth! I'm trying to get as much rest as possible now, too. When DS1 was born I already had accumulated quite a bit of sleep debt. By day 3 of his life, I was a zombie.

[MelW]

I posted this on MDC the day before she was born (water broke just before midnight that night, and labour and birth was the next day):



My husband has been predicting today as "the day" since the very beginning, and I told him we could name the baby spooky if it was born on hallowe'en. But that is not likely happening, unless I have a really fast stealth attack labour that starts soon.

I'm 39 weeks and no signs of it happening any time soon. I have lots of braxton-hicks, but baby hasn't dropped yet, no mucous plug or anything. Baby keeps changing position, too- after being mostly ROP or ROT for ages, it's been turning all around over the past couple days. Last night I had some strange pelvic pain, but I think it was baby grinding around trying to find a good position. We were watching a movie, and I spent half of the time in hands and knees leaning over the exercise ball trying to help adjust the pressure I was feeling.

I felt pretty miserable with back pain and like there was no way I could take another 5 or more weeks when I was at 35ish weeks, but that I actually feel much better now than I did then. Partly because it seems closer, but also because my body actually feels better (I have no idea why). I haven't even cried in over a week and a half- when before I would cry for any crazy reason (like what to wear, when to sleep, what to eat, because I dropped something, etc.).

In other dream news, last night I dreamt that my pregnant belly was very, very hairy (hairier than my husbands- kind of ape-like). I noticed it in the mirror, and was totally disgusted and angry that nobody had told me how hairy it was. I couldn't believe that I'd been swimming at the pool in a bikini with such a hairy belly. I wanted to shave it, but was worried about ingrown hairs being really uncomfortable or irritating during labour, so I settled for trimming the hair short with scissors instead. Analysis anyone?