What's more common with subsequent babies- spontaneous labor or SOME degree of prodromal labor?

[1babysmom]

Just curious what seems to be more common among subsequent labors (specifically number 3? )...do the majority of women seem to have SOME degree of prodromal labor beforehand, or is it really common to just suddenly go into labor? With DD1 I never had more than BH prior to labor, but with DD2 for about 3 weeks prior to her birth I would have nights (like every to every other night) of regular, semi-painful contractions (not BH, basically) for several hours or so. I guess with this one I have just been assuming I'll likely experience something similar- at least in the sense that I figure I'll definitely have numerous bouts of contractions beforehand. But maybe I'm way off? I mean, I know every labor is different and only time will tell, but it never occurred to me until to day that maybe I *could* just randomly go into labor without any degree of prodromal labor first? Anyways, so I figured I'd turn to trusty MDC and see what everyone else's experiences have been.

[emnic77]

With both my kids (1st was 10 days past dates, and 2nd was 8 days past dates) I had had false starts and stops for 3-7 days before real labor started. Not true prodomal, but definitely not out of the blue.

[Hedgehog Mtn]

I never had it with babies 1-4 but I had it almost daily with this one for about 8 weeks.

[MamaMelis]

I never had so much as regular BH's or a single contrax with #1. with #2 I had clear start and stop regular contrax several times before real labor.

I'm pregnant now with #3 so, like you, rather expect it to be more like #2 was. I guess we will see come may

[Storm Bride]

I'm not sure how much help mine are, because they were all c-sections, but mine went as follows:

DS1: No prodromal labour at all.
DD1: No prodromal labour (ended up scheduling at 39w, 2d, which I feel was much too early).
DS2: Mild prodromal labour for about two weeks. Scheduled section at 41w, 3d, but did go into labour the night before.
DS3: Twelve days of intense prodromal labour.
DD2: I honestly don't recall any prodromal labour, but I did go into labour about an hour before going to the hospital. It may have been prodromal - no idea, as I had the section so quickly. I may well have had contractions that would have been felt by someone with anything resembling normal pelvic sensation.

So, basically - I definitely had prodromal with my third and fourth babies. I may or may not have had it with my fifth. I probably had my second cut from me too soon to know one way or the other (my babies with dh seem to go "overdue").

[notjustmamie]

I never had so much as regular BH's or a single contrax with #1. with #2 I had clear start and stop regular contrax several times before real labor.

[cicely_m]

So far, my second is "progressing" (or not, I sometimes feel) just like my first-- over a week of false starts.

[MsBlack]

Yes, 'labor by installments' is definitely more common after the 1st baby--and for many women, gets more lengthy and frequent with each subsequent baby.

But no need to think of it as 'false labor'. It's definitely getting you and baby ready, it's most always getting some of the work done in advance! At least a good amount of cervical effacement, often some dilating, too.