I wish there was a clear sign- UPDATE- she's here!!

[caseykn]

So I've been having pressure that's stronger than regular braxton hicks since last night, but nothing at all regular.  Then just now I had some bloody show and I'm feeling crampy.  With DD1, I had no warning that my birthing time was going to start until I started having regular contractions one night and that was that.  I had no doubt about what was happening.  This is different and I'm just not sure if it means anything yet.  I have to go get DD from preschool in an hour and now I'm nervous.  What if I'm in labor in an hour?  Should I really be driving?  Should I make DH come home from work?  But it could be all for nothing.  I wish I just *knew*!

***So I should have known!  Carys Aine Moss was born only 4 hours after I wasn't even sure I was in labor. :)  I had really irregular contractions, didn't realize I was in transition until a little later I felt pushy.  I really thought I was going to have the baby by myself but then the midwife came in just minutes before she was born.  All in all, it was a crazy ride but so perfect and relatively easy!!  She's 8lbs 2oz and so perfect.  I am absolutely loving being home and not in a hospital like my last birth.  It's such a wonderful experience!!

Edited by caseykn - 11/16/10 at 8:21pm

[my kidlets and me]

I hear you!  But in my experience, if you're not sure, then you're not really in labour!  I wish I could tell you when things would start, though - it would suck to start labour when you're stuck in traffic.  Good luck!

[macly]

I hear you as well!  I'm on day three of non-stop prodromal labor, everyday the contractions are getting stronger.  I'm 40 weeks tomorrow.  With DS I had two days or non-stop prodromal, then had him the day before his due date.  Clearly I'm getting closer, and with him I did know when it was the actual start of labor.  Of course three days of this has me wondering again, especially since I'm pretty sure everything is stronger this time around.  I just keep reminding myself that I will know.

Good luck mama!  I hope this is it for you, but of course not until after you're safely home from the trip out!

[mitintraining]

I feel the same way.  I also know that even through transition I was doubting that I was truly in labor and I am contemplating calling my husband home today too.  I am cramping, having bloody show and a back ache.  I have super short labors so I am always concerned I will end up alone with the kids!  The little ones are not the best labor partners, they get so clingy!  I am hoping things take off for us both girl!!!

[Lisalee2]

Congratulations Mama!!!!!

[my kidlets and me]

Congratulations, Casey!  I hope for a labour like yours!  Enjoy your baby girl...

[MamaFern]

YAY!!  congrats mama!!

[Frisbee]

Congrats casey!  I haven't posted my birth story yet, but it was so similar to yours - after about 10 hours of being unsure of whether I was really in labor or not, I suddenly realized I was almost in transition and had the baby about 2 hours later!!  Way different than DD's birth.  Hope you're enjoying your babymoon!

[Stitches]

Congrats!  I went from the piddly early labour into full on transition really fast too, it's a wild ride.  I was thinking, 'what? already? lol.  Glad it all went so well for you!

[3 little birds]

Congratulations!  That sounds like a lovely labor and birth, enjoy your sweet girl!

[Ellen Griswold]

Congratulations!

[birthdancedoula]

Yay!!  Welcome sweet Carys and congrats, mama!!

Sounds like you had a great, albeit fast, birth experience!  And I gotta agree...homebirth rocks!

[Metasequoia]

Congratulations Casey! What a beautiful name! Can't wait for pics!

[MisaGoat]

Congratulations! Glad everything went well for you and you enjoyed the birth!

[Yuba_River]

Wow! Congratulations!

[Metasequoia]

Hey Casey, when you get a chance (haha!) could you give us a time of birth? We had A LOT of babies on 11/16 and one was very close to yours. Just trying to get them in the right order.

[caseykn]

Carys was born at 2:34 pm.  Looking back it's hard to imagine that even as late as 2:15 I still had no idea she'd be born so soon!  I'm glad we planned a homebirth because that's what we would have had anyway. :)

[FarrenSquare]

Congratulations on your beautiful baby girl!! I love her name, in my mind it flows so beautifully, but am I pronouncing it right? Is it Cair-iss Ayne ?