Pre Labor Signs!

[Momofplenty]

Total pms-y symptoms. CRAMPS, backache, baby so low I'm pretty sure I could touch him if I didn't have child-size arms (love being short..........................). Cervix is OOOOOPEN. I'm not sure how far I am, but from what I can tell, I'm between a 2-4. Lots of....(TMI ALERT) discharge....

 I'm hoping I get one night of real sleep in before baby comes...as I haven't slept in like..2 months...but hey, I will gladly take being a tired new mama over a good nights sleep and waiting longer....

Hows everyone hanging in there????

[Mizyellow]

How exciting! I am so jealous! How far along are you? How has your discharge changed? I hope it goes quickly and you are holding your sweet baby soon!

[SuburbanHippie]

Awesome!  I'm totally jealous!  My cervix is closed up like Fort Knox.

[artekah]

Oooooh keep us posted!

[wolfmama31]

So exciting!!!!! These babies really do come out right? My due date's next Friday and while my cervix is softening and shortening and effacing it seems to be doing it much more slowly than I'd like. My midwife assures me that cervixes can ripen over night and that I'm very ripe in general and who knows but, ahhhhh!!! Having intermitant floaty back pain, some intense vice-like braxton hicks and have just come through a super moody few days. Babe's firmly planted in my pelvis at -3 and is quite active, like she's got a lot to say before she comes out. I keep asking her when she's coming but I haven't gotten a clear answer yet :) I've been taking 500mg of evening primrose for the last week - the book I'm following says to not double until after your due date but.... What if my cervix needs a little bit of help? It's not open enough for them to sweep membranes yet even though it's shortening and softening.... All that being said, I also feel like I need a few more days. I think my body and Babe must know that. 

[fertilemyrtle]

I lost my mucous plug last night, much to my surprise.   I was 39 weeks exactly yesterday.   I started having light contractions exactly a week ago Tuesday (at 38 weeks exactly) but my midwife keeps cautioning me to prepare to go to 42.   It's my first babe, and my mama always says she went "right on time" with me, so I really have been anticipating going between 40-41 weeks.   

So, what do you think?   I'm curious to hear from people's first experience - how long after you lost your mucous plug did you go into labor?   First time moms that I know didn't have to wait very long after they lost their plug for labor to begin - a few hours to a few days.  So... I'm working frantically today to tie up some loose ends so that if this happens in the next few days, I won't have any niggling thoughts ("Oh, wish I would have done that one last errand...")

[HidaShara]

Originally Posted by fertilemyrtle 

I lost my mucous plug last night, much to my surprise.   I was 39 weeks exactly yesterday.   I started having light contractions exactly a week ago Tuesday (at 38 weeks exactly) but my midwife keeps cautioning me to prepare to go to 42.   It's my first babe, and my mama always says she went "right on time" with me, so I really have been anticipating going between 40-41 weeks.   

So, what do you think?   I'm curious to hear from people's first experience - how long after you lost your mucous plug did you go into labor?   First time moms that I know didn't have to wait very long after they lost their plug for labor to begin - a few hours to a few days.  So... I'm working frantically today to tie up some loose ends so that if this happens in the next few days, I won't have any niggling thoughts ("Oh, wish I would have done that one last errand...")

My mum was induced -> c-section at 42 weeks with me (her first) a million years ago, so she SWORE up and down I'd be late and end up with a c-section too.  Me, I lost my mucus plug 5 days before my due date, and then went into labour the evening before my due date, and delivered 6-7 hours later exactly on my due date!  And honestly, I was out at an outdoor punk concert the day I went into labour - I had NO idea I was ready.  But I guess I was!

Hoping for a little more indication this time around. ;)

[Momofplenty]

Have been CONSTANTLY checking my cervix today and giving updates to hubbby...he's not a fan. Lol   I have noticed a clear change since this morning but I FINALLY got him to check me as well and he has no clue what he's looking for and says "um...1 finger?" But because I couldn't feel him checking, I don't think he really was able to. BUT, either way, I feel change. And I dropped even lower than I was when I got out of bed this morning....

No change in discharge...although it does feel like I had to wipe 10 times after peeing...... *sigh* Wish I could get to the hospital to be checked out but dh is working tonight.

And I lost my plug at 33 weeks....and I'm now 37w5d.... but I lost my plug within days of delivery of my other kiddos.

I'm actually hoping to wait til friday night to labor, as my hubby is working overnight shifts and I have 4 kids to watch over. *crossing fingers*

[greenmama66]

I've never lost a mucous plug as odd as that sounds! I also can't reach my cervix but midwife today told me as things get closer I will be able to reach it so I guess I am still 3 weeks away which is more than fine to me.

[guatemama1]

You experienced moms have so much interesting stuff to share... I feel like I'm just waiting for something to happen but I'm not sure what. Just sitting tight until something falls out or hurts or leaks or ... ? 

[mugglesmom]

Originally Posted by guatemama1 

You experienced moms have so much interesting stuff to share... I feel like I'm just waiting for something to happen but I'm not sure what. Just sitting tight until something falls out or hurts or leaks or ... ? 

That's exactly how I feel!  I have no idea what to look for.  I keep thinking I'm going to go into labor and not even know it until I'm pushing.  Yeah I know that's ridiculous...

[HidaShara]

Originally Posted by mugglesmom 

That's exactly how I feel!  I have no idea what to look for.  I keep thinking I'm going to go into labor and not even know it until I'm pushing.  Yeah I know that's ridiculous...

It's not so ridiculous!  I remember with my first wondering, "How will I know when I'm in labour?" and experienced mums would look at me like I was crazy and say, "Oh, YOU'LL KNOW."  Well, when labour finally started it was so mild, and frankly so like all the aches and pains I was already experiencing, I was like, "Well, this can't be labour.  I don't KNOW."  I sent DH off to class and phoned my parents to ask if I could come over for dinner.  I was feeling strange enough, though, that we decided to swing by the hospital just to ask a couple questions on the way to my parent's house.  The L&D people were practically rolling their eyes at me but hooked me up to a contraction monitor anyway and had the OB take a look - sure enough I was 5cm dilated and contracting regularly.  EVERYONE was surprised, myself included!  The baby was born 6h later.

But in the end, you know, I guess some part of me suspected enough to suggest the hospital detour, so maybe I *did* "KNOW" after all?  In any case it's not like I missed a sign and the baby failed to arrive, lol. :D

[DrBrockBaca]

My mucus plug came out this morning! I'm 37 weeks today. I've also been having a decent number of BH contractions, and an acne flare-up. So maybe my hormones are kicking in and getting ready! I'm kind of hoping my baby comes fairly soon - my midwife said I'm measuring on the high end of normal for the height of the uterus, and women in my family tend to have really large babies. I wouldn't be upset if mine decided to come out before it grew too big!

[Momofplenty]

!!! Is Acne a prelabor thing too?! Holy cow you should see my face! I've had PERFECT skin for YEARS...like..maybe 3 pimples for the last 13 years total...and now I've got a good 5 going... Didnt have that with any other baby, but I've been induced in some way or another with 3 out of the 4 babies Ive delivered

[~Katie~]

Acne breakouts have always happened to me around the time I give birth. I will literally break out in pimples during labor, and then afterward as well.

[wolfmama31]

Um, can I make a leap from acne to poo? How about incessant going of #2 as a pre-labor sign? For the last week-ish every time I eat something something comes out the other end. It's not going straight through me or anything but is as if my body is trying to stay really clean and empty. It's also been smellier... (sorry, gross!) but I wonder if I really am cleansing stuff in preparation? I'm 39 weeks tomo and have tons of BH when I'm walking. She dropped about a month ago and I read that with first time moms labor often starts 2-4 weeks after the drop - that would put us at this weekend! But other than the poo thing and being particularly roller coastery with my emotions I feel pretty normal. Just gigantic. On Tuesday, my cervix was still posterior and not open enough to sweep membranes, though it is softening, shortening and beginning to efface. 

It is so strange to be a first-timer and not know what you're waiting for but that it's inevitable that something huge is going happen in the next couple weeks. I keep watching my dogs and seeing how they react to me, thinking they'll know before I do. Then I think, well, I haven't gotten through that stack of papers on my desk and she knows that so I better get it done so she can come. Or, she'll wait until we've turned the hot water heater up and given a trial run of the birth tub. Or she'll come before Wednesday because that's when my mom's coming and she's not invited to the actual birth but is coming to be post-partum support and it would save awkwardness if the babe was out already. And on and on and on and on..........

[blessedmama59]

I have been having lots of BHs and real contractions..as well as a big increase in discharge and lots of cramps. She dropped a little over a week ago. I've been really restless, but super tired at the same time. I've also noticed that my body is "cleansing/emptying" itself lol The same thing happened with DD1, so I know I am in the home stretch. I'll be 37 weeks tomorrow and my labor with DD1 began at 38+3. It is so surreal that we are all SO close! Not to mention the few ladies who already have their babes here. I'm going to miss being pregnant.

[guatemama1]

Does everyone get Braxon Hicks? I'm 38w3d w/ #1 and don't think I've felt BH. Will they eventually come?

[SuburbanHippie]

Originally Posted by guatemama1 

Does everyone get Braxon Hicks? I'm 38w3d w/ #1 and don't think I've felt BH. Will they eventually come?

It took me until my 3rd pregnancy to figure out what BH felt like.    I only realized it when I saw them on the monitor for an NST.  I bet you're having them and not even knowing it. 

[Momofplenty]

AH!!! I cant say I feel the same on this one...this is #5...in 7 years... I'm SOOOO over being pregnant for the rest of my long long life....

Originally Posted by blessedmama59 

 I'm going to miss being pregnant.