preliminary signs of labor/ milestones « Back to Group Discussions

[mrsavery]

So, today was a pretty big day: I'm pretty sure my baby, who was breech until earlier this week, dropped down into my pelvis. I can BREATHE and EAT! Also, this morning, I'm pretty sure I lost my mucus plug. I am 34 weeks 6 days. I'm wondering if that is a reflection of how much time I have left- am I really going to go another 5 or 6 weeks? Anyone else have any exciting action going on?

[1babysmom]

I am definitely having some...but things are happening right "on schedule" for me at 34 weeks (same with the last 3 babies) and I've gone to 40 weeks with each of them (castor oil/induced) so I don't count on it meaning anything early for me.  BUT, definitely 2cm dilated (externally I'm a stretchy 3 or so), slowly effacing, baby's head is well applied (though s/he is still floating most of the time) and s/he is currently ROA.  What IS different for me this time is I've had some very noticeable cramps and contractions, and usually I just have my regular ol' BH like normal.  So we'll see, I suppose!  

I LOVE this time of anticipation!  I love gauging all the changes and watching my body prepare for this awesome event.  Just wish I didn't have to wait so long for it to actually happen. LOL

[MountainMama15]

I think I am definitely ripening. Only 33w4d but feeling increasing pressure from my LOA boy. I also am experiencing new signs that I don't recall from my earlier pregnancies, more than ten years ago. BH requiring concentration and stillness plus cervical "tickling" if I attempt to walk. Oi!

I am doing this pregnancy without internal exams, although I am dying to know progress anyway. Leastwise, I am not worried about preterm anything.

[TIFF4NY]

I have moments where I wonder if that particular twinge or pain is doing something to ripen me but then I just chalk it up to regular old pregnancy. I have no idea what's going on in there, though I'd like to know! 

I've heard that you can lose your mucus plug at any point but it can regenerate so it's really not a solid sign of anything. I've had nothing of the sort with that so far though I'm back to looking at the tp every time I wipe. 

I haven't even really been noticing many BH's lately. Just a lot of very sharp, gasp-inducing movements from the baby. 

That reminds me that I wanted to get my hospital bag packed!

[BeanBean06]

I've been having bad back and hip pain today... At first I thought maybe I just over did it yesterday... But... This back pain is awfully reminiscent of all the back pain I had at 16-18 weeks when my cervix was shortening! Here's to hoping come Tuesday I've made some progress

[MountainMama15]

Good luck, BeanBean! That does sound encouraging!

[TIFF4NY]

I've had a few random instances today of period-like radiating cramping pain. A lot like what I experienced a few weeks ago. It's gone away for the time being now but I hope it did a little something. I was just talking to DH about how I needed to pack my hospital bag before this happened. Then after it happened I checked my e-mail and I had a pregnancy e-mail suggesting it's a good idea to pack it now... LOL. I guess I should get that figured out. 

[camprunner]

Last night I felt "head butts" about once every8-10 minutes for about an hour and a half.  There did seem to be some peaking in the pain. I've learned that anything timeable should never be ignored at the end of pregnancy so after some research, it seems that braxton hicks can cause the headbutts.  Today, it appears that she has wiggled her way down in the pelvis just a bit. 

[expat-mama]

Wow exciting stuff going on! 

I think this girl has turned from breech to head down too! Yey! I'm feeling hiccups all the time by my left hip so that's a pretty good sign and when I do yoga these days I feel a big bum under my ribs instead of hands and feet wiggling around. She does still twirl from facing anterior to posterior. But it looks like all the pelvic tilts, crazy inversions and hands and knees positions have helped. It's a big relief.

I'm feeling tons of pressure too- really have to pay attention to not sitting or standing too long because of the varicose stuff going on in my vulvar area (I know, it's awful...) but DH has been giving me awesome leg massages every night and that along with increased yoga and stretching has really, really helped.

Here's to getting closer! 

[BeanBean06]

I had a major Anxiety attack last night... Woke up in full blown "OMG IM GONNA DIE" panic at. Midnight. It was so bad and lasted so long that my DH and I had to go outside and walk around the neighborhood at 2am, I just had to move... I didn't get calmed down and back to sleep til 3am... I have always had anxiety but it hasn't been very bad this pregnancy (this was only the 3rd attack the whole pregnancy and the last one was 3 months ago.) anyway, my DH thinks it means she's coming soon... Idk abt that but I know I'm def way more anxious now than I have been the last few days...

[camprunner]

Originally Posted by BeanBean06 

I had a major Anxiety attack last night... Woke up in full blown "OMG IM GONNA DIE" panic at. Midnight. It was so bad and lasted so long that my DH and I had to go outside and walk around the neighborhood at 2am, I just had to move... I didn't get calmed down and back to sleep til 3am... I have always had anxiety but it hasn't been very bad this pregnancy (this was only the 3rd attack the whole pregnancy and the last one was 3 months ago.) anyway, my DH thinks it means she's coming soon... Idk abt that but I know I'm def way more anxious now than I have been the last few days...

I usually have the ONLY during pregnancy.  Usually starting at about 10 weeks and going to about 30. I've been blessed this time that it's only been some fairly mild anxiety attacks.

[jessmn]

oooo this is a good thread. What are signs of impending labor?

I've noticed my belly has gotten REALLY heavy, so I don't know if that's just the weight of the babies increasing or if they've dropped.
 

[Greenlea]

I have a lot of pressure and definitely waddling around...but I feel baby is still breech at this point. I'll know more Sat. as I have a midwife appt. so maybe they can tell the position.

I was just checked last week and no change in cervix or dilation. I'm 33 weeks 2 days so still some time to go.

Not much else going on other than that unfortunately...or really fortunately as baby is probably not ready to come out at 33 weeks. I'm hoping for 37 weeks maybe...keeping my fingers crossed.

[brooklyn_warbler]

Originally Posted by jessmn 

oooo this is a good thread. What are signs of impending labor?

I've noticed my belly has gotten REALLY heavy, so I don't know if that's just the weight of the babies increasing or if they've dropped.
 

It looks like they have dropped a bit on the belly pic thread!

[brooklyn_warbler]

In the past few days I'm started having some cramping, paired with sharp cervical pain that is pretty startling.  It's kind of weird because this is my pregnancy with the *least* Braxton-Hicks so far.  With my son I started having lots of prodromal labor and pressure at 34w, and went to 39-4, so I don't necessarily think practice contractions tell you much beyond that your uterus is doing its job, but the cramping is new for me.  Who knows.  I don't feel labor is impeding.  I'm 36w3d.  Happily, though, my midwife is happy delivering at home now.

[TIFF4NY]

I think I already mentioned this somewhere, but I was having the radiating period-like cramping pain again yesterday for a bit. This time I didn't freak out and welcomed it a bit. Then it stopped so I knew I was fine. I also get the sharp cervix pains and feel what I hope it the babies head down low on occasion, though I think she still floats up a bit. I can tell she keeps turning from side to side based on what side I get my kicks on but I feel like she should be head down based on the kinds of kicks I'm feeling up high. Also, just today my boobs finally turned on, LOL. I had been wondering when I would start getting the twinges with them and had been having no leakage and today they both have had the jolts and stabbing pains so I think they are revving up.

My OB wants to check me this Friday at my 36 week appt and I'm actually curious enough that I think I might allow it. It will be my first check so far... I kind of hope I go in March, but fully anticipate waiting until mid-April. I can't believe how close we're all getting!

[Munchkin08]

I am feeling sharp pain in my cervix. Why - dialation? Also, is it normal to not feel BH?

[TIFF4NY]

I have no idea if it's because of dilation or not. It could just be the way the baby is sitting or something. 

I had a period of time where I would have obvious BH but I haven't noticed them in a looong time now. I was just thinking about that yesterday. I wonder if I'm still having them and not noticing. It's all hard to tell.

[BeanBean06]

Idk about the cervical pain... I haven't had any since my cerclage was removed. But as far as the BH, I wonder too if I am having more than I am noticing, sometimes it's hard to tell if its a BH or her making a big rolling movement. Lol

[1babysmom]

I get those sharp shooting (almost pinching) pains in my cervix, and I definitey associate it with dilation because I have checked on nights after I have felt it during the day and I hve progressed more. Doesn't mean it is what is causing it, but it makes sense to me. It FEELS like tissue splitting and stretching.