How long did your body 'prepare' for the birth of your 2nd child?

[Aka mommy]

I feel like i have been in predomal or latent labor for ever and a day now. Though technically it's only been about a week or so. I hear this is totally normal for 2nd timers and am wondering how long ya'll went through it before you actually delivered? I have heard and read that our bodies tend to do some of the work before hand and that's why the labors are shorter. I feel like this weekend is the time, but dont want to get excited for nothing! This morning my waves actually became painful, but are managable as long as im up and moving & yesterday i lost more of my mucous plug. So we will see if they will peter off like last week or build up!

[indie]

It seemed like forever. Almost 2 weeks.

[Worldshakerz]

Oh gosh it seemed like forever for me. Like 2 maybe even 3 weeks!

[aishy]

my second, just a day. my third a couple days. this one ? FOREVER . i've had some consistant every 8 minute contractions the past couple of hours, hoping they get closer/more intense!

aisling

[kiwimutti]

definatly 10 days or so for me...I even made my midwife check my cervix about day 5 (overdue) because of all the strong contrax. and was at a "tight 5 cm"... :LOL then no contractions for a day or so...then I made my midwife check again and I was a "3" ...I know, only numbers that dont even really mean a thing...but I am so impatient and like to get some "definite answers"...
sounds really silly now, (you all will be thinking im crazy...) so I pretty much resigned myself to pregnancy for ever...

then about 10 or 11 days "overdue" my waters broke...and I was thinking "no way, now I will have to walk around for ever with no bladder control on top of it all"... :LOL after all that I just couldnt quite believe this was actually it ...it was though

blessings for a wonderful birth mama

[mamas2atti]

Yikes! I'm getting worried. Ds#2 is due October 24th and against my better judgement I went ahead and had my midwife check me yesterday (at 37 weeks, 4 days). NO dilation and baby is still floating! Cervix "nice and thick still." She tells me a "few more weeks at least" with a sweet smile.

I have been having very mild bh's for a month now and thought for sure they would have at least done something! But nada. I guess lots of sex and walking for now, and in two more weeks, bring on the pulsitilla and cohosh!

I can't wait!

[Aka mommy]

mamas2atti: I am so sorry that you are worried! That totally bites, you think it would be doing something. Though i am extremely glad i decided not to get checked at my 37 week appointment. I was going to then just said 'Well if im not dilated i'll just get bummed and if i am dilated, i could still walk around for weeks without going into labor' so im glad i listened to my gut on this one! Of course being tight and high could change at a drop of a hat for you and as i remind myself, is no indicator as to how far off labor is. (((hugs)))

Seems like im not the only one who feels like my body is taking forever lol! Thanks for the reassurance that all is well and my body is doing what it is suppose to!

Aishy, I hope that you get more regularity, sending birth vibes your way (as long as you dont mind sharing 'em lol)

[lovnbnhome]

For my 2nd I was in labor for 12 hours. I never had predomal labor that lasts weeks. I haven't even for this one (my 3rd)...who knows though it could happen. Seriously though I had not heard of contractions lasting weeks before being in this DDC .