anticipating labor? signs? intuition?

[magpiedee]

I know that those of us who have not already delivered are anticipating labor-- as soon as possible! And it seems so many of us are having so many different symptoms and feelings. I know that every woman's body is different, and that every baby's pregnancy and delivery are different, but i'm wondering if there is any way to anticipate what to expect for labor?

For example, i've been worrying that I haven't had any unusual mucus and wondering if i'd ever lose my plug. Turns out my mom went into labor with me without ever having a single "product" down there-- no mucus, no plug, no blood streaks, no water breaking, not even Braxton Hicks. Just long labor, water breaking and then me. So now i'm thinking that maybe i'm right on track.

Does anyone have any advice on what to expect, or how your labor was different from other women in your family or from what you'd imagined? I know i'm anxiously looking for signs and portents, but my intuition tells me i'm going to be early, and i'm really looking forward to labor, emotionally and physically. I think it's going to be wonderful!

[Ary99]

Well, I was three days early with DS #1 and I knew I was about to have a baby when my water broke. I had also had signs like mucus, then blood tinges mucus, and then the water breaking. It was all very textbook.

As far as active labor goes, fear is your enemy and you just have to remember it's a natural process. The intensity blew me away. It was just so different than any other feeling I'd ever had in my body.

Yesterday would have been 3 days early for this baby. I have had some mucus and some contractions on and off, but it seems different that last time. It's driving me nuts because I thought I would know what to expect but I feel like I'm clueless.

My sister has had 3 babies and her labor was different with all three. She had her second baby so fast, he almost came in the car. She thought she just had an upset stomach (some diarrhea and cramps).

Worrying hasn't helped me any, and it won't help you, even though it *feels* like you are doing something.

Hang in there. I'm right there with you.

[Meeshi Mama]

With my first, I didn't notice any "signs" at all until the day I went into labor. I woke up the day after my DD and felt like I had some light, off and on gas pains. I had a few loose BM's (sorry TMI?) early in the morning. Around 10am I went to the bathroom and noticed some streaky, greyish clear mucous when I wiped. There wasn't a plug. Later there was a tinge of pink on the t.p. after I went to the bathroom. I realized the "gas pains" were coming and going with a sort of rhythm and decided I was in labor. Kaya was born via c-section the next morning (posterior and acynclitic without any mention of it or suggestions of position changes by anyone)

With this pregnancy, I am a little more in touch with my body and am feeling a change within me that is more emotional. I am noticing a heightened sense of awareness, becoming drawn into the beauty nature happening all around. Becoming super aware of my surroundings...

I've also been having strong, crampy contractions the last two nights and I can feel my cervix changing and Luna lining up.

I can already tell that this birth is going to be very different from my last, and has been so far in many ways. I am just going with it, knowing that it will happen when it will, as it will

[marymamma]

Originally Posted by Ary99

She had her second baby so fast, he almost came in the car. She thought she just had an upset stomach (some diarrhea and cramps).

I keep worrying that that will happen to me this time! I have no idea why this keeps coming to mind, but every time I have a cramp I wonder "Is this it?"

Last time my contractions started in the middle of the night and I had a 17 hour labor. Everyone is saying this labor is going to be a lot faster (midwife too). Maybe that's why I am worrying about not recognizing it! :

[Sailmom]

My last labor was 66 hours long, and she was 2 weeks late. I had a lot of emotional issues going on at the time that I think hindered my progress. This time I am trying to be more go with the flow about the whole experience and not worry about anything. So far some crampy stuff and some clear mucus, but nothing that says it is time yet. My mantra is that I am not going to get crazed about an arbitrary date, just relax - he will come when he is READY!

I just wish it would happen soon, as I have promised myself I won't quit work until this baby comes and I am TIRED!

[gabry]

Last time I had had BH contractions on and off since 25 weeks or so, then one morning my water just broke (at 38+ weeks). No other warning signs, and no real contractions even then. Although I waited to go to the hospital and told them my water broke later than it did, now I wish I'd waited even longer and maybe avoided the pit I got talked into (and accepted readily because of a bigger fear of the threat of a CS after 24 hrs of ROM with GBS+).
This time around the BH have been getting more frequent and stronger over the last week or so, but nothing else yet..

[secretresistance]

I'm having more frequent braxton-hicks', but absolutely nothing else that makes me feel like labor is imminent, or even close. Thursday is our "due" date, but I think it's going to be a while. Today the impatience has kicked in pretty hard I'm sorry to say! I can't focuse on much else it seems. I do suppose that hormonally/emotionally I have gotten a little more intense over the past few days...hmmm. All I know is that I'm keeping tabs on every little twinge. It's worse than waiting for those first kicks!

[ColoradoMama]

Well.....
#1 - 10:30pm on Saturday night I started having "pre-labor" - back pain, crampiness, couldn't sleep, couldn't get comfortable. Took a bath at 3am - had a bloody show around 4:30 (when I finally woke up ds) - went into labor at 8:15am on Sunday.

#2 - Had some goopy discharge on Saturday and my legs were very shaky. Water broke at 1:30am Sunday morning - labor started 25 min later.

#3 - Nothing until labor started at 4:30am on a Friday morning.

#4 - I've had "pre-labor" for three days. Who knows??? Last night I didn't go to sleep until 3am (I'm an insomniac, but even for me 3 was REALLY late). I was crampy, had back pains, couldn't sleep, couldn't get comfortable. Started having crampy but easy contractions at 2:06 - had four and then they stopped. Time will tell I suppose.