When do you think my actual labor will start?

[stretchmark]

I am new to this even though I have 2 kids.
I am 36 weeks today. DD was born at 26 by c/s and Ds was born at 36 weeks by c/s.

I have a unicornuate uterus that supposedly has longer lasting pregnancies each time it happens.

For about 2 weeks now I have had lower crampy things like menstrual cramps. Lots of BH too. My cervix is half effaced and completely soft. I have never been allowed to go to this point before so this is all new.

I know everyones birth and labor happens differently so I am mostly wanting stories of experiences. I don't expect to go full term because of the slightly compromised size of my uterus.

[Funny Face]

I think it's always good to EXPECT to go past your EDD and be PREPARED to go earlier! My friend has been dilated to a 3 and effaced for nearly 3 weeks and she is due in a few days. She lost her mucous plug a few days ago and has been having strong bh since 6 months... still no labor yet!

It's hard to tell. I was completely closed, never dilated or effaced before I went into labor (and had a long-ass labor IMHO 37 hours). I delivered 3 days past my due date and if you'd asked me the day before if I felt like labor was imminent I wouldn't have had a clue!

I'd just be thrilled that I was gonna carry this baby to term after a couple of premies, GL

[JanetF]

As soon as your baby is mature enough to breath on it's own and to suckle, labour will start

[hubris]

Originally Posted by moodyred01

I think it's always good to EXPECT to go past your EDD and be PREPARED to go earlier!

Ditto to that! Set your sights on 41 weeks and then *if* you go into labor earlier than that you can be pleasantly surprised.

My BH contractions picked up in the final weeks, but when I say "final weeks" I think it was a steady increase over the last couple of months, maybe? I didn't find them to be helpful in predicting when labor would start.

You might want to forego cervical checks during the next few weeks, unless they are medically necessary. Generally those checks are for information purposes only, and there's NOTHING to be gained for most women from that information. Some women can have no dilation and no effacement and give birth shortly afterward. Some women can hang out for weeks on end with a partially effaced, partially dilated cervix. Every body is different, every birth can be different. Mostly having that information just tortures women, making them think that they're farther away or closer to their birth date than they might actually be!

For me, the big sign of impending labor was losing my mucous plug. For both of my births, that happened about 2-3 days before the birth.