Can someone walk me through what the beginning of labor might feel like?

[jkg]

OK...other than water breaking or very obvious contractions, what does the beginning of labor feel like? I mentioned in a previous thread that I was induced with my first baby, so I went from nothing at all to very painful contractions. I've read up on others' birth stories and have an idea how it might begin, but I'm so afraid I'll miss the signs. Does anyone feel like sharing how you knew you were in labor? Thanks!

[Full Heart]

Well for me I don't realize I am in early labor till the active part hits and then I go, Oh gee Guess I was in labor lol. Unless you have a long drive or one of your support people have a long drive you probably don't need to worry about recognizing early labor. Besides getting all worked up anxious and excited can actually delay contractions. Sometimes there is no early labor too, just WHAM and you're in active labor.

But for what its worth, I usually have no appetite. My mind is elsewhere (I am usually not the one to notice this). The last two times I had a migraine. My contractions are usually totally painless till active labor, then they have a zing to them. Low down. If I am sleeping and wake up from a contraction it kinda shakes me. Sometime your thighs will ache or feel hot. It can be so different, every pg, every woman. Everyone always asks me, So you think it will be today? I never have any idea. Except last time. I just either feel a hard contraction or my water breaks.

[Wild Flowers]

I was also induced the first time around. I am not sure how long I was in the first part of slow labor. But that night about an hour before active labor started, I wasn't hungry, just had a smoothie. I was getting regular contractions, but I had been getting them for 3 days before, they always stopped at night. But looking back, other things I can think of that should have tipped me off
Not being hungry
starting to lean over or hang during the contractions, they weren't painful, but I felt the need to do SOMETHING during them.
Not being able to lay down. If I did, they did HURT
But other than those things, I never lost my mucous plug, never had my water break. So I didn't really think it was going to happen then.

[Yummymummy74]

Originally Posted by Full Heart

Well for me I don't realize I am in early labor till the active part hits and then I go, Oh gee Guess I was in labor lol. Unless you have a long drive or one of your support people have a long drive you probably don't need to worry about recognizing early labor. Besides getting all worked up anxious and excited can actually delay contractions. Sometimes there is no early labor too, just WHAM and you're in active labor.

But for what its worth, I usually have no appetite. My mind is elsewhere (I am usually not the one to notice this). The last two times I had a migraine. My contractions are usually totally painless till active labor, then they have a zing to them. Low down. If I am sleeping and wake up from a contraction it kinda shakes me. Sometime your thighs will ache or feel hot. It can be so different, every pg, every woman. Everyone always asks me, So you think it will be today? I never have any idea. Except last time. I just either feel a hard contraction or my water breaks.

Everything fullheart said.
However I think her and I have had several kids it may be different the more pregnancies you have.. but definately the no appetite and migraine thing!!!

[coobabysmom]

sorry not in your due date...

My labor started with a lower back ache and menstrual-like cramps. It took me a while to "get" what was happening and looking back I should have tried to rest during this early, minor stuff.

Happy birthing to you!

[lunabelly]

I had menstrual-like cramps in my lower abdomen and thighs, and I lost my mucus plug the day-of. I know a lot of women lose it weeks ahead of time. Oh, and I nested like a mad woman.

[MrsTC]

Early labor was not a lot different from bh...looking back (like others have said) having not then continued on to active labor, I wouldn't have known it was the real thing.

I have a handout from my birth center that says things like...real or active labor will be felt mostly down low and in your back where early labor is more on the front and up high on your uterus. Active labor is also when you change position and it brings on another contraction, when you can't make them go away with a glass of wine or a warm bath.

I sat eating a sandwich and watching tv after Cleaning The Hell Out Of Our Truck that morning (er...nesting? the only thing I hadn't perhaps already cleaned the hell out of?) and noticed that I was having contractions...and then that they were coming every 5-10 minutes. So I went to have a bath and a shower to see if I could get them to stop and also so if it was the real thing I wouldn't be hella stinky and gross for the birth, and the bath, for the first time, didn't stop them. They didn't get painful for a few hours, and really, they weren't awful-painful, but I did start feeling the need like someone else just said, to bend over and hold onto the counter or the couch or something and relax into them. I was blow-drying my hair in 3-4 minute increments . Still it wasn't horrible until I'd spent an hour ride in the car to the birth center and by that point, the frequency of them was more treacherous than the intensity. Then I hit transition and started making noises I didn't know I could make. But that's another story.:

Good luck, you will know it when it comes, I think. Try to get it to go away and if it doesn't it's probably the real thing.

[jkg]

Well, here's the thing...since last night, I started noticing more frequent contractions. At 4:00 today, they were 20 minutes apart, about 30 seconds each. Over the last 3 hours they've gone to 7-8 minutes apart, lasting 30-40 seconds each. The weird thing is that they are very very low in my back and I feel a lot of rectal pressure. They aren't terribly painful, just very uncomfortable. The last 2 have been the most intense, shooting down to my hips. I do realize that this could go on for days. But...does this sound like my uterus might be up to something good?

[Ligmom]

Sounds promising Hope this is the start of good things for you...keep us posted.