For those of you who have been in labor before...

[devilish_fetish]

What signs did you get (other than contractions and water breaking) before your labor started? I thought there was a thread about this before, but i couldn't find it. The first time mom thread got me thinking, and i'm not sure that i know what to really look out for, other than contractions and water breaking. And for the mamas with more than one baby, did your labor signs/symptoms change with each pregnancy?

[~Megan~]

frequent loose stools and restlessness.

[logies-mom]

I had nothing. Which totally irritates me because I would sure like some kind of warning before it actually happens this time. I suppose my midwife had some warning, because she was checking me at least twice a week by the time I had him (because I was 2 1/2 weeks overdue) but I don't exactly know what made her know that I was going to that day. So, the only sign that I had was that the midwife told me that I was going to go into labor. She told me to go for a walk and once the contractions started to take "Labor Aid" capsules... my labor started with a contraction that just felt different, and 8 hours and 12 minutes later, my son was born.

Sorry I'm of no help to you.

[newmommy7-08]

The night before my water broke I had a lot of pelvic pressure, and general umcomfortableness. Also, was really REALLY off the day before. I slept most of the day.

[njbeachgirl]

I only had some mucus/bloody show, but I had also had a pelvic exam that day. So I thought that was the reason and labor was totally unexpected.

[ekblad9]

It's always different for me. I can't think of any real signs.

[pazerific]

i didn't have any signs before labor actually started.

[veganf]

#1 - no signs at all. My water breaking was my first symptom, contractions started 45 minutes later.
#2 - lost mucus plug 2 days prior. The evening of the birth I didn't want any dinner and I just HAD to clean the bathroom. In retrospect I was feeling a bit crampy too. But then my water broke, back to back contractions started instantly, and he was born 1hr40mins later.
#3 - no signs at all. Water broke, contractions didn't start for 3 hours.
#4 - I would like to let you know ASAP!!!

[devilish_fetish]

For those of you who had no warning signs before contractions started, how long did it take you to realize that this was REAL labor and not just more b/h? How did you tell other than just timing them and waiting for them to get stronger and closer together?

[pazerific]

there were a couple reasons i felt like it was the real thing right off the bat:

1. i was 42wks1d along, so i just figured there was no way it could be anything but the real thing
2. ctx started off very even and timeable right from the start (i hadn't had anything but painless BH before that point) and didn't let up with change of position or activity level
3. the ctx were accompanied by bloody show and lots of poo, so it just seemed like all the arrows pointed to "yes"

[nubianamy]

My water didn't break. I had some very minor bloody show. I don't remember there being anything, really. My mother asked, "So, how are those contractions doing?" (meaning the B/H), and I said, "Well, they're getting fairly regular." So we started timing them just out of curiosity. Active labor started a few hours later.

[rootsandwings]

i had no signs before contractions either. when they started they became timeable very quickly.

my water didn't break until dd head crowned.

[Ilaria]

First: woke up at 2:30am with diarrhea and cx, baby born 23 hrs later (day before EDD)
Second: woke up at 2:30am with diarrhea and cx, baby born 15 hrs later (day after EDD)
Third: totally different! Trickle of water, turned to pink water, then cx. Baby born 6 hrs later (10 days before EDD)

For 1 and 2, I knew it was the real thing because I did not have any BH before and I just 'knew', also they were right at the EDD. With #3, I didn't, and it was 10 days early...that's why my midwives did make it on time!

[AKA_PI]

One of my girlfriends said she was really sick the night before she went into labor. I've also heard of increased nesting and restlessness. I don't see how much more restless we can get at this point. Lol

[Bad Horse]

#1- I had been restless, barely able to sleep and literally having to pee every 20-30 minutes for a few days before labor. I was to the point of crying every time I woke up having to pee again, I was SO TIRED But as far as any pre labor signs? Nothing really recognizable.

And then when labor did start? I was 10 days past edd, and still HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG, hehe. Embarrassing after the fact.
I hadn't heard of back labor at that point, really and baby #1 was posterior. And it wasn't in my back. It was in my butt. All in my butt. What, what, in my butt? Back labor... In my butt. (I love that episode of South Park!)

Anyway, back to the question at hand. I thought I had one of those gas bubbles, the kind that moves down and feels like stabbing? But I thought it was stuck. It didn't occur to me that they were coming at intervals every couple of minutes. I was in the start of transition at that point, too.

I remember calling my then husband, he had just gotten to work, and telling him something was really wrong. He asked if I was in labor. NO! There was something wrong with my butt And I would throw down the phone after yelling "Here's another one!" and running to the bathroom trying to poop it out I was pushing really hard, if I'd been a few more cm dilated I would have probably had him in the toilet!

I hung up with exdh with a I have to go, come home now! And then after a little bit more I threw on a dress, grabbed my sandals in my hand and headed to the car. I got in the car, started to back it out, had another stabbing butt pain. Got out of the car as it started and pounded on the roof through, then booked it to the hospital which was about a mile away, between contractions apparently. It only took me maybe a minute to get there.

I pulled in to the parking lot, had another, went straight to l&d and told the nurses at the desk there was something WRONG but I didn't think it was labor. They asked when I was due. "10 days ago". Hahaha. They both just smiled and told me that they'd just take me to a room and check me to see what was going on. A few more contractions later I was in a gown, laid on the bed, a nurse checked me and told me I was at 9cm. I was completely flabbergasted! I had NO IDEA! Things went downhill from there with the stupid hospital staff, but dang, I thought I had gas. The worst gas in history, mind you, but gas nonetheless.

[devilish_fetish]

Originally Posted by cthulhugrrl

#1- I had been restless, barely able to sleep and literally having to pee every 20-30 minutes for a few days before labor. I was to the point of crying every time I woke up having to pee again, I was SO TIRED But as far as any pre labor signs? Nothing really recognizable.

And then when labor did start? I was 10 days past edd, and still HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG, hehe. Embarrassing after the fact.
I hadn't heard of back labor at that point, really and baby #1 was posterior. And it wasn't in my back. It was in my butt. All in my butt. What, what, in my butt? Back labor... In my butt. (I love that episode of South Park!)

Anyway, back to the question at hand. I thought I had one of those gas bubbles, the kind that moves down and feels like stabbing? But I thought it was stuck. It didn't occur to me that they were coming at intervals every couple of minutes. I was in the start of transition at that point, too.

I remember calling my then husband, he had just gotten to work, and telling him something was really wrong. He asked if I was in labor. NO! There was something wrong with my butt And I would throw down the phone after yelling "Here's another one!" and running to the bathroom trying to poop it out I was pushing really hard, if I'd been a few more cm dilated I would have probably had him in the toilet!

I hung up with exdh with a I have to go, come home now! And then after a little bit more I threw on a dress, grabbed my sandals in my hand and headed to the car. I got in the car, started to back it out, had another stabbing butt pain. Got out of the car as it started and pounded on the roof through, then booked it to the hospital which was about a mile away, between contractions apparently. It only took me maybe a minute to get there.

I pulled in to the parking lot, had another, went straight to l&d and told the nurses at the desk there was something WRONG but I didn't think it was labor. They asked when I was due. "10 days ago". Hahaha. They both just smiled and told me that they'd just take me to a room and check me to see what was going on. A few more contractions later I was in a gown, laid on the bed, a nurse checked me and told me I was at 9cm. I was completely flabbergasted! I had NO IDEA! Things went downhill from there with the stupid hospital staff, but dang, I thought I had gas. The worst gas in history, mind you, but gas nonetheless.

This completely cracked me up, partly because i've *tmi* had really bad gas for the last week and a half, and I keep joking with DH that it's labor! Guess i'd better watch what i joke about, lest this happens to me!

[westernskies]

I loose my appetite the day I go into labor... Not hungry, nibbling at things...Nothing sounds good to eat. Then BAM I'm in labor!

[holothuroidea]

Originally Posted by cthulhugrrl

And then when labor did start? I was 10 days past edd, and still HAD NO IDEA WHAT WAS WRONG, hehe. Embarrassing after the fact.
I hadn't heard of back labor at that point, really and baby #1 was posterior. And it wasn't in my back. It was in my butt. All in my butt. What, what, in my butt? Back labor... In my butt. (I love that episode of South Park!)

Anyway, back to the question at hand. I thought I had one of those gas bubbles, the kind that moves down and feels like stabbing? But I thought it was stuck. It didn't occur to me that they were coming at intervals every couple of minutes. I was in the start of transition at that point, too.

OMG this is scare-ee!!! I've been having the exact same butt pain you are describing on and off for a few days now. I actually wake up with them at night and sometimes they are painful and I need to stop what I'm doing. Lately they've been accompanied by menstrual-like cramping.

I'm only 33w5d, so I've pretty much been ignoring this pain and dismissing it as "definitely not anything." Maybe I shouldn't be so sure it is nothing!

I have told my midwife about it and she said that as long as the pains are intermittent and do not have a pattern that it's ok... but geez, what if something prodromal is going on here!

:

[Bad Horse]

Originally Posted by holothuroidea

OMG this is scare-ee!!! I've been having the exact same butt pain you are describing on and off for a few days now. I actually wake up with them at night and sometimes they are painful and I need to stop what I'm doing. Lately they've been accompanied by menstrual-like cramping.

I'm only 33w5d, so I've pretty much been ignoring this pain and dismissing it as "definitely not anything." Maybe I shouldn't be so sure it is nothing!

I have told my midwife about it and she said that as long as the pains are intermittent and do not have a pattern that it's ok... but geez, what if something prodromal is going on here!

:

Well, there's a good chance it's just baby getting more engaged, or dancing on your cervix. I've been having the same sort of thing. It could be prodromol, though. But there's not a whole lot to do about, I guess, so just hang in there!

And I don't want to scare anyone, I just wanted to let everyone know of another normal variation of labor! It's not always stomach or back, so don't try to poop the baby out if you get stabby butt pain like I did

[Kidzaplenty]

Once, my water broke before contractions began. Another time I had tons of b/h and achiness before contractions began. And another time my first contraction woke me from a sound sleep only to be holding a baby little over an hour later.

I say it is different every time! Keeps the guessing, and the fun, in going into labor!