[**guest**]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

I was 36 weeks, 3 days.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

Personally, I think they totally got it wrong. They based it on an 'dating' ultrasound because i didn't have regular periods.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

My water broke at 3:15am. I had been having 'cramps' but had gone to the hospital that very evening and they told me that I wasn't in labor!! 18 hrs later I had only dilated to 3cm and had developed a fever so they did an emergency c-section. boohoo.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

I totally knew it was going to happen soon although my doc didn't think so. I had been feeling like a bowling ball was between my legs and I kept getting sporadic cramps for at least a week before! This is TMI but for 24 hrs before I went into labor, I kept having soft BM's.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

My labor pains started very slowly and very minor. I remember thinking "Wow, these are contractions?...This is NOTHING". hahah. It got bad when they gave me pitocin though. I believe pitocin is what caused most of my problems. It brought the contractions on way too fast and too often. Not natural at all!
Lots of labor pains start out feeling like mentrual cramps...Then get more intense.
Hope that helps!
Liz

 

[Ms. Frizzle]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
**Hmm, not sure. I would have to do the math on that one.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
**Birth #1-First I was July 22, then after an ultrasound I was supposed to be Due July 16-Had him on the 6'th. My opinion is that I was actually furthure along than the OB thought.
**Birth #2-Yes I believe they were accurate. My dates (counting 40 weeks foward from my LMP) and my midwife's calculation, and ultrasound dates were all within 2 days of each other.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
**Birth #1-Broke natrually 30 minutes before my first contraction.
**Birth #2-My waters were broken 30 minutes before I gave birth by my midwife. (I also hear that it's more common for waters to be break after labout has started)

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
**Not a clue for either of them.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
**Sorry, no advice for you there, but I do think that you should trust your body to do what it was build for

 

[copslass]

Ok, my answers are totally "off the cuff" since there are so many to go through.

Hope I answer adequately for you.

#1. Undiagnosed polyhydramnios, water broke at 36 weeks. Pitocin induction, c-section for "ftp." Felt Z"funny" a few hours before water broke, and had mucous plug, although it was clear and runny, and I didn't realize what it was.

#2. Serious ctx at 38 weeks following intercourse. continued throughout the day. X-dh went out after work, I drove around looking for him, decided to go to hospital, automatic repeat c-section.

#3. U. of Michigan cnm's get "permission" to attend vbacs after multiple sections. A day of ctx, lose mucous plug in the evening. More ctx, feel like transistion. Go to U of M. Only 2cm. "Why do you think you're in so much pain?" asks midwife. OP baby born 36 hours later vaginally, 72 hours after labor began.

#4. This is a good one. No midwives in state area, ob attending, I had fudged my "due date" by a week or so. Good thing. 2.5 weeks late, after an ob visit, cervix "no change," I'd been in pain for a day, didn't tell the ob. I was thinking, "maybe everyone's right, I'm just not built to have babies." Even after vbac. Went to bed, woke up in active labor, baby born *easily 8 hours later!

#5. Initlially refused the new fad, a gbs test. Harrassed into accepting via "dead baby" card by "medwife." BARF! Never again! Water leak at 42.5 weeks, again I fudged "due date" by a week. Agreed to pitocin induction due to PROM with gbs, against my better jugdement. Stuck at 9cm for seven hours with decels, insisted on hands and knees while refusing c-section, baby born vaginally twelve hours after induction started.

Hmmm... other questions you asked... no ultrasound "dates" hehe, and I highly recommend giving your baby an extra week when dealing with cnms or obs.

 

[rad]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
With my DS, I was 40 wks, 5 days
With DD, I was 39 wks, 4 days

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
With DS I have no idea how accurate it was. He was kind of a surprise, so his due date was based on my last period. With Chandra her due date was right on. I had been charting and knew exactly when I ovulated and therefore when her due date was.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
My water was the first thing to go with both births. It wasn't until after it broke that I had contractions.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
With DS, I had no symptoms at all, not even braxton hicks. I thought I would probably be pg for another week or so.
With DD, I felt pretty much the same way as I did with DS, but about 36 hours before my water broke I had a bloody show.
With both I did frantically clean the house the night before I went into labor.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
There really is no sure way to tell if your going to be going into labor anytime soon. For my last birth, my midwife checked me at an appointment and said there was no way I'd be having my baby that week, maybe the next. Well, about 48 hours later I called her to say my water had broken and to get to my house quickly. So you can never tell, every baby has there own idea when the right time to make its entrance is. I've heard that the average for most first babies is about 7-10 days after your due date.

 

[lovemygirl]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

36 weeks and 6 days (1 day before 37 weeks

) when waters began to trickle...She wasn't born til the next day--37 weeks. She weighed 7lbs!

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

VERY accurate. I was basal charting and we only babydanced twice the month we conceived---2 days before I ovulated and the day before I ovulated. I had no ultrasounds.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

yep! started to trickle when i awoke and trickled for about 6 hours before I had the gush of fluids...she was born about 24 hours after that big gush

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

NOPE! NONE! I woke up around 11:00am, went to the toilet to pee and the peeing didn't stop. I said to myself, OH GREAT! Now I am incontinent!!

About 6 hours later I had my first contraction.

4) Any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

If you know the day you conceived then your dates are accurate and you should plan at least going 40-41 weeks. Sorry that I dont' have any other advice! Every mama is different! The best advice is relax, enjoy, and rest, rest rest!!!

 

[Artisan]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

Haven't counted the days, but I was 39 weeks, 1 day.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

My MW calculated my due date based on an early u/s. When I calculated it based on my LMP, there was a nine day discrepancy. If we went by my dates, I was three days overdue.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

Yes.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

I had a week of prodromal labor; lots and lots of contractions that changed my cervix a little bit here and there, but never kicked into full gear.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

Don't focus on a day. Just assume your baby will come two weeks after the day they gave you and be pleasantly surprised if they come early!

 

[nova22]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
I'm not sure of the days, but with my DS I was one day past my EDD and with my DD I was about 2 weeks before my EDD.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
With DS, I think my dates were pretty accurate. My daughter was another story. I was exclusively BFing my son when she was conceived. I think she was conceived, THEN I had a period, then skipped a period, then had another one (during my pregnancy). According to my LMP she was due in March, but the ultrasound showed that she was big for her age.

She ended up being born in January.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
I've heard it happens 10-15% of the time. In my first labor my water didn't break until I was pushing. My second labor started with my water breaking, and DD was born three hours later.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
First pregnancy: I lost most of my mucous plug exactly a week before my son was born. Besides that I had no early labor signs. In fact, I started my labor with contractions that were exactly three minutes apart. Second pregnancy: the day before I went into labor I felt a few very mildly uncomfortable contractions, and lost my mucous plug througout the day.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)Here's my hodgepodge answer:
Like many other people have said, babies will come when they're ready. I don't think there has ever been a case of a baby who forgot to be born.

So far I have been 100% successful with my accidental at home induction: sex. If you are not ready to deliver I don't know that any induction method will help push you along. Contractions feel like strong menstrual cramps. When you first start feeling them try not to get too worked up - rest while you still can and eat if you need to. Drink a ton of water.

 

[LizaBear]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

38 weeks, 1 day.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

Original due date was calculated using menstrual cycle, and was off by a few days.

I got our midwives to change it to an EDD based on conception - easier since a very early ultrasound agreed with this date.

Overall, I think our given EDD was accurate to within a couple of days - maybe 2 either way.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

Sort of.

I'd had steady, painless, regular "braxton hicks" ctx for 2 days before my water broke, but I was completely denying that I was in early labour (my doula suggest I may be).

My water broke before I had any ctx that were uncomfortable at all though - and I count the water breaking as the begining of labour for me. My uncomfortable ctx started about 45 mins after my water broke.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

My braxton hicks ctx had become very regular - every 10 minutes or so - about 2 days prior to labour begining. But I'd been having BH ctx since about 20 weeks, so that didn't tell me anything at the time, only in reflection.

Other than that though - I didn't notice anything happening. Mind you - I also thought I had at least 2 more weeks left to enjoy being pregnant.

ETA : I'd lost my mucous glob

4 weeks before my water broke.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

Your body knows how to do this - and nobody sent your baby a memo about when it is supposed to come out. Relax, enjoy these weeks of harbouring your child completely within yourself, and try not to focus on the "due date".

A "due date" is not an "expiration date" - your baby will come to meet you when they are ready - be that a little before, a little after, or maybe even on that mysterious date.

 

[Teresa]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
The day before my due date. Baby was born about 1 am on due date.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
Calculated by midwives from the date of conception using a formula which factored in the length of my menstrual cycle (then 28 days). No microwaves, thank-you! Second child was born about 8 pm on day before due date using same method.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
Began leaking slow trickle about 12 hours before contractions began. Began same slow intermittent tricle with second baby at the exact same time of day, but second was born about 5 hours earlier.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
See above.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor
Babies are born when they are ready! Tell everyone three weeks later than your EDD and relax!

 

[MamaAcorn]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

I was 10 days earlier than by EDD.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

My due date was accurately calculated. I knew the exact day of conception.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

Nope. It didn't break until I was 10 cm and pushing for an hour.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

I had an episode of "false" labor about a week beforehand. I'm not sure how relevant that was though. I woke up at 3:30 a.m. sick of being woken up in the middle of the night with Braxon-Hicks contractions. As soon as I said that, real contractions started and labor began.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

I'm not sure if family history has anything to due with due dates, but in my family, all the women go ten days before their due dates. My grandmother with all five of her children, my mom with both of hers, and me with my son, so we'll see if this hold true for this baby.

 

[starrynight]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor?
2 days before my due date.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
I knew the day of conception, so very accurate.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
Yes. I had just gone to bed around 12:30 at night, when I felt a gentle "pop" and fluid started gushing out of me. It was all clear. I called our midwife who said to try and get some sleep. I was having mild contractions. I actually managed to sleep (DH said he tried too, but was awake the rest of the night.) In the morning I woke up with no contractions, still leaking fluid. I wound up having to take Castor oil that evening to get the ball rolling.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before??? No signs whatsoever. DS was born on a Sunday, and I did have a strong intuition the week before that he would be born during the weekend (full moon.)

(4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive I agree with what everybody else is saying. Babies come when they are ready, due date or no due date. For labor, try to create the safest most relaxing environment for yourself as possible.

 

[copslass]

Noticed I didn't say WHEN 3 and 4 were born.

Again, 1, 36 weeks c-section following induction after prom.
2. Labor at 37.5 - 38 weeks, repeat section.
3. OP baby, after 3 days of active labor, born vaginally on "due date."
4. 42.5 weeks, "no change" day before she was born. Woke up in labor, easy birth 8-9 hours later.
5. 42.5 weeks, induced due to my stupidity for finally agreeing to gbs test, prom. Another vbac.

Sorry, my original post should have been this concise!

 

[Jennifer H]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
I was 41 weeks exactly with BOTH babies.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
Very accurate. My cycles were always 28 days like clockwork and I took a pregnancy test the first day my period was late. My early ultrasounds (10 weeks) were the same as my dates by LMP.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
No. With ds#1 it broke about 30 minutes after I noticed my first contractions (about 7 hours before he was born). With ds#2 it broke about 6 minutes before he was born.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
DS#1 - About 15 hours before I went into labor I had my first vaginal exam, but no membrane stripping. Right after that I started spotting. About 12 hours before I felt very anxious. Like I was about to jump out of my skin. I couldn't sit still.
DS#2 was the same, minus the vaginal exam. OVerwhelming sense that I would jump out of my skin! I also had some pretty nicely patterned, but painless contractions about from about 12 hours before until I fell asleep about 5 hours before "Real" labor started.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive).
Plan from the start of your pregnancy have a baby two weeks after your due date! When I'm asked my due date I say, "Well, the doctor say July 28, so I'm sure we'll have a baby by mid-August!" This lowers everyone's expectations, especially moms!

 

[ComaWhite]

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
Do not put any emphasis on your due date, ITA with the other postsers, add 2 weeks to your date and don't settle on one specific day, just pick a time frame. Its soooooo hard to wait the last few days, keep yourself really busy doing all the things you wont be able to do while caring for a newborn!

 

[andreac]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
Well, I gave myself a EDD of 3/18, based on my cycle, my CNM, said 3/15 based on LMP, and an early ultrasound said 3/12, Cole was born on 3/25...so he was either 41 wks, 41 w 3d, or 41 w 5d.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound?? see above

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
yes, water broke while i was sleeping, got up to pee about 2am and noticed it then, contrx started at about 3am

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
i think i had a little diarrhea the night before my water broke
4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
Have a project that you save until you are due, that way when you go past your EDD you have something to keep you busy!! I made a quilt for my son while I was waiting. Also, someone else mention family history, I think that's a good one too. My mom was 2 weeks late with me, so I never really expected to go on my EDD.

 

[sweetpeasmom]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
well I went into PTL at 31 weeks but was stopped and finally delivered at 36 weeks.

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
Not too sure. I had some doubt that I may have been further along. My u/s always measured the baby a few weeks ahead but the OB never changed my due date.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
not the first at PTL but it did rupture then finally broke when I reached the hospital.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
I had no clue when I was in PTL, I was contracting but never felt it. The only idea I had when I finally did go was my water leaked so I was pretty sure that was gonna be it.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
well just that baby will come when it's ready be it a few weeks early or a few weeks late.

 

[AmandasMom]

how many days were you when you went into labor

I went into labor on my due date, so I was exactly 40 weeks.

How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??

Right on the nose. Both real cycle and ultrasound had same date.

did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

No

What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

Lost plug the day I went into labor. Took about 5 hours from plug loss to contractions starting. No other symptoms before.

any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

Sometimes they are spot on!

 

[2+twins]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor
10 days late

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound??
I happened to know my conception date. Based on that combined with the length of my cycle (not average) that would have put my due date on Nov. 25th. It was changed to the 22nd and I had the baby Dec. 4th.

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)
Nope - not until I began pushing.

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???
I began loosing my mucus plug at least 3 weeks or so before going into labor. I had also been dilated at least 1 cm since 32 weeks. I know I had some effacement progress before labor as well. No other symptoms that I was aware of.

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)
Not to put too much stock into them! I'd say to do yourself a favor and figure (if the due date is given for the 15th of June for example) to tell yourself and anyone who asks that the baby is due somewhere in the month of June. Due dates can suck the life right out of you at the end of the pregnancy - especially if you go longer than you "expect" to.

 

[KiwiZ]

My 1st came naturally, my 2nd was induced, so I'll answer these based on my 1st:

1)how many days were you when you went into labor: one week before my due date (39 weeks)

2) How acurate were your dates ?? meaning do you think your due date was even calculated correctly based on your real cycle or conception or ultrasound?? I'm lucky, my cycle is about 28-29 days, I knew when I was ovulating and knew when I conceived, so the due date was really close IMO

2) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon): no, during labor

3) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

I had no clue! It felt exactly like my BH contrax at first. My dh figured out I was in labor before I did, cuz I kept having BH with no rest. I guess I was in denial LOL

4) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive).

Don't tell anyone your due date. I'm serious!!! You will get all these annoying phone calls and ?s about "why isn't it here yet?" and pressuring you to get it induced. Make up a fake due date or just give a wide couple week range where you think baby will be born if you are not comfy fibbin'

 

[Bella Luna]

1)how many days were you when you went into labor

With my first child, 38 weeks and 2 days from LMP.

2) How accurate were your dates ??

Very accurate; I charted and knew the date of conception.

3) did your water break before labor? ( they say this is uncommon)

Yes, and it did with my second birth as well.

4) What symptoms did you experience before going into labor???? Did you have any idea it was coming the days or weeks before???

I had a slight water leak 2 days before her birth so I did get an exam done, but I was not dilated at that time.

5) any other thoughts you think would help first time moms know about regarding due dates and labor ( besides that they are pretty inconclusive)

I agree with PPs that it's helpful to think of it as more of a "due month". With my second child (DS), everyone (even my MW) was watching me like a hawk after 37 weeks because my first was a 38 weeker, and it started to drive me crazy. My due date was 1/6/04 (again I knew the date of conception). My parents and Grandma were here during the holidays and I was having tons of BH contractions all the time. They left on Sunday morning and I went into labor on Sunday night. As soon as I didn't feel stressed out, my water broke and the real contractions came within a half hour. He was born the day before his due date.

Each baby has his or her own timetable, and it often has nothing to do with the due date.

J