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How did your labor start?

12 replies

Ikke Guest ·
Hi mamas,

I have a few questions about labor starting naturally. How did it start for you, or how did you know it was coming, and when did you head to the hospital? This will be my 3rd baby, but I was induced for the previous two. So I have no idea what it's like when it starts on its own. I'm currently 36 weeks. Last week, I woke up in the night with pain. The pain came and went every few minutes. My whole belly gets hard, but it doesn't hurt all over my belly. It feels more like I have leg contractions or something. The pain is in my lower belly/lower back and radiates intensely into my upper legs. I can't just lie down and it goes away; the only thing that helps a bit is massaging my upper legs really hard. Then after 2-3 hours, it all becomes a bit less, and it's almost gone again. Sometimes there's a stray "contraction" after 20 minutes, and that's it. Yesterday was the same again, the pain was even more intense than last time, but it subsided after a few hours again. Now in the morning, I get occasional cramps/stitches. Could this mean it's coming sooner, or is my body just practicing or something? I have an appointment with the OB-GYN on Monday. I'm curious to see how things are looking.

Love,

Replies

  1. proud_mommy #2

    I had that too. I’d take a warm shower and take 2 paracetamol, and that helped. I finally gave birth at 41 weeks and 2 days. I woke up in the morning to pee. As I was walking to the bedroom, something ran along my legs. I thought it was urine. Turns out it was my water. A couple of hours later I went to the hospital and gave birth in the afternoon. Good luck, girl.

  2. Ikke Guest #3

    Thanks for your message. So luckily it can just stay in place for a while longer? I don't recognize that at all from my previous pregnancies; it always stayed calm until I was induced. Did you have any dilation, or was the cervix softened by it, or not?

  3. Bibi #4

    I had some contractions a day before, if you can call them that. I had period-like cramps every 8 minutes for an hour. I had the same thing the evening before the birth. And in the middle of the night, I woke up to intense contractions coming every 2 minutes. My water broke naturally 40 minutes later, and 4.5 hours later, I had given birth.

    I did have a membrane sweep 2 days before (but according to the midwife afterwards, the birth wasn't triggered by the sweep; otherwise, I would have given birth within 24 hours). I also received acupuncture to help soften the cervix, a week before the birth and 2 days before. So that probably helped a bit too.

  4. kruimel #5

    Hi!

    Those are probably just Braxton Hicks contractions, and very normal for a 2nd/3rd/next pregnancy... your body is preparing, but that doesn't mean it's coming right now. It can easily last until 40 weeks or even beyond.

    I have them really badly too, I'm 38w now, also with the 3rd. I had them for weeks with the 2nd as well. Then those Braxton Hicks suddenly turned into real contractions after a day of pain in the evening. I felt that difference very clearly back then. The 1st one came after my water broke.

    I don't know if it's already causing effacement or early dilation, they don't check for that here, and I don't think it's necessary to check for it anywhere either (in my opinion). He/she will come out on their own if no complications arise!

  5. Mama vanJ #6

    I also think it's for contractions. I even had regular contractions here, but they didn't progress. In the end, I gave birth at exactly 37 weeks because my water broke overnight. With my oldest, it started with vaginal bleeding, so it was a completely different story.

  6. Anne #7

    It does sound a bit like false labor; I had that off and on from 36 weeks. Every time I hoped the little one would come, but in the end, I gave birth at 40+6! It started when I sat down on the couch and felt my waters break. Then the contractions kicked in, and after a solid 9 hours of labor and 17 minutes of pushing, our mini was here I'm really curious how it'll go with a second baby later on. Wishing you lots of success, and hopefully, induction won't be needed this time

  7. Ikke Guest #8

    Thanks for all your replies, it's reassuring to hear that it doesn't have to mean anything. I still have my oldest's birthday scheduled in 2 weeks, so I hope he/she stays put until then at least. I was also wondering if you could get something for dilation, since the baby has a growth restriction, so it would be nice if he/she could keep growing a bit longer.

    I also see that all the stories are different; I'm so afraid that those false contractions will turn into real contractions and that I'll get to the hospital too late or something. But it seems like you all knew when it really started, so I'll assume I'll know too then.

    Love

  8. Anne #9

    They never checked for dilation or effacement of the cervix here until it really started. I do hear that some people know, for example, that there's already some dilation, but I don't think that says much either. If you're really unsure and having discomfort, you can always ask your midwife if it's a problem. I did know when it started for me, but that was because my water broke It also came on very slowly and only after a few hours did it really pick up. 36 weeks would indeed still be a bit early, so hopefully they stay put a little longer

  9. proud_mommy #10

    I was already 2 cm dilated at 37 weeks, but still gave birth 4 weeks later.

  10. Ikke Guest #11

    Hi!
    I went to the OB yesterday, so thought I'd let you know how it went. She indeed thinks it's early contractions/practice contractions. At first they thought the baby would be extremely small. But now he/she has suddenly grown 800 grams in 3 weeks. And it's quite possible he/she could turn out to be a big baby after all. I already had 2 cm dilation, but yeah, that doesn't necessarily matter much She wants to do membrane stripping at 39 weeks. Has anyone experience with that? Because of my previous births, I don't want to go past 40 weeks, but I do want to give it as many chances as possible to avoid induction.
    Love

  11. Bibi #12

    I had a membrane sweep at 39+1 (already had over 2cm dilation) and gave birth at 39+3. But my midwife said the labor didn't start because of the sweep—if it had, I would've given birth within 24 hours. Still, I think it probably helped!

  12. Ikke Guest #13

    Oh yeah, that's right, you mentioned it, sorry I forgot. Hope it helps get things moving for me too. They want to strip me at 39 weeks on a Monday, and if that doesn't work, I'll be induced at the end of the week.
    Thanks anyway for all your messages!
    Love

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