how did you know labor was imminent? other than the obvious...

[urquie]

other than the most obvious indicators (water breaking, painful contractions) what made you think it was almost time?

i'm getting very anxious for dd to arrive and keeping waiting for my body to give me some more subtle signs... but what?

[bluej]

With my first two, I had no clue. Out of no where my water just broke both times and contractions started shortly after. With my last my membranes were stripped and I kept waiting for those magical contractions to come, but they didn't until two days later :( So for me, there were no indications that labor was on the horizon. Sorry, I'm not much help. Just wanted to let you know that even though you don't feel like anything is going to happen, it can happen just like that (this is where I'd snap my fingers) :)

[jbowman]

Hi! I was so anxious for Ellie to arrive, so I understand how you feel. Unfortunately I didn't have many "subtle" signs...I was 8 days late and thought I'd never go into labor! I had been having some Braxton Hicks contractions quite a bit the week before.

The real sign for me (although this is not the case for everyone) was the loss of the mucous plug. That happened around 3 in the morning the day I went into labor and then contractions (albeit less painful ones) began. At that point I remember thinking "this is it." Of course I didn't give birth to Ellie until the next day around 1 pm, but the "party" had started at that point! LOL!

Good luck! You are about to have a wonderful experience, enjoy it!

ETA: my water didn't break until around 8:30 pm the day I went into labor and that's when the *fun* really began! I remember being completely surprised by that!

[Tondi G]

DS came about a week to 10 days early! My labor began with mild contractions in the late morning/afternoon. I started timing them and they were 10 minutes apart... for a long time! We went and had lunch.... thats how mild they were! As the night wore on the contractions got more intense and closer together.... we called my OB to warn her and she said to go in when they got 5 minutes apart and I couldn't walk or talk through them!

Only earlier indicator was my OB checking me and saying I was 1cm dilated a few weeks before.... oh and DS dropping a week or two before!

Everyone is different! My SIL thought she was going to be preggo forever (overdue) and was complaining to us over the phone..... sure enough in the middle of the night her water broke! Ya never know!!!

Good Luck.... it will happen sooner than later!

~Tondi and Mason 7/8/01

[ritacheetah]

No kidding - I figured my labor would be days late since it was my first. I took my due date off work, which was a Friday, and had planned to spend the weekend cleaning and baking X-mas cookies. I woke up at 5am Saturday morning with contractions 5 minutes apart. I did manage to produce a cranberry oat bread between contractions, but I still have the unused X-mas cookie ingredients all over the house.

My only symptoms were some Braxton-Hicks contractions and some spotting from the mucus plug - and maybe a little bit if PMS style achiness. Had I had any idea I'd be in labor that early, I certainly wouldn't have stayed up until 1:30am reading...

You just never know so just relax and get some sleep while you can!!

Live long and prosper,
Tracy
Mom to Victoria, 12/20/03

[llcoddington]

I woke up at 3 am and was having contractions 3 minutes apart. I wasn't really sure I was in labor, but gave the doctor a call. I felt ridiculous calling at 3 am, but thought better safe than sorry. He said, "Come to the hospital NOW!" At my last check-up, I was 3 cms dilated. I worried all the way to the hospital that we were making the trip for no reason. And, this was no easy trip- we were in the middle of a snowstorm and had to drive 12 miles on unplowed highway! After checking in, I still thought they might send me home. Even after they hooked me up to an IV (I tested positive for Group B Strep, so had to have antibiotics), I asked the nurse if they were going to send me home! She laughed. I had Lauren at noon. I really can't tell you how I knew to call the doctor. I just knew. I should add that by 6 am, these contractions were quite painful, so if I had waited around, I DEFINITELY would have known!

Lana
mommy to Lauren 12/5/03

[tinkerbell1217]

I could finally breathe easier!


Kelly

[Vajrastorm]

I got hungry. LOL

Usually I am very regular and routine about when I get hungry (unless I've changed my eating habits). The day before I had Aine I was suddenly starving for dinner at about 4 pm. (Normal dinner was around 7). I sent my husband out for a falafel plate, we ate, and then I fell dead asleep for a few hours. Also very unusual.

I went to bed at around 10 or 11, and woke up at 2 am with my water having broken.

I will say that I'd been having regular Braxton hicks for weeks, that increased in frequency over time. Ie, two days before birth I was having them every 20 minutes, the day before they started at every 15 minutes and inched closer to 10 minutes. I can't tell you where the BH left off and "real labor" began because it was rather seamless.

[papal]

I started cleaning the (already spotless) house like a mad woman!!! Wouldn't you know it, 11pm that night, labor started!

[mommd]

For me it was losing the plug in the morning with spotting. I also didn't want to eat anything and used the bathroom a lot. My water didn't break until I was already ready to push. I had no "subtle" signs until that morning.