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  1. #1
    newg is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Default How did you know you were in actual labor?

    Besides the obvious ..... like your water breaking??
    My water broke at 34 weeks with DD, so pretty obvious with her. This time I'm on bedrest and into my third week of procardia... so I'm already having pretty regular contractions on a pretty regular basis. My OB says I will know when it's time to come in.
    Just wondering how others "knew" when the real thing had started...

    DD1 2/08
    DD2 8/10

  2. #2
    SnuggleBuggles is offline Black Diamond level (25,000+ posts)
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    With ds1 I had regular braxton hicks every single night for the last 4 weeks of pg + some during the day. I finally stopped counting them. I decided to ignore things unless I noticed an obvious difference in strength, duration and/ or frequency. I also did the whole "drink a big glass of water and rest and relax and see what happens" method. My water broke with him so that doesn't help.


    Ds2, I had ignored bhs all along. The day I went into labor though They contx felt different so I started looking at the time. Like clockwork they were coming. I on and off kept track over the next 4 hours and then it was obvious. They were stronger, longer and closer together regardless of my activity.

    Beth

  3. #3
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    My water broke the first time.

    Second time, I was scheduled for a c-section on Dec. 5, and from Nov. 30-Dec. 1 I had a ton of contractions and they became more regular, and bothered me at night. I kept trying to ignore them because I wanted to enjoy my last weekend pre-baby! But on Dec. 2 they got more painful, and I was at a museum with DH and son, walking up the steps and huffing and puffing and moaning and my husband was like, "Look, let's just go to the hospital!" So lucky me, labor AND a c-section twice in a row!!
    Boy (4/03) -- Girl (12/05) -- Boy (11/10)

  4. #4
    sariana is offline Diamond level (5000+ posts)
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    I'm pretty sure I lost my mucous plug with both (bloody discharge).

    With DS, I was at 29 1/2 weeks and saw streaks of blood on the toilet paper. I went to the hospital and was having contractions a few minutes apart (couldn't feel them). After meds and several days in the hospital, I was sent home to full bed rest. My water broke at 32 weeks, at ~ 10 p.m. DS was born the next morning.

    With DD, I saw blood on the tp a few days shy of 36 weeks, at ~11 in the morning. I called L & D, and they said to go in. I was having contractions a few minutes apart, and again I couldn't feel them. Since DD was breech, they made room for a c-section that evening, and she was delivered just after 7.

    So I would have to say in both cases it was the bloody discharge that clued me in.
    DS '04 "Boogaboo"
    DD '08 "Lilybear"

  5. #5
    Carrots's Avatar
    Carrots is offline Platinum level (1000+ posts)
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    Hi Newg,
    I was just came to the boards looking to see how you were doing. I responded to your BB Mojo post a few weeks ago. I am glad to see that your DD is still baking away!!!

    My water has never broken. With DD1 I woke up to strange cramping at about 2am. They became worse over a period of an hour, so I called OB and DH and I drove on in (I had been 2 cm dilated since 28 weeks, so OB said come in immediately if I feel cramping). By the time I got to the hospital, I was dilated to 6.

    With DD2 (born at 31 weeks) I had been feeling a little "off", slightly uncomfortable and crampy for a few days. I went in for what I thought would be a quick check, thinking I would be sent home for bed rest, and delivered DD2 about 20 hours later.

    Best of luck!
    Kristen
    Kristen
    Mom to:
    DD, A 5 years
    DD, K 3 years

    and my three born sleeping

  6. #6
    newg is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Thanks everyone! I am hoping that I will get a nice "signal" that it's go time...like loosing my mucus plug or some obvious change in contractions.

    DD1 2/08
    DD2 8/10

  7. #7
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    For me, I lost my mucus plug on Monday and DS didn't come until Sat. morning. Saturday, about 4AM, I woke up with what felt like mild cramps (contx) that wouldn't go away. When I used the bathroom I also noticed spotting--at first I attributed that to my ob/gyn visit the previous day, but it continued. The "cramps" continued and got more noticeable, so DH started timing them, called my dr, and she said to meet her @ the hospital. DS was born 6 hr later.

  8. #8
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    With DD I was past my due date and scheduled for an induction. Before I went to the hospital, I thought I was having Braxton-Hicks contractions, and when I arrived, they said that they did not need to induce because my contractions were 2-3 minutes apart. So I didn't really know ahead of time that I was in labor.

    With DS, I woke up with a lot of vaginal pain, and after I ate breakfast, I wiped and saw bloody mucous. DH and I went to the hospital, and DS was born a few hours later. So this time the clue was the bloody mucous. No real strong contractions prior to arrival at the hospital.

    mom to one girl, 9.5 years old
    and one boy, 5 years old

  9. #9
    brittone2 is offline Blue Diamond level (20,000+ posts)
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    DS1-contracted for a few weeks, no labor. The morning I went into labor I woke up at 8am to my water breaking (trickle). Stood up and had a good gush. Contractions were pretty much immediately 5 mins apart. Midwives had me come in ASAP as longish hospital drive and I was already 3 cm dilated. He was born about 6.5 hours after my water broke.

    DD-was not sure I was even in labor for a good while. Wasn't feeling an urgent rush to head to the birth center. Called the midwife, and we decided on me coming in. Things were kinda intense on the drive there but by the time I got to the birth center my contractions just felt like mild cramping. Midwife checked me and I was 10 cm and complete. I had NO idea and thought she was kidding. Hung out for an hour or so waiting to feel pushy (water hadn't broken, no urge to push) so that's what I did. She was born after about 3 hours of labor, but I wasn't sure I was in active labor.

    When I was pg with DS2 I was kinda worried about when to call the midwife (homebirth for ds2). Thankfully it was very obvious. I contracted a good bit in the days leading up to labor, but no real lasting pattern. Woke up at 3 am to one HUGE contraction. They were immediately 2-3 mins apart. Called the midwife. DS2 was born about 5 hours after that first big contraction.
    Mama to DS-2004
    DD-2006
    and a new addition-ds born march 2010

  10. #10
    newg is offline Emerald level (3000+ posts)
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    Luckily, I've been told, that with my history with DD getting stuck....this one won't be falling out, so I should have a little time.
    I'm having a c-section regardless of when, or how, labor starts.......so that's a small comfort for me.
    And I'm already have pretty regular contractions, but they haven't increased in intensity or time....so I'm keeping my fingers crossed things will change and that will be a big red flag for me.

    DD1 2/08
    DD2 8/10

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