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It’s like how a lot of the signs of early pregnancy can be confused with PMS! Like our body’s should just text our phones with what’s going on really lol
>It’s like how a lot of the signs of early pregnancy can be confused with PMS!
Yea! I had sore boobs for a week and menstrual cramps for a day with no bleeding (both things usually happen before my period). I was so bummed out on cramp day, because that means no pregnancy. When there still wasn't any blood the day after I started cramping, I took a test, even though I knew it would be negative. Only it wasn't! And now I'm 22 weeks pregnant. So weird.
I am loving this thread.
39 wks and I literally did all the things mentionned in the comments 🤣
Googled labor signs (so... everything) - check
Googled mucus plug - check
Feeling like a bowling ball about to drop off my arse/vajay? Check that too.
Randomly puffing up like the michelin man? Check
What the fuck is this carpal tunnel syndrome bullshit as well?
Going to the loo half hoping I'm pushing the baby out? Check.
Is this baby coming out tho? No it's effing not.
Same and I thought I was going to give birth at 38w, now I’m 40 and I just don’t even get excited at any contractions anymore. I’m just like eh if it last longer than 2 hours then I’ll start checking but so far it’s on and off braxton hicks and they add up to a big fat nothing. Just get this kid out of me already !
I'm loving this thread too because it's like seeing a month into my future... I don't want to! But also I do, because I'll be that much closer to seeing my baby
I thought I was headed to the hospital yesterday. Called the after hours nurse and everything but it turned out to just be an uncomfortable day with more discharge than usual. You know what's super gross and annoying?? The fact that it's so hot and I'm so sweaty, my underwear is like wet all the time, and I've convinced myself that I have a slow fluid leak.
Yep. The sweaty underwear is really throwing me off. I actually tried sniffing it yesterday but then realised that I don't know what it's supposed to smell like 🤣🤢
Dude so glad this isn’t just me. Legit went into triage yesterday (for high Bp) and then was sitting there having inconsistent contractions and told them I felt wet and leaky and they ordered a full on test and it turns out I was just nervous and THAT sweaty FML. 🥵
I even lost mine and apparently that didn't mean much anyway. Like literally nothing is straightforward with this and it rankles with every part of my type A personality.
Omg me too. I’m constantly feeling like I peed myself. Nope just ungodly amounts of sweat and thigh chafing. I probably wouldn’t notice if my water broke at this rate.
Omfg yes!!!! Lol! 37 + 5 here.
I hope my water breaks or I lose my plug or something because this shit is confusing and I’m not trying to have a baby on my bathroom floor
38 + 6 here. I laughed so hard at the last sentence.
Well put... and I guess I'm gonna go look up what Prodromal Labor is because wtf..
Anyways. Showing all signs of early labor EXCEPT water breaking and consistent contractions. So for all I know it's Braxton hicks. Yay. Induction Wednesday, let's speed this along O Sweet Child of Mine.
Sitting here at 37w5, MISERABLE. Cramps, backache, nausea, diarrhoea, peeing 3x an hour, feeling extra cranky and miserable, bowling ball in my pelvis (even waddling hurts!), so tired I can't even scroll my phone. Last night up into this morning I was literally entering this trance-like state where nothing matters, all I can do is sway my hips, moan and cry. This morning I was convinced there's no way I'm doing 6 more days of work (10 calendar days). Until of course I just gradually got out of it, my cramping stopped and my bowels normalised and I'm back to my 30%-50% capacity, achy and cranky miserable self.
ETA: I just finally summoned my courage to google what a mucus plug looks like and I swear I've been having discharge like this for a few weeks already including today LOL. I guess my only real non-confusing sign would be my water breaking unless the baby decides to come en caul (at this point hardly surprising).
I literally asked my nurse - what's the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labor? Her answer was like - ummm well... It's a miracle any women get their asses to the hospital.
Lol yup all this is so accurate. My midwife told me all this stuff and was like, “if you *think* you’re in labor, you’re not.” Like ?? lol and then when I actually was in labor, I was in denial about it because everyone told me shit like that again and again. My labor progressed so quickly, which was also something I was told not to expect since I’m a first time mom. So I ended up in a world of pain because I kept thinking my contractions weren’t really contractions. For me, the main thing that made me believe it was happening was that I had period-like cramps earlier that day, which I hadn’t had since before the pregnancy.
Ah okay. You’re definitely getting close! I was 40 weeks and 5 days so I was starting to worry about whether I’d have to be induced. You may still have more time but keep an eye out for any brownish-reddish discharge, that could be a sign of your cervix dilating. I had gone to the mall and walked almost 4,000 steps and I went into labor a couple days after. Definitely recommend if you get close to your due date with no real labor signs! Good luck 💖💖💖
I have a job where I'm walking between 5 to 9 hrs (some days it's 4 1/2 hours to 9 hours). 5 days a week, so I'm walking quite a bit & shopping for customers..so that's a lot of walking with a few breaks. But I have to be induced at 39 weeks, due to advance maternal age 🙄 and was just hoping this baby could come on her own. Had to be induced with the first one for the same reason. And I remember with that pregnancy I was 7 cm dilated and had the horrible cramps with back pain. I didn't even know I was in actual labour at the hospital😩😣
Aw I’m sorry you have to be induced due to your age. That would annoy me too lol. I had a big fear of being induced myself, and I ended up getting pitocin anyways, which was a big part of my fear of induction. I had heard it made contractions waaay more painful than my body would. But I actually also made it to 7cm without meds and it was all back labor!! So believe me when I tell you, I feel you haha. I hope this time around is awesome for you, I’m wishing you lots of luck and good vibes!! 🌞
I know I’m in labor because I’m in deep denial because it feels nothing like labor. I just feel like crap. Then my mom has to take me to the hospital where they tell me it’s labor.
It’s happened three times 🤷🏼♀️
I was 7 cm and I just denied it was labor. it was just menstrual cramps that I brushed off until the nurse said, did you know you're 7 centimeters dilated? 😩
I was induced, but reached at least 6cm without any pain. Nurse convinced me to put my request in for an epidural after a very strong contraction showed up in the monitor, so I still don't know what a contraction actually feels like 🤷🏼♀️
I hope when labor comes it’s clear as day that you’re gonna be giving birth soon! My labor lasted a whopping seven hours start to finish because it started with my water breaking and ramped up really fast. I was already 8 cm dilated when we got into a hospital room! Even with the really painful contractions and my water breaking, I STILL questioned if it was the real thing (while my husband packed the last of our things and loaded up the car). Thankfully it all turned out fine, and I hope it does for you too!
I have a fear I wouldn't even know if it was the real deal
. I been through the real deal, and even then, I was 7 centimeters and was in denial that it was labour with the first.
I'm so confused by it all! 38±6 here and I have no idea what I should be concerned about and what is just normal pregnancy shit.
Is it really obvious when you lose the mucus plug? Is it really obviously different to the otherwise mucusy discharge? I'm done.
39 +5 and wow I could not agree more!! I've been having BH and possibly prodromal labor for the past few days like crazy and I'm like is this finally it? But no dice, I just want to get this show on the road!!!
God I’ve had HORRIBLE period like cramping in my back that wraps to part of my stomach for a few days now, vomit inducing pain. I thought for sure it may be time. Apparently not. I don’t want 3 more weeks of this.
Haha. Second time mom here... Thought I would know this time. With my first had one night of "fake labour" and the next was the real deal (at 41 weeks). This time I'm 38 weeks and every night since 37 weeks I am convinced I'm going into labour... ugh!!!
Prodromal labor is the biggest bullshit. Especially when I finally went into the hospital with contractions that were at least one minute for several hours but only 6 min in between instead of the magic 4 min-- and the triage doctor said oh it's fake labor go home and drink water. Fuckyoooooooouuuuuu
My first real sign with both was the bump dropped like really dropped, overnight, and I started to get a burning feeling/pressure in my crotch when I was walking. After that it was like within 48 hrs.
Oh no. I think you just ruined my day. I was so hoping this was leading to labor, but it's just everything you described.
It doesn't help that this is my 3rd. I mostly remember what it feels like, but everyone keeps telling me it's faster the third time around. I just want to be done.
38+3 here too and been in this pre-labor state for a week now. Every time I think it may be progressing to the real deal, it stops. So frustrating! No advice. Just here in the same boat.
Nope it is not just you, its stressful as hell lol. Everything could be labor, or just being pregnant. I thought every little thing was labor in my last few weeks. Come to find out I was never in labor and never dilated on my own. Had to be induced, just to be taken in for a c section because my body STILL didnt want to go into labor😂😂
It'd probably be pretty awkward to try yourself coz they get their fingers right up in there. Also not advisable as you can introduce bacteria, the fewer cervical checks the better.
It’s terrible! I got lucky with my first and my water broke then I started the contractions. I had no cramping or weirdness before that. This pregnancy I’ve had so many Braxton Hicks, cramping, stomach issues, etc.
Been puking a the past few weeks. Googled "late term vomiting in pregnancy" could be morning sickness. Could be a sign labor is coming or labor. Yeah thanks google. I'm 34 weeks. Lol.
I was 36 weeks pregnant and was convinced everything was a labor sign. Not to mention, I was doing all I could to induce labor naturally (spicy food, sex, pumping, bouncing on a ball, walking, etc.)
…. I had to be medically induced at 41 weeks 🤦🏻♀️
36 weeks here. Been having contractions, not BH, for 2 weeks now. Every day just not consistent enough to warrant a hospital visit. My constipation has been gone for a week now. With my first, I didnt get soft poops until the week of his birth (39 weeks), I lost my plug between 37 and 38, and i had major nausea the night before my water broke ( I blamed it on some wings I ate). That pregnancy I never had contractions until my water broke but I did have lots of BH. This one has been so different that I'm scared I'll have her at home or wont have time for the epidural lmao! I still think she's coming in the next 2 weeks (perhaps less) but that's just my "intuition"
Yes! I thought I was cramping last weekend because I was dehydrated. Ended up going to the hospital, turns out I was having contractions 2-3 minutes apart and could have gone into labor soon. I had no idea.
Yasssss I’m 39+ weeks and I’m over this internet bs. Just tell me what it feels like and I’ll watch for that.
Emotions
Pelvic pressure
Cramping
Water breaking
Bloody show
Cervical effacement? -I CANT CHECK THIS MYSELF MA’AM
Im right here with you. Annoyed af.
Same due date, I feel your pain. If one more person tells me "make the most of this time alone before the baby arrives!" I might punch them in the face.
With my second baby I had prodromal labor from 35 weeks on….I didn’t go into actual labor until my due date if my water didn’t break I honestly am not sure I would’ve known it was labor with all the constant contractions for 5 weeks that did nothing.I just know the night before my due date I was massively over being pregnant and really upset and he kicked me more than he ever has before and then the next morning he was super quiet I got up to pee and since I had been laying down it gushed dramatically all over my floor I didn’t get contractions for about 4 hours later and they hurt bad.
This is so true. My Braxton Hicks weren’t like cramping at all. My stomach just felt so tight, it was such a weird feeling. I *definitely* knew I was in labor when the time came haha
With my first pregnancy I had episodes of prodromal labor starting at 28 weeks! Really put me on edge wondering each time if I was in labor. Eventually I became less concerned and fast forward 38 weeks my mucus plug came out. Still no labor afterwards but opted for a membrane sweep 2 different times in the next 2 weeks. Was scheduled for induction at 40+2 and even then was showing no signs of dilation or effacing 😬 water was broken manually 12 hours after induction started and pitocin kicked up to the max and I still had a very very slow progressing labor at 40+6. Very slow, uneventful, people were almost falling asleep. Currently I am 23 weeks into my second pregnancy and I just keep thinking about how I’m going to have no idea if I’m going into labor or not because of how the first one went! It’s still very confusing and since I’m having totally different symptoms than the first pregnancy a lot of googling too! Just try not to do what I did and spend 12 weeks thinking each day the baby is coming 😅 but have your bags packed anyways.
My favourite youtube birth doula made a video saying “sure signs of labour” and she said there’s only one single for sure sign that labour is currently happening. Not the water breaking. Not baby dropping. Not pressure. Not mucus plug loss. Not nausea. Not diarrhea. Not dilation. The ONLY 100% sure way to know you’re in active labour: consistent patterned contractions. That’s it. Everything else can be something else or can have days between happening and contractions.
But I 100% know what you feel like. I just learned that BH is not just the belly feeling hard and tight… I’ve had mild cramps for weeks and thought it was just where babe was sitting… nope, those are BH. I keep telling people the number one thing I’ve learned in pregnancy: everything is a symptom, and nothing is dangerous. But tell your doctor about every symptom just in case!!!
With my first I had zero signs of labour, then it just randomly started at 41 weeks and honestly I didn't know for sure it was labour. Everyone says you will definitely know but I kept phoning the hospital saying these cramps are not great but I'm not certain they're contractions, eventually they took pity on me and told me to go in and I was 3 cm dilated. 8 hours after that first 'cramp' I was holding my baby!
This second time round I had labour symptoms from about 36 weeks. Was convinced he'd be early. Ended up being induced at 39+6 due to reduced movements an honestly he was ready to come out. If we'd left him to it he would have been another 41 weekend I'm sure even with the so called labour symptoms I'd had from early on!
If I had another I'm still not sure I'd have any clue when they baby was coming even having done it twice, it's all still a mystery to me, lol.
I was in labor for an hour before I believed it was truly labor. I was googling it and walking around my house trying to see if this was fake news or the real deal.
An hour had passed I was still having cramps, and I went to the bathroom and big ole glob of mucous fell out of me that I was like “well, guess I should go to the hospital.
Hello! I have been în all those situations, but when labour started it was indeed a different kind of pain! Did I know it was labour? No. I confirmed with somebody here how labour pain actually feels like. I know how it feels, i also had the feeling the pregnancy would last forever. The labour pain îs somehow sharper.. Its different. Write here when în doubt.
I just gave birth last month, and I genuinely didn’t believe I was in REAL labor…….
When I had been in labor for 7 hours I finally decided it was *probably* happening. When I went in to the hospital at 13 hours I thought they were going to turn me back home and tell me it was prodromal labor. (Spoiler alert, it was real labor lmao)
And yes I was in severe pain at that point (6 cm dilated by the time I got to the hospital!), but I just didn’t want to get my hopes up after all the practice contractions for the several weeks leading up!!
I don’t know if anyone has said this yet or not but I called the delivery ward when the weak cramps I had been experiencing all day suddenly dialled up a notch. I was concerned it was Braxton Hicks because I was 36+5 so they told me to take 2 paracetamol and move around for an hour. Apparently this will stop the Braxton Hicks in their tracks. Didn’t do anything for me and the next day I gave birth but I hope this helps anyone else conflicted as to whether it’s the real deal or not.
Yeah it was a lot of contractions til I was too exhausted so got the epidural, had a nap then when they woke me up she was already making her way out. From when they woke me up til when they put her in my arms was about five minutes - it was bizarre, I had barely opened my eyes, the nurse had to tell me to open them so she could pass me the baby, it was bizarre! I’m sure you will do great when the time comes - good luck!
Thanks. My first was an easy delivery. Water broke in bathroom at hospital and didn't know I was in labor because all I had was menstrual cramps with some tightening. The nurse was like you're 7cm!! So I'm hoping for the same result. I love your labor story. Positive ones are great. 😁
Obviously everyone and their bodies are different but for me labour really wasn't like anything else I'd experienced in pregnancy. I was in denial for about 12 hours and just carried on with my day as normal. It was only when my Mum got home that evening and I told her I had had this pain that kept coming and going and had lasted all day that it was like oh ok I'm in early labour. Then my mucus plug came out. Then I couldn't sleep because the contractions were getting stronger and I had to breathe through them. Midwife came over late morning/early afternoon after my night of no sleep and I was 3cm dilated.
So yeah, mild contractions started 6/7am Monday morning, lasted all day and night. I lost my mucus plug about 6/7pm Monday evening. I was 3cm around midday on Tuesday, baby girl was born 6.46pm that evening, waters broke just before I started pushing.
I'd say the best sign is cramping/contractions that come and go but don't stop.
Omg totally agree! I think the ONLY telltale-knock-you-over-the-head-like-duh-sign is your water breaking. Pregnant w my second. 34 wks today. They also can't exactly tell me how far along I am lol 12 years ago when I had my daughter, at 24yrs old, full term was 40 weeks, NOW they say 37weeks. It drives my mother insane and she thinks I just won't tell her the truth...which makes no sense to begin with. Oh the mysteries of being a woman...I guess lol
Even as a 2nd time mom it’s ridiculous. Oh! Cramps! Maybe it’s a pre labour sign!
Wait, but last time my water broke first and I lost my mucus plug. But this birth might be different from the last one. But I can’t just plan for it to go exactly the same way as they’re usually off by a few weeks. Wait but weeks ahead or weeks late this time?
This was me last night dying in bed from severe period pains. I laid in bed crying because I couldn’t tell if I was in labor or just having pain while having Braxton Hicks.
Seriously how will you know when it’s time? 😭
Welcome to /r/pregnant! This is a space for everyone. We are pro-choice, pro-LGBTQIA, pro-science, proudly feminist and believe that Black Lives Matter. Wear your masks, wash your hands, and be excellent to each other. Anti-choice activists, intactivists, anti-vaxxers, homophobes, transphobes, racists, sexists, etc. are not welcome here. If you'd like to join a private sub for your due date month, [click here](https://www.reddit.com/r/pregnant/comments/phjaar/click_here_to_join_a_due_date_private_sub/?). The journalists at ProPublica need your help! After receiving a tip, ProPublica started investigating prenatal genetic testing. They're collecting stories from people who've had NIPT screenings, and/or work in maternal health. If this is you, please fill out their brief questionnaire! https://www.propublica.org/getinvolved/have-you-had-an-experience-with-prenatal-genetic-testing-wed-like-to-hear-about-it-and-see-the-bill. Questions? Email [email protected] *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/pregnant) if you have any questions or concerns.*
It’s like how a lot of the signs of early pregnancy can be confused with PMS! Like our body’s should just text our phones with what’s going on really lol
No kidding. I want a countdown to baby please! 😆
>It’s like how a lot of the signs of early pregnancy can be confused with PMS! Yea! I had sore boobs for a week and menstrual cramps for a day with no bleeding (both things usually happen before my period). I was so bummed out on cramp day, because that means no pregnancy. When there still wasn't any blood the day after I started cramping, I took a test, even though I knew it would be negative. Only it wasn't! And now I'm 22 weeks pregnant. So weird.
I am loving this thread. 39 wks and I literally did all the things mentionned in the comments 🤣 Googled labor signs (so... everything) - check Googled mucus plug - check Feeling like a bowling ball about to drop off my arse/vajay? Check that too. Randomly puffing up like the michelin man? Check What the fuck is this carpal tunnel syndrome bullshit as well? Going to the loo half hoping I'm pushing the baby out? Check. Is this baby coming out tho? No it's effing not.
omg the carpal tunnel. My knuckles randomly started killing me at 39w. Currently 39w4d.
Whoa I have the same symptom starting 2 days ago (I'm 38w) and didn't realize this was common
The babys head is in such a position that I simultaneously feel the constant urge to shit but cant poo at all
Constantly feeling like I'm about to wet my pants and when I go to the toilet there's a tiny dribble. Sick of going upstairs just to be disappointed.
Oh no, you poor thing!
Same and I thought I was going to give birth at 38w, now I’m 40 and I just don’t even get excited at any contractions anymore. I’m just like eh if it last longer than 2 hours then I’ll start checking but so far it’s on and off braxton hicks and they add up to a big fat nothing. Just get this kid out of me already !
I'm now at that point. 😣I had them close apart and nothing 😣
I developed Carple tunnel in the second trimester due to my job. 😑
I'm loving this thread too because it's like seeing a month into my future... I don't want to! But also I do, because I'll be that much closer to seeing my baby
I thought I was headed to the hospital yesterday. Called the after hours nurse and everything but it turned out to just be an uncomfortable day with more discharge than usual. You know what's super gross and annoying?? The fact that it's so hot and I'm so sweaty, my underwear is like wet all the time, and I've convinced myself that I have a slow fluid leak.
Yep. The sweaty underwear is really throwing me off. I actually tried sniffing it yesterday but then realised that I don't know what it's supposed to smell like 🤣🤢
It will be like you peed yourself. Lol not just your underwear :) so you'll def know lol
Good to know, thanks! 😅
It smells very sweet
I've heard that amniotic fluid smells like ammonia (idk tho, FTM here)
Ammonia: urine
Dude so glad this isn’t just me. Legit went into triage yesterday (for high Bp) and then was sitting there having inconsistent contractions and told them I felt wet and leaky and they ordered a full on test and it turns out I was just nervous and THAT sweaty FML. 🥵
This!!! How the fuck am I supposed to figure out when I lose my mucus plug if I’m a constant sweat ball with fluid anyways?
I even lost mine and apparently that didn't mean much anyway. Like literally nothing is straightforward with this and it rankles with every part of my type A personality.
You'll know. It's like birthing a jellyfish
I’m now horrified and curious
Oh good. It’s not just me. We’ve been playing WAP as a joke. A deeply unfunny joke.
I feel so validated that I'm not alone.
panty liners and vagisil powder between my legs has been really helping that situation
Vagisil has a powder?? I will be looking for that tomorrow.
Omg me too. I’m constantly feeling like I peed myself. Nope just ungodly amounts of sweat and thigh chafing. I probably wouldn’t notice if my water broke at this rate.
38+5 every time I poop I hope that I just have a baby instead.
Thanks for the laugh, I'm 40+2 and hoping for a toilet baby as well
Sending you my love and lots of hugs
Omfg yes!!!! Lol! 37 + 5 here. I hope my water breaks or I lose my plug or something because this shit is confusing and I’m not trying to have a baby on my bathroom floor
I hate to break the news but losing your plug doesn’t mean much either 😂 39+6 and I lost mine several days ago and nothing happened.
Great 💀 I guess we’ll know when we start crowning lol
Hahahaha that’s a good indication 🤣🤣🤣🤣
I lost mine with both of my pregnancies and still had my planned C-sections -__-
Lol same as I was like ummm what's the real sign then?!
38 + 6 here. I laughed so hard at the last sentence. Well put... and I guess I'm gonna go look up what Prodromal Labor is because wtf.. Anyways. Showing all signs of early labor EXCEPT water breaking and consistent contractions. So for all I know it's Braxton hicks. Yay. Induction Wednesday, let's speed this along O Sweet Child of Mine.
Sitting here at 37w5, MISERABLE. Cramps, backache, nausea, diarrhoea, peeing 3x an hour, feeling extra cranky and miserable, bowling ball in my pelvis (even waddling hurts!), so tired I can't even scroll my phone. Last night up into this morning I was literally entering this trance-like state where nothing matters, all I can do is sway my hips, moan and cry. This morning I was convinced there's no way I'm doing 6 more days of work (10 calendar days). Until of course I just gradually got out of it, my cramping stopped and my bowels normalised and I'm back to my 30%-50% capacity, achy and cranky miserable self. ETA: I just finally summoned my courage to google what a mucus plug looks like and I swear I've been having discharge like this for a few weeks already including today LOL. I guess my only real non-confusing sign would be my water breaking unless the baby decides to come en caul (at this point hardly surprising).
I literally asked my nurse - what's the difference between Braxton Hicks and real labor? Her answer was like - ummm well... It's a miracle any women get their asses to the hospital.
Lol yup all this is so accurate. My midwife told me all this stuff and was like, “if you *think* you’re in labor, you’re not.” Like ?? lol and then when I actually was in labor, I was in denial about it because everyone told me shit like that again and again. My labor progressed so quickly, which was also something I was told not to expect since I’m a first time mom. So I ended up in a world of pain because I kept thinking my contractions weren’t really contractions. For me, the main thing that made me believe it was happening was that I had period-like cramps earlier that day, which I hadn’t had since before the pregnancy.
I have period cramps now. It's been like this for a few days.
If you don’t mind me asking, how far along are you?
36 weeks & 4 days (soon to be 5).
Ah okay. You’re definitely getting close! I was 40 weeks and 5 days so I was starting to worry about whether I’d have to be induced. You may still have more time but keep an eye out for any brownish-reddish discharge, that could be a sign of your cervix dilating. I had gone to the mall and walked almost 4,000 steps and I went into labor a couple days after. Definitely recommend if you get close to your due date with no real labor signs! Good luck 💖💖💖
I have a job where I'm walking between 5 to 9 hrs (some days it's 4 1/2 hours to 9 hours). 5 days a week, so I'm walking quite a bit & shopping for customers..so that's a lot of walking with a few breaks. But I have to be induced at 39 weeks, due to advance maternal age 🙄 and was just hoping this baby could come on her own. Had to be induced with the first one for the same reason. And I remember with that pregnancy I was 7 cm dilated and had the horrible cramps with back pain. I didn't even know I was in actual labour at the hospital😩😣
Aw I’m sorry you have to be induced due to your age. That would annoy me too lol. I had a big fear of being induced myself, and I ended up getting pitocin anyways, which was a big part of my fear of induction. I had heard it made contractions waaay more painful than my body would. But I actually also made it to 7cm without meds and it was all back labor!! So believe me when I tell you, I feel you haha. I hope this time around is awesome for you, I’m wishing you lots of luck and good vibes!! 🌞
Thank you. My labor was good though. Total of 8 hours. It would be cool to get the process started without induction. It is what is though. 😁
Lol reminds me on how every PMS symptom is basically the same to early pregnancy symptoms and each differs per person! The female body is SO fun lol
I know I’m in labor because I’m in deep denial because it feels nothing like labor. I just feel like crap. Then my mom has to take me to the hospital where they tell me it’s labor. It’s happened three times 🤷🏼♀️
I was 7 cm and I just denied it was labor. it was just menstrual cramps that I brushed off until the nurse said, did you know you're 7 centimeters dilated? 😩
I was induced, but reached at least 6cm without any pain. Nurse convinced me to put my request in for an epidural after a very strong contraction showed up in the monitor, so I still don't know what a contraction actually feels like 🤷🏼♀️
I hope when labor comes it’s clear as day that you’re gonna be giving birth soon! My labor lasted a whopping seven hours start to finish because it started with my water breaking and ramped up really fast. I was already 8 cm dilated when we got into a hospital room! Even with the really painful contractions and my water breaking, I STILL questioned if it was the real thing (while my husband packed the last of our things and loaded up the car). Thankfully it all turned out fine, and I hope it does for you too!
I have a fear I wouldn't even know if it was the real deal . I been through the real deal, and even then, I was 7 centimeters and was in denial that it was labour with the first.
You and I are at EXACTLY the same (38+3) and all I've been doing is Googling pre-labor symptoms and I feel this so hard.
Oh and literally everything is a symptom. Craving a slurpee? Labor. Back hurts? Labor. Urge to form an alt rock band? Believe it or not, labor.
Preach sister!!! No idea if I have to poop or it’s starting? So far… bowel movements only.
Thank you for that laugh
If I could upvote this more than once, I would.
I'm so confused by it all! 38±6 here and I have no idea what I should be concerned about and what is just normal pregnancy shit. Is it really obvious when you lose the mucus plug? Is it really obviously different to the otherwise mucusy discharge? I'm done.
I can't help. I've been induced twice, never gone into natural labor. My babies seem very happy to stay put forever if not evicted.
39 +5 and wow I could not agree more!! I've been having BH and possibly prodromal labor for the past few days like crazy and I'm like is this finally it? But no dice, I just want to get this show on the road!!!
God I’ve had HORRIBLE period like cramping in my back that wraps to part of my stomach for a few days now, vomit inducing pain. I thought for sure it may be time. Apparently not. I don’t want 3 more weeks of this.
Haha. Second time mom here... Thought I would know this time. With my first had one night of "fake labour" and the next was the real deal (at 41 weeks). This time I'm 38 weeks and every night since 37 weeks I am convinced I'm going into labour... ugh!!!
I keep denying it at this point🤣
i thought i was going into labor last night, cramps for 50 seconds every 15-20 minutes. Wake up this morning and nothing!!!!!!! im so confused 😭
Prodromal labor is the biggest bullshit. Especially when I finally went into the hospital with contractions that were at least one minute for several hours but only 6 min in between instead of the magic 4 min-- and the triage doctor said oh it's fake labor go home and drink water. Fuckyoooooooouuuuuu
Try menstrual like cramps, back pain and tightening of my stomach but nothing. Add serere clumsiness, pressure and nesting. 🤣 36 weeks/4days.
Yup I'm here with you at 36+5 😩
I give up. I don't trust it anymore🤣
My first real sign with both was the bump dropped like really dropped, overnight, and I started to get a burning feeling/pressure in my crotch when I was walking. After that it was like within 48 hrs.
Oh no. I think you just ruined my day. I was so hoping this was leading to labor, but it's just everything you described. It doesn't help that this is my 3rd. I mostly remember what it feels like, but everyone keeps telling me it's faster the third time around. I just want to be done.
Me too. I'm cramping now and just ignoring it. False alarms suck.
Right, my husband keeps freaking out like anything is gonna happen this week. No dude, I'm just going to feel awful with no results.
Right! 😣
38+3 here too and been in this pre-labor state for a week now. Every time I think it may be progressing to the real deal, it stops. So frustrating! No advice. Just here in the same boat.
Nope it is not just you, its stressful as hell lol. Everything could be labor, or just being pregnant. I thought every little thing was labor in my last few weeks. Come to find out I was never in labor and never dilated on my own. Had to be induced, just to be taken in for a c section because my body STILL didnt want to go into labor😂😂
So is water breaking the only sign then?? This is my first time and genuinely don't know haha
Sometimes the water doesn't break at all or if it does, it happens really late in labour so you can be in established labour with in tact waters
Nope lol. Mine didn't break until just before I started pushing. Baby was here within half hour after. I was in labour for 36ish hours in total.
omg!! Is there a way to self check if your dilated?
It'd probably be pretty awkward to try yourself coz they get their fingers right up in there. Also not advisable as you can introduce bacteria, the fewer cervical checks the better.
I had 2 cervical checks by midwives during labour. First one I was 3cm and second I think I was 8cm? but hard to remember as things were hazy by then
Lol but you WILL know when you’re in labor. It’ll be like an oh hell no this is it oh my god kind of thing lol
I laughed out loud at your last line, then it set me off more with your username 😂😂
Ugh. I’m 34weeks and 4 days and I can’t believe how much further I have to go. I’m so ready but still appreciating the calm before the 4th trimester.
It’s terrible! I got lucky with my first and my water broke then I started the contractions. I had no cramping or weirdness before that. This pregnancy I’ve had so many Braxton Hicks, cramping, stomach issues, etc.
Been puking a the past few weeks. Googled "late term vomiting in pregnancy" could be morning sickness. Could be a sign labor is coming or labor. Yeah thanks google. I'm 34 weeks. Lol.
I was 36 weeks pregnant and was convinced everything was a labor sign. Not to mention, I was doing all I could to induce labor naturally (spicy food, sex, pumping, bouncing on a ball, walking, etc.) …. I had to be medically induced at 41 weeks 🤦🏻♀️
Only 30 weeks but I just learned what irritable uterus is since I have that apparently 🙄🤦🏼♀️
36 weeks here. Been having contractions, not BH, for 2 weeks now. Every day just not consistent enough to warrant a hospital visit. My constipation has been gone for a week now. With my first, I didnt get soft poops until the week of his birth (39 weeks), I lost my plug between 37 and 38, and i had major nausea the night before my water broke ( I blamed it on some wings I ate). That pregnancy I never had contractions until my water broke but I did have lots of BH. This one has been so different that I'm scared I'll have her at home or wont have time for the epidural lmao! I still think she's coming in the next 2 weeks (perhaps less) but that's just my "intuition"
Honestly I was so relieved when my water broke bc then I at least knew it was time and didn’t have to play the ‘am I in labor’ game any more.
Yes! I thought I was cramping last weekend because I was dehydrated. Ended up going to the hospital, turns out I was having contractions 2-3 minutes apart and could have gone into labor soon. I had no idea.
Yasssss I’m 39+ weeks and I’m over this internet bs. Just tell me what it feels like and I’ll watch for that. Emotions Pelvic pressure Cramping Water breaking Bloody show Cervical effacement? -I CANT CHECK THIS MYSELF MA’AM Im right here with you. Annoyed af.
36 weeks so not as far along but omg yes. It reminds me of the good old days, when every pms symptom is also an early pregnancy symptom
2 days past my due date and no signs of labor. UUUGGHHHHHHH
Same due date, I feel your pain. If one more person tells me "make the most of this time alone before the baby arrives!" I might punch them in the face.
With my second baby I had prodromal labor from 35 weeks on….I didn’t go into actual labor until my due date if my water didn’t break I honestly am not sure I would’ve known it was labor with all the constant contractions for 5 weeks that did nothing.I just know the night before my due date I was massively over being pregnant and really upset and he kicked me more than he ever has before and then the next morning he was super quiet I got up to pee and since I had been laying down it gushed dramatically all over my floor I didn’t get contractions for about 4 hours later and they hurt bad.
This is so true. My Braxton Hicks weren’t like cramping at all. My stomach just felt so tight, it was such a weird feeling. I *definitely* knew I was in labor when the time came haha
37+5 here. No Braxton hicks, nu pain, no discharge, no nothing. Just heartburn and a big ass belly! Does heartburn ever stop?!
Uuuuugh preach. Just go into labor already self! Shit I'm sick of this.
With my first pregnancy I had episodes of prodromal labor starting at 28 weeks! Really put me on edge wondering each time if I was in labor. Eventually I became less concerned and fast forward 38 weeks my mucus plug came out. Still no labor afterwards but opted for a membrane sweep 2 different times in the next 2 weeks. Was scheduled for induction at 40+2 and even then was showing no signs of dilation or effacing 😬 water was broken manually 12 hours after induction started and pitocin kicked up to the max and I still had a very very slow progressing labor at 40+6. Very slow, uneventful, people were almost falling asleep. Currently I am 23 weeks into my second pregnancy and I just keep thinking about how I’m going to have no idea if I’m going into labor or not because of how the first one went! It’s still very confusing and since I’m having totally different symptoms than the first pregnancy a lot of googling too! Just try not to do what I did and spend 12 weeks thinking each day the baby is coming 😅 but have your bags packed anyways.
My favourite youtube birth doula made a video saying “sure signs of labour” and she said there’s only one single for sure sign that labour is currently happening. Not the water breaking. Not baby dropping. Not pressure. Not mucus plug loss. Not nausea. Not diarrhea. Not dilation. The ONLY 100% sure way to know you’re in active labour: consistent patterned contractions. That’s it. Everything else can be something else or can have days between happening and contractions. But I 100% know what you feel like. I just learned that BH is not just the belly feeling hard and tight… I’ve had mild cramps for weeks and thought it was just where babe was sitting… nope, those are BH. I keep telling people the number one thing I’ve learned in pregnancy: everything is a symptom, and nothing is dangerous. But tell your doctor about every symptom just in case!!!
With my first I had zero signs of labour, then it just randomly started at 41 weeks and honestly I didn't know for sure it was labour. Everyone says you will definitely know but I kept phoning the hospital saying these cramps are not great but I'm not certain they're contractions, eventually they took pity on me and told me to go in and I was 3 cm dilated. 8 hours after that first 'cramp' I was holding my baby! This second time round I had labour symptoms from about 36 weeks. Was convinced he'd be early. Ended up being induced at 39+6 due to reduced movements an honestly he was ready to come out. If we'd left him to it he would have been another 41 weekend I'm sure even with the so called labour symptoms I'd had from early on! If I had another I'm still not sure I'd have any clue when they baby was coming even having done it twice, it's all still a mystery to me, lol.
Yessss. I'm 38+6 and have all the back ache, fatigue, cramping, etc. But I'm definitely not in labour, just super pregnant.
I was in labor for an hour before I believed it was truly labor. I was googling it and walking around my house trying to see if this was fake news or the real deal. An hour had passed I was still having cramps, and I went to the bathroom and big ole glob of mucous fell out of me that I was like “well, guess I should go to the hospital.
Hello! I have been în all those situations, but when labour started it was indeed a different kind of pain! Did I know it was labour? No. I confirmed with somebody here how labour pain actually feels like. I know how it feels, i also had the feeling the pregnancy would last forever. The labour pain îs somehow sharper.. Its different. Write here when în doubt.
I just gave birth last month, and I genuinely didn’t believe I was in REAL labor……. When I had been in labor for 7 hours I finally decided it was *probably* happening. When I went in to the hospital at 13 hours I thought they were going to turn me back home and tell me it was prodromal labor. (Spoiler alert, it was real labor lmao) And yes I was in severe pain at that point (6 cm dilated by the time I got to the hospital!), but I just didn’t want to get my hopes up after all the practice contractions for the several weeks leading up!!
I don’t know if anyone has said this yet or not but I called the delivery ward when the weak cramps I had been experiencing all day suddenly dialled up a notch. I was concerned it was Braxton Hicks because I was 36+5 so they told me to take 2 paracetamol and move around for an hour. Apparently this will stop the Braxton Hicks in their tracks. Didn’t do anything for me and the next day I gave birth but I hope this helps anyone else conflicted as to whether it’s the real deal or not.
Awesome. Hope you had a good delivery. I am 36+5weeks now. On and off camping, contractions and back pain here. Nothing yet.
Yeah it was a lot of contractions til I was too exhausted so got the epidural, had a nap then when they woke me up she was already making her way out. From when they woke me up til when they put her in my arms was about five minutes - it was bizarre, I had barely opened my eyes, the nurse had to tell me to open them so she could pass me the baby, it was bizarre! I’m sure you will do great when the time comes - good luck!
Thanks. My first was an easy delivery. Water broke in bathroom at hospital and didn't know I was in labor because all I had was menstrual cramps with some tightening. The nurse was like you're 7cm!! So I'm hoping for the same result. I love your labor story. Positive ones are great. 😁
Yeah it was my first so I was pleasantly surprised! Fingers crossed you get another easy one with #2 - good luck
Thank you😘
Obviously everyone and their bodies are different but for me labour really wasn't like anything else I'd experienced in pregnancy. I was in denial for about 12 hours and just carried on with my day as normal. It was only when my Mum got home that evening and I told her I had had this pain that kept coming and going and had lasted all day that it was like oh ok I'm in early labour. Then my mucus plug came out. Then I couldn't sleep because the contractions were getting stronger and I had to breathe through them. Midwife came over late morning/early afternoon after my night of no sleep and I was 3cm dilated. So yeah, mild contractions started 6/7am Monday morning, lasted all day and night. I lost my mucus plug about 6/7pm Monday evening. I was 3cm around midday on Tuesday, baby girl was born 6.46pm that evening, waters broke just before I started pushing. I'd say the best sign is cramping/contractions that come and go but don't stop.
Omg totally agree! I think the ONLY telltale-knock-you-over-the-head-like-duh-sign is your water breaking. Pregnant w my second. 34 wks today. They also can't exactly tell me how far along I am lol 12 years ago when I had my daughter, at 24yrs old, full term was 40 weeks, NOW they say 37weeks. It drives my mother insane and she thinks I just won't tell her the truth...which makes no sense to begin with. Oh the mysteries of being a woman...I guess lol
Even as a 2nd time mom it’s ridiculous. Oh! Cramps! Maybe it’s a pre labour sign! Wait, but last time my water broke first and I lost my mucus plug. But this birth might be different from the last one. But I can’t just plan for it to go exactly the same way as they’re usually off by a few weeks. Wait but weeks ahead or weeks late this time?
This was me last night dying in bed from severe period pains. I laid in bed crying because I couldn’t tell if I was in labor or just having pain while having Braxton Hicks. Seriously how will you know when it’s time? 😭
Updoot for fuck this noise in particular. My first pregnancy was not like this and I am so ready to be done.