Share your symptoms of Labor

Just wondering what symptoms you all had when yu were in real labor (and not having BHs).

Re: Share your symptoms of Labor

For me, my water broke (not the huge gush everyone fears) first. The big hint was that they were getting stronger & closer together no matter what I did (EXCEPT WHEN I TOOK A SHOWER, something I was told in Bradley class would ease the pain & slow the contractions). Then the contractions felt like a shooting pain from my back to the front of my belly. When I looked at the Braxton Hicks vs. Real Labor chart my doctor gave me the pain radiating from the back to the front was listed first.

Second: Just those familiar tightening back to belly so we knew for sure.

Message edited 3/30/2006 1:55:01 PM.

Re: Share your symptoms of Labor

My BH contractions never felt like anything really, except for the tightening and firmness, so when I had real ones I knew the difference.

I felt fine all day long, no different than usual. In fact, I had my 40 week appt. that evening at 7pm...nothing too much happening. I took a very difficult walk around the neighborhood that evening with DH and didn't feel so hot once we got in the car. At home I started having period-type cramps, maybe *slightly* worse than normal, that I was able to time at 10 minutes apart. I tried to go to sleep, but that didn't work and eventually (over the course of about 3 hours) they got much worse (sorry!) and were 3-5 minutes apart. That's when I called the doctor.

I never lost the plug, and my water never broke.

Re: Share your symptoms of Labor

I was always told by friends and all the wonderful women here on LIF's what to expect and it was true. It started with some mild cramping and then as the hours passed, they became stronger and very much like a bad case of menstral cramps. I started timing them and they were ~8 min apart. It just happened that morning I had my routine check up with the doctor, so I called their office before my appointment to give them a heads up. They said to come right in, so DH and I packed the car in anticipation that they would then send us to the hospital. Which, by the time I got to the doctors office the contractions were 5 min apart. He took one look at me and sent me right to the hospital. The baby was born that night at 8:39 pm. The contractions only get worse when your water breaks....so be prepared and don't hesitate to ask for an epidural if you plan on having one.

Re: Share your symptoms of Labor

Don't forget diarrhea! (i have not gone through it but my best friend has) She said she only had this twice during PG once from a burger and the other from labor. Also losing your plug which the nurses told her a lot of people don't realize

Re: Share your symptoms of Labor

Dh and I were getting ice cream...we were laughing because they were out of chocolate ice cream, sprinkles of any kind and hot fudge.
all of a sudden I felt a pop, then I was wet...I looked at DH and mouthed..."my water just broke" Thank goodness I didn't leak thorugh my clothes in the shop.