Hello everyone!


1. What are the first signs of your body getting ready to go into labour? I've heard back ache, AF pain etc.
2. When your waters break, do you wait for contractions to start before calling the hospital? I know some people have contractions which start almost right away and some people dont have them start for 24 hours or more.
3. Can you have contractions without the water breaking?
4. At what stage of labour do you actually go to the hospital? i.e. when contractions are how far apart (we are only 15 minutes from the hospital).
Hey Dayl! Here's my experience:
1. Contractions came on five minutes apart right from the start, and were instantly recognizable. Like AF pain, but more intense, and "working" IYKWIM. This is not the standard way to go into labour, but it is what happened to me both times so far. I think it is normal to have the period type pain, but with a much more gradual build up. I had false labour/BH contractions for a week or so before my second was born, but as soon as the real thing started, I could tell the difference. Chances are pretty good you will know the real thing when it happens, even though you haven't felt it before. Other early signs - bloody show when I went to the toilet just before contractions started, and low back ache, achey hips, and a feeling of pressure in the days just before labour started.

2. When your waters break, call your OB/MD/midwife. They will give you further directions. What happens next can depend on how many weeks you are, whether the baby has dropped/engaged yet, how big the baby is, whether the waters are meconium stained or not, and whether you are group B strep positive or not. (they'll do a swab to check for GBS closer to your due date, most likely.) Generally, they like you to deliver your baby within 24-48 hrs after your water breaks to reduce the risk of infection. So if no contractions start, they'll probably induce you.

3. Yes, contractions often (normally?) start without water breaking. With DD1, they broke after about 2-3 hours of labour, naturally. With DD2, they were ruptured artificially after about 6 hours. (baby born 45 min later.)

4. Generally, here they say come in when your contractions are 5 min apart, or if your water breaks, if you are close to the hospital. If you are farther away, they say come as soon as labour is "established" (regular contractions, building in intensity, but not too close together yet.) I think that's pretty standard. They also have you call in to the labour and delivery floor before you come, so they can interview you and see how you really are. They like to hear you on the phone through a contraction, so they can tell how intense things are getting. But that's here, things might be a little different by you. As you already said, I'm sure your doctor will give you directions on that one.

Anyways, hope all goes well for you! I'm sure you'll be fine. BTW - many first time mums love having a doula. Have you considered that? (Sorry, I haven't kept up with your pregnancy - don't know what you are planning on!)
All the best!