1. What are the first signs of your body getting ready to go into labour? I've heard back ache, AF pain etc. For me, it was when I woke up having mild contractions. I thought, yeah labour might happen soon. Also my waters broke and my "real" labour started straight away.

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. I had called my hospital when I was getting mild contractions every 5 mins(but not proper labour contrax), which was before my waters broke. They told me to call them again if *my waters break, *contractions get to about 3-4 mins apart *contractions get too painful or *if I started to have bleeding. My waters broke at home and I started getting painful contractions straight away 3 minutes apart.. so I called my hospital and they said to come in! They told me it doesnt matter how many times you call, its better to call and ask than to not call at all and not know what to do.

3. Can you have contractions without the water breaking? yes!

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). I went in after my wters broke. I was having painful contrax 3 mins apart. We only live about 15 mins from the hspital too. I think it was about 5 or 6 contractions to the hospital and it was 1:30 am so no traaffic!