I had been getting period like pains and belly tightens for about two weeks- but never together and never too strong- then on saturday night I got my first niggles of the both together (belly tighten with the pain) at about 6:30pm- getting about 3 per hour, then from 7:30 to 8:30 i got four then from 8:30-9 i got 3 and called the hospital who advised me to come in as i am a loong drive from hospital and i was supposed to be having another c section (last one was only 1 1/2 years prior and i have had troubles so no VBAC allowed for me...)

We got to the hospital at about 10pm and i was having irregular contraction the whole way there. From 10-12 i had irregular slight pains and was given two panadine forte and rested until about 5am (for those five hours i had one to two slightly more painful contractions an hour and the lower back period pain really started kicking in.

At 5am i had my first real OWIE that brought tears to my eyes i was examined and i was 3cm dialated and from there they came regualrly every few minutes. I was then prepped for the c section but of course my body didnt know that lol so i continued to have contractions for the next hour while the drs etc where getting ready for me- i wasnt examined again and as i said still had the c section- but the midwife said i was probably only an hour or two away from delivery at the time of the c section.

So i guess first stage was about 11 hours- and active labour anywhere from one hour to who knows!! My water never broke- so i think i would have still been a bit of time off having him naturally.