Thanks Danniim. I'm birthing at the same hospital again as my girls and they've always taken the view that if in doubt, just come in so hopefully mine will be as good as yours was.

Julie - I'm also not sure I ever got that feeling of knowing I was close - the prelabour was so strong and started around 35 weeks but DD2 wasn't born until 41+2. Other than just giving it time to see if it develops, is there any way of telling prelabour from genuine labour? Those articles are interesting - particularly the bit about fast labours usually being too quick for problems to develop. Found that pretty reassuring.