When did you realise you were in labor? what were the first signs?

[zap]

I was having prelabour pains for two weeks until the first real contraction happened!! It was completely different. 10 hours later ds3 was born

[beckoes]

i didnt have a show until i was well in to my labour with both. and my waters didnt break at the begining, with dd1 they were broken by the mw and with dd2 broke when i began pushing.
i knew things we starting when i was woken at 1am, i took a codein and went back to bed and woke again at 4am knowing i was definatly in labour, i had to rock andbreath through them.
the contractions were regular and just felt ... different ... to bh. good luck