Labour - Will i know?

Of Course i will probably know, but, how? How will i know thats it finally 'it' and not just false?
It sound still, but, DH asked me yesterday am i scared of the birth part. And truthfully, i am not scared, i dont think about it, and have trust in myself that i can do it (and have utter faith in him, as my support person to help me thru), but, I am scared of not knowing when i have gone into labour?
What if i miss the signs? Is there a way of knowing how close the real thing is?

Like, is it just a smack bang in your face 'your in labour' type pain situation, or is it just a more gentle build up? If its just a gentle build up, what are the chances of me missing it, and just thinking its something else?

These days, bubs is not as active, more squirmy, and lots of feeling like it is pushing down. Aching joints in my front Y section (you know, where my thighs sorta connect with my pubic area) and feeling nauseas lots. And then i get what i can only assume are BH, but, i never think about them enough to wonder how often i get them. So, should i think about that, or will it just be blantely obvious that they are very often?

Lots of questions i know, but, i just feel very unsure about the inital stages, so any info would be lovely. :)

its my first time too and ive had lots of strong braxton hicks and false labour so I am not sure but everyone keeps saying 'you will just know!'

LOL!! I am just as keen to hear peoples thoughts on this as I am absolutely no help but was thinking this thing today as I have had a rather painful day (am 38wks) and even though this is my second pg..........still feel completely clueless!! :doh: (sorry! :redface:)

I think it is a different experience for everyone. Some people's waters break and they start to feel contractions not long after, others have pre-labour with irregular contractions. With my first I was woken with gentle contractions that were not at all regular, I got frustrated as the entire day went by and they could be five minutes apart, then an hour would go by until I had another one! I knew I was in true labour when the contractions became very regular and the pain started getting more and more unbearable.

Don't worry too much, you will definitely know when to go to the hospital! BTW you have a great attitude about not being scared, it is the best way to go into it all. I wish you the best of luck!

You know something...everyones story is different.

With my first I simply went out to dinner, got home late, was in the loo at 3am in the morning and pop went my waters.

With my second I had no obvious sign on labour at all, until after I had been induced with the third set of gels. My first sign was a bit of back pain, and period pain.

Some have pre-labour for days or weeks, which involves back pain, strong BH, and period pain...... I wish there was a clock that said you will go into labour in 3 days (fair warning) unfortunately we just aren't designed that way.

Goodluck with your first babies though. Just remember you forget it all when bubs is in your arms for the first time, and you'll be saying you want to do it all again!

Jac

I think almost every woman having her 1st bub gets at LEAST 3-4 hours of very intense, can't do anything but contract type contractions before bubs comes. It is VERY VERY obvious by then, the sensations are breath-taking, all-consuming. Do not worry. You will KNOW. :)

I'm pretty sure you'll just know! For me, I got mildly painful contractions for a whole day. At that point I wasnt sure if it was the start of labour or what, but i though it could be considering I was 38.5 weeks.. then my waters just broke and I straight away got much more painful contraxtions 3 mins apart. At that time I definately knew. If you arent sure you can always come on here or ring your hospital and see what they think.

Mum2bee- I was worried about the same thing as I had so much pre-labour where I would get strong contrax for 3 hrs and then they would stop, I was worried that by the time I was convinced it was the real thing the baby would be crowning, in the end I had my waters broken in the hospital as I was sick of all thepre-labour and was 4cm dilated so I'm not the right person to talk to I suppose :-) I have to say though the contractions I had after my waters were broken were OMG contractions and were constantly OMG contractions while my prelabour varied from OMG to not so bad.

All the best with you labour and birth

mum2bee - great question, I was sort of wondering the same thing. Like you I am starting to feel more 'pressure' in the pubic area, as well as pains on & off in the same 'Y' region. I am 35 wks today. I guess its just a wait & see game, it would be nice if there was some way of knowing exactly what is going on in there. Good luck with everything. Like you, I dont feel scared about what will happen but it would just be nice to know I haven't missed anything.
All the best with the birth of your bubs!