Love hearing other people's stories, especially now that I'm getting so close and have nothing to do :)
So, when you first went into labour (when your waters first broke, or those first contractions) were you totally shocked and surprised that it was finally happening, or had you felt it was going to happen for a while?
I was surprised with DS and DD1 I was like "nah this isn't labour pffft :o OMG I'm in labour!!" but with DD2 I just knew that night when I went to bed that I wouldnt be getting much sleep :D and I'd had a feeling about her birth date for a while cause it's a cool date 10/1/10 :D
i had a S&S both times, the first time was a blur of panic, but the second time i could feel it coming, i was having light tightenings about 10 hours after the S&S and it just felt different, like everything lining up ready! i was woken at 1am with a contraction and i know it was on!
I was definitely surprised! I was only 38w and after hearing the entire pregnancy that first time mother's often go weeks over, I hadn't even considered that I might be one to go early, I was preparing for the long haul. Took me ages to click that I was actually in labour (started with contractions, water didn't break till just before she was born). Looking back, I probably dismissed some signs but I really wasn't one to analyze everything... well might have been if I was still bouncing around at 40+ weeks but at that point I was still thinking it was ages off.
Yes it was a surprise with J. As soon as I had a show I was surprised (and very excited lol) I was shocked the show came when it did but when it did I expected her to arrive quickly as thats what my other labour was like. It was about 40hrs with ROM from 32 of those hours!
I dunno, with Amelia, I just had a feeling that morning that something would happen :p
Actually, even though I was induced both times, I still did get that little jolt of excitement when I realised it was labour I was feeling and not general aches and pains :heartbeat: Especially with Ianto - though I knew that the ending wasn't going to be a happy one, I was so excited and happy to be in labour!
Very with DD1, We had only just moved and I wasn't sure my contractions were anything :) she was born 20min After my wTers broke
With DD2 i cleaned like mad and moved the couch, mum thought I was nuts, that arvo when the pains started I had convinced myself it was nothing :) born 8min after my wTers broke
Sent from my iPhone, more than likely while I should be doing something else!
A bit of both. I'd been a complete hormonal nut bag :lol: the day before which I did think was weird at the time and I always thought I'd deliver early (DD was 38+5). I had contractions start around 6am and they were every 10 minutes until my waters broke, around 7.20am. I'd heard and felt a 'pop' earlier (maybe 6.30ish) so I thought it may be happening soon so when they finally gave way and contractions really amped up (immediately), I was kind of expecting it IYKWIM. I was stupidly excited watching my waters run down my legs onto the ensuite floor though :lol:
totally surprised with DD1 as she was 11 days early, waters broke in bed. In hindsight id had a crap nights sleep.
DD2 i had accupunture from 35 weeks and at 40 weeks had the electrodes attached, so when waters broke 12hrs later i wasnt that surprised
I was surprised the first time. I didn't feel any different, didn't think it was ever going to happen. Then that morning I had a show and still thought nothing was going to happen but I went into labour that night.
Second time I had a show and so I knew it wouldn't be long. I was still surprised though to wake up at 3am in labour with regular contractions.
Yep, very surprised when I was in labour with DS1. Even though it was his due date, I honestly didnt think my body knew what to do. I kept thinking I was in pre-labour untill the pains got really bad, then I knew I was in labour!
Total shock but looking back it was pretty obvious. waters absolutely gushed and I still wondered if it was labour. Started having contractions 7 minutes and the 5 minutes apart and still dodnt take anything to the hospital, just went to confirm I was in labour :rolleyes: Was being monitored and still wasnt sure that 'tjis was it' and hadnt told DH to come yet. Oh the giggles the midwives must of had about me and I was educated i just thought it would take much longer :lol:
Looking back I think I had a feeling with DD. Or maybe it was that I felt really ready to go into labour?
Nothing was different apart from DD being much lower that day. I went to bed that night and didn't even get a chance to fall asleep before contractions started.
Pretty surprised with DD as I was only just past 39wks and my family has a bit of a history of long labours so I was convinced I'd go over.
With DS, I went to 41wks so when I finally went into labour I was more like "hallelujah! Finally!" but then I got a big surprise with how fast it ramped up - from first contraction to babe in arms was only 6hrs, where with DD it was like 40 :rofl:
Good luck PZ... I'm excited for you!
I was shocked :D I had a bloody show that morning, then had absolutely nothing else all day! Moo never engaged so I also didn't have any of that pressure people talk about. So was happily surprised when contractions started at 7pm that night.
Best of luck with your home birth, can't wait to see a BA!
With dd1 it was a surprise it was after my baby shower that I got home and had a sore back, went to the loo and my waters broke at 34 weeks I think the contractions started the say before but I thought they were bh.
With dd2 and ds I knew what was happening, and managed to halt the pre term labours.
With DD, I was surprise dto be having her. My waters had been leaking for a efw days and I went into hospy for a check up and they decided to induce me, so I had one very restless night in hospital and they induced me the next day.
With DS1, I was surprised because I had weeeekkks of pre-labour and I only went into hospital to get some pain relief and sleeping tablets because I had slept for about a week. They checked me and told me I was 8cm dialated andready to have a baby! I thought it was all just prelabour still!
With DS2 I think I had an inkling. I had been sitting outside my mums house with my feet inthe pool (it was a HOT night) and was just really edgy. I had had a silly argument with my mum, but kind of knew that wasn't what was making me irritated. Then I woke at 4am with mild contractions and I knew why I had been so irritated the night before.
Not at all surprised with number 2. DH was going to be out until 6am so I knew that I would go into labour and he would have to support me with no sleep. Sure enough I woke up at 4am and my waters broke.
With DD1, I was desperately worried I wouldn't get everything organised before she arrived as she was due Christmas Eve and I was really stressed about Christmas, Christmas presents etc. I was scrambling about trying to get super organised then about 2 weeks before EDD I realised that I was done! Presents bought, packaged ready to post, house clean, lists ticked... I relaxed. The next morning I woke feeling good, but during breakfast I felt 'funny'. I don't know how to describe it but I just felt 'off'. I mentioned to DH that maybe this was a sign of the beginnings of labour but he scoffed at me (I don't think he was ready!). Sure enough, that evening my labour began with reguar 10min apart contractions.
DD2, same sort of thing. I was feeling stressed about some things I 'had' to get done before she arrived. Once I realised I had everything (relatively) under control, labour began! This time I didn't notice a weird feeling but it all happened a lot faster.
DD1 total suprise. i was just on 38 weeks pregnant and had just dug a hole in my garden and was nanna napping on the couch when there was an almight pop and gush.
DD2 much more in tune ITMS. that said i was still in total denial land until my waters broke lol.
but all in all a lovely surprise with both :)
I wasnt surprised per se, (I was 7 days "over"), but it took me about 3 hrs to realise that the period pains may actually be labour. I dont recall feeling any different that day.
I was surprised with all of them except for DD2. I had a feeling the whole way through my pregnancy that she was going to be born a week early, I even had a bet with my ex that she would be born on the date that she arrived on.
Thanks for the stories ladies. I'm glad there are many of you who had no inkling of labour starting, gives me hope! :lol:
I actually never had labour start on my own. I was induced three times...babies who just liked the womb too much :)
Labour with DD1 was a total surprise. 5am waters broke in bed when I had almost fallen back to sleep.. She was 2 weeks early.
With DD2 I had this dream that she arrived on DD1's birthday, so of course I was on edge in the lead up to DD1's birthday. When that didnt happen I spent the rest of the time freaking out that she would come at any second... Of course in the end she ended up being 8 days over. Must admit once I hit the 40 week mark, I knew things would happen soon, and I spent way too much time freaking out about being induced, or having a c-section.. In the end when labour started I had no idea, and it even took a few contractions before I realised I was actually, finally in labour.
Goodluck, and Im sure which ever way things get started for you, will always be memorable :D
xo
DD1 - no idea what so ever! Went to bed woke up 30mins later feeling like i constantly needed to go to the toilet - remember reading on here once that your body likes to clear its self out before bub arrives so DH logged me on to BB and i got chatting in the wee hours of the night and wasn't until a few people suggest that maybe i was in labour that it hit home :)
DD2 - I had just started Uni when i found out i was pregnant (full on first year), and was due 2 days before my last uni exam, worked prac 6days a week when i was 37wks preg! Everyone kept telling me the moment i stop doing things and sit down and relax will be the moment i go into labour.... so i guess i should of know come the morning after my last exam for the year that i was going to go into labour hahahahaha but nope i didn't listen! i woke up, laid on the couch, DH commented and said "Your bored already arn't you?" i said "Yep"! a few minutes later i went to the toilet and Opsy mucus plug... full blown labour a few hours later and DD2 at 2132 that night :)
i had my "show" on the thursday morning early , and by that night had contractions... I was waiting for ny water to break, naive....now I know... sometimes they dont break at all in labour :)
I was only just 38 weeks that day so I was convinced it wasnt real labour so I got DH to start setting up the change table , ( which we had problems with thats why it wasnt already together) and then we started hanging his clothes.
A few friends dropped in , I was on the ground at that stage on my hands and knees and decided to call my mum n mil to tell them I thought the labour was real...
I was in that labour until saturday night when the TRUE labour started and 12 hours later DS was born after 20 minutes pushing :) I didnt realise at all until the pain became too much to handle :)
yes i was still shocked lol, i had a abnormally great nights sleep, i had arranged for DD to spend the day at MIL, i slept in until 10am, by 10.30 i had a show and then first contraction and it was really instense. i was at home by myself and i thought noo not by myself! and during the day i thought most labours start at night.
Surprised on all 3.
mind you one was at 37 weeks (the day after they told me to come back in a month, no sign of baby), one was 5 hours before I was booked in to be induced and the other was just fashionably late.
I was quite surprised in the end...lots my plug, started having mild contrax and then my water broke. That's when I accepted I may be in labour :lol:
I was quite surprised each time... With DS1 i don't think i recognised much pre-labour but with #2 & #3 i did. Once the real thing began though i realised the pre-labour was completely different. The most surprising would have been DS2 when my waters broke in the shower 1 week before the due date and i had no other signs of labour at all.