BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

The question many of us who are in the final stretch are wondering is-- when will we know that labor is coming? The obvious answer is -- "You'll know."
However, I am wondering what you all felt right before it-- cramping, swelling, pressure, stomach upset, bladder issues, nesting, etc. I keep having nights where I think, "This is it!" and it isn't, so some warning signs might be helpful to know!

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I started to get pains that felt like period cramps mixed with pooping. They got pretty severe over a couple hour time span to the point where I was doubled over in pain and basically was to the point where SPEAKING to anyone was painful.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Well, my water broke and I just felt wet so I knew there was something going on. When I stood up to go to the hospital I fell on my knees. I am not sure if that was because I was on bedrest and had muscle atrophy or b/c of a contraction. I felt a really heavy downward pressure. I did not feel any contractions but b/c my water broke, I had to go to the hospital. When I finally got contractions they were all over my belly and extremely tight and sharp to the point I could not talk between them. I went from no contractions to transition and then the c/s b/c DS was breach. I am not sure if that was helpful at all, but that was how it went down for me. Ironically, my last post before I had DS was me saying how I was closed and tight and did not think I would be having DS any time soon. I had DS that night.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Honestly, I felt like I had to poop and since I was constipated for most of the last trimester because I was on iron supplements, I took a Colace. Brilliant - I had to apologize to the doc who examined me when I was in labor in hopes that she had a splash guard in the event of an unsightly mishap .

Summary - don't take Colace

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Posted by Goldi0218

Honestly, I felt like I had to poop and since I was constipated for most of the last trimester because I was on iron supplements, I took a Colace. Brilliant - I had to apologize to the doc who examined me when I was in labor in hopes that she had a splash guard in the event of an unsightly mishap .

Summary - don't take Colace

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I really felt nothing, to be honest. I had started losing my mucus plug a few days before I went into labor, but I wasn't crampy at all. I felt a few braxton hicks, coming on stronger, over those two days, but nothing really significant.

The only thing that REALLY stuck in my mind was, the day before I went into labov, my DD stopped moving entirely. I was SOOOO worried and even called my ob/gyn that night, who told me to sleep the night, wake up, have some OJ, and if she still wasn't moving much, to come in.

Well, lo and behold, I woke up at 5am with the most intense contractions I've ever experienced. There was NO doubting at that very moment I woke up that I was in the beginning stages of labor.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Im BTDT mom thats due sunday and still no clue what to look for. Last pregnancy I didnt have the loss of mucous plug that I saw, and didnt experience the water breaking.. no clue when that happend. I just woke up at 3am that morning with heartburn, came on LIF, took tums went back to bed at 5:30am, woke up at 7:30am in stomach pain felt like I had tummy ache as in bathroom pains... kept going running to bathroom, then it finally dawned on me to time these pains.. I was in labor.

now with baby #2.. feel like im still in the same boat of not knowing.. oh well.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

BUMP - I'm getting nervous about the pre-labor signs and want to hear more stories!!

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I just thought I had to poop. I always heard labor pains were on the top of the belly - but mine were low, like bathroom pains.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I just felt like I was "slowing down". I was tired and lethargic the few days leading into Emerson arriving. My water broke a mere few hours before my scheduled C-section. I never lost my mucous plug.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Heart Palpitations.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I will say a couple of days before going into labor I had some cramping.

The first indication of labor to me was the bloody show, then followed by contractions off and on all day 7-8 min apart.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I was losing my mucus plug for weeks and i honestly didnt feel anything else... however i got a cold sore the morning i went into labor.. i knew i was in labor because i happened to go to the ob the day and he told me that i would have a baby by the next day... so i went to the mall and walked for tw hours and then had chili's for the spice... and walked again... and 22 hours later my ds was born... after i was walking i then knew i was in labor... and trust me... then you know

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

I had no idea I was going into labor when I did. In hindsight, there were so many signs. My body was emptying itself (constantly pooping! ) for a few days. I joked to DH that my body was getting ready but didn't believe it. Then that day, I lost my mucous plug and had the bloody show. I thought I had a few days and within an hour, my water started to break. I was exhausted and felt done.

Re: BTDT moms-- what did you feel right before labor?

Message edited 2/11/2009 11:17:14 PM.