Signs of Labor Before the Big Day? Yes? No? Yesterday Was My Due Date. :)

When I went into labor, it started very early in the morning and I was just uncomfortable, but it woke me up. I had cramping (contractions) and started to time them. Then, I had to go to the bathroom...#2 a lot! That was my sign. I called the doc and they confirmed, told me what to look for, etc.... You will know. Good luck! It's the best thing in the world!!!

Hi H. - I have had 2 children - with the first, I did lose the mucous plug about 2 or 3 days before my water broke. With the 2nd I did not, I never had the nesting. The day that I delivered I woke up with some contractions very irregular. We went to the dr and he said that I would probably have the baby that day but that it would be a while. So I went home and went for a walk. I also wlaked the entire length of Town Center Mall the day that I went into labor with my first one. You might try getting out ang walking! Good luck - maybe today will be the day!

Hi H.,
I was a week overdue with my first child. I woke up at 3 am with really strong contractions. The day before I was feeling a little more restless than normal but it really wasnt something I noticed. You will know when it happens. Good luck for a safe delivery:)

The contraction sensation often moves to your back. With my first I was conscious of when labor really started, but my second was two days of off and on contractions that weren't painful.

I'm concerned about why your doctor would induce you, if there is no sign of trouble in you or the baby. A due date is estimated, and an induction creates a more painful labor and dramatically increases the likelihood of a c-section. Personally I would refuse, but just be aware of your options. Meanwhile, do as much walking as possible and try to have sex if your belly isn't too in the way.

You will know when it is real labour. I was enduced with my first 2 and I just had #3 natural. So it was all new to me, but like they said, you will know because the conractions are painful.
Let me just tell you thought that it is so worth it to not have any meds, labor went so much quicker and my baby was so much more alert. Pleasse don't get to anxious, going a week over isn't a big deal. Just remember that your baby will come when it is ready. If you want to go into labor before you are induced. Try castor oil, if you are ready you WILL go into labor. 2oz. castor oil, 4oz orange juice and a blob of vanilla icecream in a blender. And believe me if your body is ready to have a baby you WILL!!!
Congrads ahead of time and good luck~!

Hi H.! I had no major signs with either of my children. My first was born one day after her due date. I just woke up in labor, leaked a small amount of fluid, while in labor. (Her head was so low at that point that she blocked the fluid.) My labor ended up stalling and after many hours and hours of waiting they gave me pitocin. I HIGHLY recommend NOT going this route unless you are 10-14 days late! It was insanely painful and really changed the whole process to just pain mode! With my son I went in the day before my due date for a check and was progressing normally... not in labor though. My doctor actually talked me in to induction for the next day! On the way home I decided to cancel! Don't let them push you around! The main reason they do this,(ask and nurse - off the record of course!) is for their schedule and wallet!! Anyway... I went to the fair and walked for miles! That night I never got to sleep, my legs were a little achy and lower belly for about an hour (just figured I over did it) and then it was time! So the point...? No flashing signs... no signs at all until THE time! AND don't let your doctor talk you into an unneeded, unnecessary induction. There are good reasons, medical reasons, not too and usually only scheduling issues speak for it in these early induction stories...

Every body -- each body -- is different.

I was 80% effaced the last 3 weeks and 2 cm dilated the last 2 weeks before I finally had the baby. And I had zero contractions right up until I started labor. And, when I started labor, contractions were at 5 minutes apart. Baby 3 hours after first contraction. NOT a normal first time.

Labor can come on quickly or be a gradual thing. Sometimes there are signs, sometimes not. Walking every day would be a good idea and may help. When I was overdue I took a long walk every day and also went to the mall and walked around a while. It helps to get your mind off things too. Enjoy this week and relax. Your baby will be here soon!

Try not to worry too much. I was so excited that I might get to meet my little guy a little early (not too early...) at 37 weeks when my doctor told me I was 50% Effaced and 2 cm dilated with the baby already decended. They thought it would happen within a week for sure. By 39 weeks I was 3 cm dilated and 90% Effaced, and still no baby... Well, 3 days before 40 weeks he finally came! So even sometimes there are signs and you still can't predict it! Everyone will say it, but it's true; what really matters is that you and the baby are healthy! So hang in there...I know how hard it is to be patient!

Hi H.,

My name is S. and I'm a first time mom of a 13 1/2 month old boy. I was due on 8/11/07 and the day came and went- absolutely no warning signs until the night prior. I was up all night on the 13th feeling sick to my stomach and finally, the next morning, I lost my mucous plug and my water broke. Because there was so little water when it ruptured and the contractions were inconsistent, I wasn't even sure until my OB/GYN checked me. Hope this helps and good luck with everything!

Hi H.
I reallly dont understand doctor's urgency to induce labor. My daughter came 5 days after her estimated due date. For two days prior to the baby coming I had cramps so bad during the night that it woke me from my sleep. But I quickly fell back asleep.

However, on the third night, I was awaken by the cramps but instead of going back to sleep, I felt a need to get up and it was indeed labor.

The cramps felt the same as they had the other nights but I just felt a need to get up.

So yes, your day may be coming soon! The good thing was, I think those nightly cramps really helped because my labor was at the most 5 hours, and only 2 hours at the hospital.

GOOD LUCK

Congratulations! That is so exciting! Just remember it is different for everyone. When I went into labor with my first daughter, I woke in the middle of the night and had watery pinkish dicharge and began cramping. Soon I saw my mucus plug, but they still say it can be days, right? So, I started reading my book and I began getting stronger contractions. Soon, I was having to breath through them and during one of them, my water burst. It was so strong! So, we were off to the hospital. One thing that I am always amazed at is the women in labor walking in the halls. I could never do that...I could hardly move and with every contraction I was gushing amnionic fluid. So, you will know, it may be fast and furious or gradual...either way, it will be so exciting for you and your husband! I had gone for a long walk on the beach the day before. They say that helps induce labor. Have you thought of trying reflexology on your feet? That would be a nice treat for you. Best of luck to you and your new family.

Congratulations on becoming a Mom! Enjoy your last few days of rest and alone time with your hubby!

Your little girl will make her appearance as soon as she's ready. I wouldn't worry too much about the fact that you don't have any signs of labor yet. I went into labor on my own with my second child and I had no signs that labor was coming on. It just all the sudden hit me. Within 1 hour my contractions went from non existent to one every 3 minutes. With my first child I was 2-3 cm dilated and 50% effaced for 2 weeks and never went into labor on my own. So finally when I was almost 2 weeks over due I agreed to let the doctor induce me. Every baby is different. At this point I would just relax and enjoy some quiet time before your life turns into total chaos (don't worry it's the best kind of chaos you'll ever know).

H., my labor, etc., was different with all of my children. My 5th child was born yesterday and I would consider that birth more normal than all of my others. I never had a mucus plug thing that I noticed with any of mine except possibly my first. I never had a blood show with any of my children either. I was 1 cm this past Thursday and that was it. But on this past Sunday, I started the labor pains and had the baby yesterday morning.

I've never had the same type of labor with my children or delivery. You could go into labor tonight. Just relax, be at peace, and the baby will come.

Hi H.,I was late whith my son.When the Dr. said he would have to induce,my mom said don't worry.The morning of my appt. i went into labor at 3 am went to hosp. at 6am had him at 10:45am,all natural,it was great.Good Luck! http://www.livetotalwellness.com/anitamcclellan

I was induced myself, but didn't recognize the signs. I was a little over 2 cm dialated and having contractions and didn't even know it. I had a miserable pregnancy though and I think I just got used to feeling awful and hurting all of the time!

It happens differently for everyone, so that is a tough question to answer. There are supposedly some "tricks" you can use to help induce and can find a lot of info on the internet about that.

My sister had sex a nd went into labor about 6 hours later.
One of my friend's has 4 kids and ate pizza and had 1 glass of wine(just 1 and didn't drink during pregnancy otherwise) a few hours before going into labor with all four of them. I have always heard things about italian food with or without the wine. In fact, there is an italian restaurant in the Atlanta area that is famous for having more women go into labor after thay eat there than anywhere else in the US.

Just hang in there and know that it will be ok no matter what happens. In a few days, you will get to meet the newest addition to your family. Good luck and take care.

Hi H.,
I delivered my daughter two days past her due date - I was convinced I was going to be pregnant forever! I didn't have very many signs before I went into active labor. I lost my mucus plugs two weeks before, so that was sort of a sign that things were getting ready to happen.

On the night I delivered I got up to use the bathroom and my water broke. Contractions started almost immediately (they may have started earlier - I was just asleep and didn't notice them) - and came on fast and furious. Four and a half hours later my daughter was born!

So, you don't have to have a lot of prelabor signs to go into labor. I never even had any Braxton Hicks. Good luck!

Hi, H.. Congratulations! I am so happy for you. It has been almost 30 years since I was in your situation and I still remember how excited and anxious I felt and how I was tuned to every little sign my body was sending ... and I remember getting very few signs. I delivered two weeks after my due date and it was no concern to my doctor at all -- he said the baby will come when it's ready and first-time moms usually run past that 'guesstimate'. The only thing I wish I'd done differently is that because I was so anxious to have the baby I really went in to the hospital much too soon when my labor started. Should've waited until the pains were much closer -- the wait in the hospital is much harder (I found) that the wait at home. I would also add that it will help you and the baby a lot if you WALK lots, before labor & during labor.
Best wishes to you & hugs to your husband and new baby!
Sue

I have four children and have had Braxton-Hicks contractions for weeks before going into real labor. You'll know when the real thing hits- the contractions will be more intense and probably more in your back.

Hi.

I am a Doula and also a mom of 2. When my 2nd was due I went 8 days late (why is your OB inducing if you are having no problems before 10-14 days, late?)

8 days after my due date I woke up and just had a major cry fest to my husband about why am I not in labor as he was getting ready for work. That was at 4am. I had no signs of any labor except some Braxton Hicks contractions durring the week or so before that stayed regular like you describe.

And I went back to sleep. At 6 my DS woke me and I feel hungry so I thought I would get a snack and watched some TV. All I did was sit up and I felt a strange feeling inside and about 5 min pasted and I started having contractions. Strong ones lasting over a min and only 5 min apart. That went on for 20 min's and after the 4Th I knew I needed to get my birth team together. She was born at 9:03 just 3 hours after my first contraction, 8 days late and no previous signs of labor in less my cry fest was a sign. :) You can do this it happends no one is prego for ever. BTW I am expecting #3 in 5 weeks.

I never "went" into labor I guess you could say. I lost the mucas plug on my first son several weeks before he was bore actually was dialated to a 2 at 7 months. I was in labor and never knew it. I had BACK labor. So if you lower back goes to hurting more than usually and you can see you belly get really hard harder than braxton hicks I would call the doctor. I got the the doctors office and was a 6 and 80 %. Straight to the hospital and 4 hours later I had my son. I didn't really feel the gut ripping contractions till the doctor broke my water.

Don't get so hooked on worry about a date..the baby will come. That's what my doctor said and he was right. With the first child I had labor pains far apart decided to get some rest by morning I had the pains closer together. Went to hospital they said oops go home you're not ready...went to get out of bed pop the water broke I stayed. The second child they induced I had toxaimia (how ever you spell it). The last child he was 2 weeks late had the induce date set...then I thought I was leaking pee...I always was with that one. I wasn't the water was leaking I then a few hours later started really feeling the labor made it to the hospital at 2:30am he was born at 5:30am..wasn't much time. don't worry you will be fine it's the not knowing that had always got my goat. I can say this with my first child we had a cat he was great when I went into labor he sat on the couch he would lean over to the chair I was in an touch me I'd ask him do you think this really is it???...I think he knew more then me, it was hours later...he stayed near me all night everytime I'd wake up he'd reach over it was really nice. Animals are so much smarter then people.

Congrats to you and your hubby !
I had my daughter 8 years ago and I remember I did not have any signs leading up to my delivery. The Wednesday I was due for my weekly OB visits as well as the start of my maternity leave my water broke at 1:33 that morning and I delivered by 4:33 that morning... I worked 12 hour shifts as a nurse my entire pregnancy and was 2.5 cm dilated up until the day i went into labor. When my water boke I went from 2.5 cm to 8 cm in a matter of hours. Needless to say delivery was fast because unlike I was told umpteen times my delivery was only 3 hours instead of the many hours it usually takes with your first :) I neverr so much as had a cramp or any pains whatsoever. I just hope that every new mommy can have the bessed delivery I had my only thing was that since my delivery
progressed so fast they did not get a chance to give me the epidural I had wanted :( So I had my 6 pound daughter naturally... It was an amazng experience though. Good Luck to you and yours and enjoy this blessed event. You truely have not experienced "true love" until you go throught childbirth and see and hold your precious daughter for the first time. I thought hearing and seeinh her heartbeating for the first time was awesum . The delivery is an incredible experience...
Take Care and God Bless

Everyone is different, both of my babes were two weeks late. A normal pregnancy due date is actually 40 - 42 weeks. I wanted really badly to go in labor without help, but at 42 weeks I had to take a swig of castor oil with both of them. It worked, and not having pitocin helped my labor be much easier to deal with then induction with pitocin. The less intervention the better the outcome. Personally, i would ask to wait until 42 weeks before getting pitocin, I personally think doctors try to speed things up a bit faster than they need to. Nipple stimulation, sex, walking, cleaning the floors on hands and knees, blue and black cohosh, and letting go will all help the babe come. I hope she decides to come naturally this week. Good luck to you!

Nope... no signs. With my first, my water broke two weeks before my due date and then I was induced from there. With #2 I just started having contractions in the middle of the night, which I eventually realized were regular, although a good half hour apart. And then just slowly gaines steam from there. I'm not sure I ever really figured out what exactly a Braxton Hicks is... and how it would feel differnt from a regular contraction...
But no, no big signs that it was coming either time. Good luck and congratulations!

For my first I was five days late (and scheduled for an induction). My water just gushed out of nowhere, no contractions or anything (although my sister and husband said i was very irritable that day!). for my second I was dilated 2 cm and the head was at stage +1 from 35 weeks on but no other signs. I woke up at 4:30 am 2 days before his due date with mild contractions and had him at 6:19 am. good luck. for both I ate spicy foods and walked miles but it didn't seem to do anything but give me heartburn and make me tired. For both of them I was scheduled for inductions and then went into labor. good luck!

I never knew my labor was coming. I did have Braxton Hicks for quite some time. I just got up one night to go pee and the next thing I knew my water broke. After that I still really didn't have any major labor pains to hours afterward.
Everyone is different so don't worry.
If you wish to have this baby without be induced I suggest walking. And depending if you are up to it or not sex can bring on labor when it's around your due date. All depends on how ready you are...lol

i wonder if you're still pregnant! congratulations...what an exciting time. with #1, i was 1 cm, 90% effaced, -2 station at my 39 6/7 week appt. the midwife predicted i'd have a baby within the next 2 days. 5 days later, i woke up to go to the bathroom a little after 5am and had bloody show. went back to bed and contractions started immediately. within an hour they were 5 minutes apart, and i had her at 10:20am. water did not break until i was pushing.

with #2, i was 4 cm, 70% effaced and -3 station at my 39 1/7 week appt. i'd had bloody show several days before. the midwife told me i should not dawdle getting to the hospital when i went into labor! the night before my due date, i had more bloody show. then i'm sitting on the couch just after 10pm and had my first contraction. after about 5 of those in 25 minutes, i decided i better get moving. i had him at 12:24am, less than 30 minutes after arriving at the hospital. they broke my water two minutes before i delivered.

both deliveries were fast, but amazing natural births. please consider very carefully before agreeing to early induction unless there is a strong medical reason to do it. babies put out signals that they are ready to be born...that's why your body goes into labor (not because your uterus is so big, or because 41 weeks have passed!). you were made for this. i know it's hard, but try to let it go...let it come naturally.

best wishes for a beautiful delivery and healthy girl!

Hi H.,
How exciting!!!! When I went into labor it was 2 days after my due date. It was in the middle of the night and I did not KNOW-KNOW the second it started. For me, this is what happened...I was sleeping and had to get up to go to the bathroom and then I had intense belly pains. So, at first I thought it was just b/c I needed to go, but I went back to bed and was laying there and they happened again. INTENSE belly pains(lower belly). At this point we got up and attempted to do the timing thing, but once mine started it was quick. It eased off in between, but they are different feeling. I didn't break my water until at the hospital. Trust yourself in that you will know b/c the feeling is Different. I have an almost 9 month old. We had him right after Christmas. Oh yeah, I had lost a plug-like substance that week ( I can't remember how many days before) For me the labor was short, from beginning to end it was 5 1/2 hours. It was so exciting and fun...I loved it. (even though it hurt) Good luck H.!!!!

Hi H.- hopefully you won't be reading this because you're at the hospital having your baby. BUT I can tell you for certain that I didn't have ANY signs when I went into labor (other than the contractions). I wasn't even sure if they were contractions, but as they became more regular, I was sure. Still, no other signs. And I mean NONE. My contractions were very strong by the time I went to the hospital, and my water didn't break until then.

Congratulations, and good luck!

Walk! Walk! Walk! I went into labor during the nightafter I had gone Christmas shopping for 6 hours. I woke up thinking I had to go to the bathroom, only to realize I didn't have to go. I laid down and then I had the same pressure feeling on my bladder and bowels about 15 minutes later. I started timing the pains and that"s when I realized I was in Labor. It's different for everybody. Good Luck!

No signs with my first -or at this point (37 weeks w/second) no signs either! My first was a week early, but two days before I had him he was not engaged, no effacement, no dilation, mucus plug, show -nothing! I woke up at 6:30 AM with my water breaking, and that was the first sign! I haven't "dropped" with either baby. I think every woman is different -you just never know. Good luck and congrats!

With my 1st child I had not had the first pain but just stood up and my water broke so that one was obvious. But with my 2nd child I just woke up from a deep sleep having major contractions that were immediately 4 minutes apart and I knew we better head to the hospital. Point is, I never experienced any of those other signs you mentioned. I just immediately went from nothing to being in labor.
Just wanted to add that the "walking" thing is what worked for me. I don't believe any of the other tales but I walked our mall from one end to the other and then went into labor in the middle of the night.