Your labor experience?

Question

I am 39 weeks pregnant and am more anxious then ever. I have a few friends and one was due a week before me and the other the same day and they have both had their angels already which makes me even more impatient. I have NO signs of an early delivery but would like to know your experience when the time came. Were there tell-tell signs something was coming, did it just creep up on you out of no where unexpectedly??? What were your previous activities ect....

Answer 1

Two days before I gave birth I sat through an almost 3-hour movie without going for a potty break (it was Lord of the Rings). The next day, hubby and I had sex. The night before I gave birth, I had really bad pain/pressure on my cervix, I could not even stand up right away from a sitting position. Before going to bed, I went to pee, and I noticed that there was a string or mucus coming out, I wiped and there was this huge glob of mucus on the toilet paper - no blood, just mucus. Since this was my first pregnancy, I didn't know at first that it was my mucus plug coming out. Anyway I went to bed. At 5 am, I got up to use the bathroom, and that was when I discovered that my underwear was soaked. I thought I had peed on the bed, LOL! I went to the bathroom, but the liquid kept on coming out - my water bag was broken or leaking. I woke up my hubby - we were trying to make sure that it was really amniotic fluid, so I made him smell it -LOL! Finally we decided that it was, so we got ready to go to the hospital. I even took a shower. I didn't have any bad contractions, so it was a pretty calm drive to the hospital. We got there and told the nurse that we were going to have a baby. I don't think the nurse believed us at first because I didn't look like I was in any pain. Anyway, they tested the leaking water and it was indeed amniotic fluid. They gave me meds to speed up my contractions because I wasn't having any, and after lots of pushing and whatnot, I delivered a healthy baby girl at 4 in the afternoon that very day. That was my labor experience. =)

Answer 2

Mine experience was not bad at all. I had watched all the videos and listened to all the horror stories - so I was prepared for the worst. But that didn't happen, I didn't even know that I was in labor until I finally went to the hospital. I had been out walking in the woods and then went and ate Mexican food, and then just went home. I knew something was different but just didn't know what it was (Heck, I didn't even all any family members until about 5 hours later) I arrived at the hospital and found out that I was 5 cm dilated and I didn't have the first labor pain until I was 10. Just remember that not everyone has the same type labor.

Answer 3

No you don't, this is an experience you are going to have to go through for yourself because there are gonna be ppl on here that will tell you their HORROR stories of no pain meds, babies coming so fast there was no time, etc. The best thing for you to do sweetheart is to enjoy what little time you have left with you angel where he is because the time will come very very soon when he is gonna need all six hands you seem to magically sprout when they need feeding, burping, changing, bathing, the phone rings and the food burns on!
Blessed be my child, as the mom of 3 I know the road on impatience, it is coming to an end very soon!

Answer 4

Both of my kids came a week early. The first one, hit me like a ton of bricks!! Wasn't expecting it. I really felt sick to my stomach. Then it started coming in waves. I had my ex-husband call my sister to see what it was like. She's never had kids, but she heard me and said I was. Had my son 4 hours later (total of 5 hours). The second one was almost 10 years later with my current husband. I just knew I was in labor. I had gone to the doctor and she had checked me. I knew when I walked out of there I would have him later in the day. I was in labor off and on all day. I stayed at work until I was done. I then went into full blown labor at 3 am. Had him at 6:30am. He went quick. No time for pain meds. Hang in there. You'll know. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!! ;-)

Answer 5

No one can advise you because every one of us is different. With me, I had no clue what to expect. After I got out of bed the third time thinking I had to go to the bathroom, and nothing happened, the light went on and we headed for the hospital. I found childbirth painful and could not be bought for any amount of money to have one (for money). However, we went on to have two more and I cannot imagine life without them.

My sister had three naturally - no anesthetic -- no problem. Go figure.

I can tell you that the most satisfying, happy feeling of contentment and completeness on this planet, will happen when you are handed your baby. Later on, when home, and you bathe your baby, give him/her a bedtime bottle, and he falls asleep in your arms, you will feel like you have been administered an IV of contentment.

Enjoy -- they grow up way too fast.

Answer 6

I was 16 when I had my son. I went to bed just like any other night. I always had to wake up at about 5 am to go to the bathroom. But when I woke up I heard and felt something like a pop & this strange feeling on the right side of my belly. I got up and went to the bathroom just like every morning, and I sat on the toilet & I heard this splash & my mucucs plug ( I know its gross right) came out followed by a slow, but kind of steady trickle of fluid. So I ran to my parents room & woke them. Then I went back to the bathroom b/c I was leaking everywhere and I called my boyfriend from the toilet. My mom drove me to the hospital. On the way there my stomach ws cramping soooo bad. So I got to the hospital and I got checked in. The nurse wheeled me to my room. I changed into a hospital gown and got on the bed. They paged my obstetrician who then came in and performed an exam. Meanwhile the pain was sooo bad it was way more than cramps at this point. My doctor introduced me to the anesthesiologist, who performed an epidural. It didn't really hurt it was a small sting & a kind of cold sensation in my back it just felt weird and kind of uncomfortable. shortly thereafter, I was pain free! I was able to take a nap with my boyfriend. After several exams adn 6 hours, I was dialated enough to push the nurse said when ever you feel the urge. I didn't know what that meant, but soon after I had this weird feeling (down there) & I knew it was time to push so I pushed. and pushed and pushed, finally my doctor came in and after 40 min of pushing, I had the most beautiful little boy. I had no pain I was smiling and laughing through the whole thing (my anesthesiologist was cracking jokes the whole time.) It was awesome. If you're really impatient sex can speed up the process adn i promise you'll start dialating soon after.

Answer 7

No spontaneous labor for me. Doc induced me by breaking my water after I walked around 5cm dilated for more than 3 weeks. Labor is not as bad as some people say - don't listen to others' horror stories! After 5 hours I had my 8lb. 4 oz. little girl - no epidural, no tearing, no episiotomy! I was so lucky - I avoided all the things I was most afraid of!!!

Best wishes! You'll see that sweet face soon!

Answer 8

iam not due until jan. and this is my first, but i did get stories from my friends.

One was two weeks past due on her first, so she went in to be induced, they didnt induce her, but instead gave her a pill to relax her cervix. She had the baby four hours later :)

My good friend has her first two weeks early. She had had sex early in the evening, went to bed, and kept waking up thinking she had wet herself... turns out her water had broke, only it wasnt the gush she expected. All the physical activity from a few hours earlier really helped move things along for her, she delivered after a few hours and had a really easy time.

Stay active as much as you can... take yourself to the mall since its so damn hot out, or paddle around in some water (dont over heat!), have sex if you have a partner and arent high risk (its great exercise and it really helps keep the birth canal in shape for delivery). Walking is a great thing to do, staying active helps move the baby along and position correctly, and it also helps relieve stress in your muscles, and helps your cervix thin out.

Just dont wear yourself out, you're not training for a marathon, our bodies are designed for labor.

If you're not able to be up and about, do you kliegle exercises, theyre helpful :)

Answer 9

I had no signs whatsoever with either of my children. No contractions, nothing. I knew when my water broke that it was time to go, but that was it. I know you are anxious, but your baby just isn't ready to come out into this big old world yet! With my first child, I was anxious for him to come. I went past my due date, everyone told me to walk...so i walked, and walked. Didn't help. Good luck to you and enjoy this quiet time you are having waiting, it will be over soon!

Answer 10

Well...with my first one I was just getting in bed after a normal day and started feeling like lower back cramps...nothing major just a tightening with a little pain, but I knew thats what it was. My second one though...she was two weeks late and had to induce to get her out..lol..everyone is different, but you will know when the labor starts. Congratulations!!