How long before you went into labor?

Question

I know that everyone is different, but I just wanted to hear personal experiences. I am 38 wks. and 2 days I think and was told I am 75% effaced, but not dilated any. How long did it take before YOU went into labor and were at this point? I just like to read others experiences. I figure I'll carry until my due date, I just wanted to hear your stories!! Oh and what signs of impending labor did you have?

Answer 1

Dilation and effacement means NOTHING about when you will go into labor. It's just another way that doctors try to manage your pregnancy and birth. Many midwives don't do cervical checks prior to labor and some don't even do it in labor.

You can be closed up tight as a drum and have a baby a few hours later. Or you can walk around for a week or more 3-4 cm dilated and 100% effaced (I did!) before active labor comes.

Answer 2

first child i was dialated a 1 1/2 at 36 weeks and went a week past my due date. The labor was 14 1/2 hrs. then with my second child i lost my mucus plug at 32 weeks and went in and I was dialated to a 2 and 95 % effaced. I was admited to the hospital for 3 days got shot up with all sorts of drugs to stop the contractions, even a 2 shots in the butt that help speed up the growth of your babies lungs. Got sent home and was on bed rest and on a pill for the contractions for a 2weeks. I ended up making to 39 weeks ( a 14 hr labor) and having a healthy baby! Good luck to with your little one! Having my 2 children has been the most wonderful and amazing thing in the world. A mother's love is the most powerful thing in this world!

Answer 3

Two days before my due date, I was 75% effaced. My water broke at 3am that day, didn't start having contractions until 3 hours later. Before my water broke I felt like I had an upset stomach (diarrhea to put it bluntly...) which is what woke me.

I was given pitocin to start heavier contractions and speed things along because at 10am nothing was happening except for a few mild contractions. The heavy ones started almost immediately after the pitocin. They were crazy. I could not catch my breath, let alone do any of the lamaze breathing I had learned. Thankfully, I was opted for an epidural. Highly recommend that. I was able to relax. My son was born at 6pm that day.

Answer 4

I went to 41 weeks with my first and early labor started with small contractions that were not painful.

I had my 2nd on the estimated due date, went into hard labor in the middle of the night with NO signs earlier in the evening.

Answer 5

With my first I went into labor at 41 weeks. I woke up with very mild contractions that gradually became excruciating back labor. (ouch!)
With my second I had to be induced at 41 weeks and had crampy pains that I didn't even realize were contractions until they got very strong, and then my labor was very inconsistent all night.
With my third and fourth(twins) I was induced at 38 weeks because they were afraid I would have them on the highway on the way to the hospital.

Answer 6

My first was born at 38 weeks, 5 days. My second, on the other hand, waited four days over and had to be induced, even though I was 5cm dilated!! You never know what is going to happen. I knew for days and days and days that she was coming, yeah right. She didn't want to come out until they made her come out. 9 lbs 6 oz.

Answer 7

Anytime now would be fine for you. All three of my kids were early - 32 weeks, 34 weeks, and 30 weeks respectively. Labor was always very fast for me though.

Answer 8

I went two weeks to the day over...I think I mentally went over because I needed to work the extra two weeks to get caught up on my bills....I had her exactly two weeks after my due date....and I was in labor for 25 and a half hours......was definetly not the highlight of my pregnancy...LOL....def worth it though....I remember I could not sleep for two days prior to that and then 2 10 exactly I woke up with a cramp and I didnt think anything of it and after two hours of waking up every ten minutes to cramps I concluded I was in labor.....I dropped my bf off at work and stopped in to my job and told them I was in labor and I wouldnt be coming in and stuff....I went hom and by 11 a family member came to check on me, He is am emt so he asked how far apart my contractions were and I told him 10 minutes and he said I needed to rush to the hospital, I tried to explain to him that they started out ten minues apart and they were getting stronger as time went by but they werent strong yet......I had a dr appointment and so I went in two hours early and they sent me up to the hospital...sat up there all day and I didnt get to push until 3 the next morning...she was born at 3:20 and 30 sec on dec 10 2003.....I was starving...all they would give me was beef broth coffee and jello....I ate the jello and threw the rest out.... the peanut butter and jelly toast after I had the baby was so satisfying....LOl....I will always remember how good it tasted.....

Answer 9

all depends on the person try walking and having sex/ not at the same time lol but both of those things help but everyone is different so it can be hours days or even weeks before that baby comes out good luck and congrats

Answer 10

i was 36.6 weeks prego...water broke at 3am nothing happend till noon ....active labor started at noon and my labor only went till 4:23