When exactly will I be able to feel my body going into labor? And what exactly do you feel? And where?

Question

Details, mommies!! Please! Thank you. I'm a first time parent, and I am getting paranoid now about the whole labor process, and just want to know.

Answer 1

Hi! These are some of the signs of early labour. For more info check out the web link I have attached as it goes into specific detail, and means I won't be crowding up this page with tons of information!

1. Spontaneous Rupture of Membranes (Waters Break)

2. Contractions (Strong and regular)

3. Mucus Plug / ‘Bloody’ Show

4. Involuntary Shivering

5. Lightening

6. Diarrhoea

7. Increased Braxton Hicks Contractions

The web site below is fantastic and really detailed, Im sure it will give you all the information you need!

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Prior to going into labor you'll start noticing more and more pressure in your cervix. It will feel almost like the baby is going to drop out but it definitely won't until active labor begins.

You will start having tightening sensations in your abdomen. They will be irregular for a while but when they start appearing in patterns and also become painful then you'll know it's time to go to the hospital. Also you can lose your plug and have a little bleeding but first time mom's usually lose their plugs sometimes weeks before they are aware of it.

Sometimes your doctor will give you drips to augment labor if it hangs in the less active mode for too long. This happened with me and after the drips I began having contractions and was moved to the labor room. At that point I still had not dilated enough and the doctor then broke my water and I had to have a c-section because the baby was in a wrong position and the labor was not progressing. But once my water broke, it was extremely painful. A lot like severe menstral cramping.

Believe me when you go into labor and get close to delivery, you'll know it for sure! Nature will do its thing but also keep in mind that sometimes c-sections have to happen especially if things don't go perfect by the book. You'll do fine and it is all so worth it!!!! Also the pain meds are great and you really won't suffer unless you decide to do it naturally. Best of luck and a speedy delivery and recovery!

Answer 3

Well, when I was pregnant with my son this is what happened for me..I woke up one morning to go to the bathroom and was all wet. Being a first time mother I wasn't sure if my water had broken or if I had an accident or something. I went to the bathroom and actually smelled it and it wasn't urine. It didn't really smell like anything so I figured my water broke. I wasn't having contractions yet so I was a little confused about it all. Well, about 45 minutes later I started to get these pains ( I'm not really sure how to describe them) and then they got worse and worse and started occuring closer together. I also got sick to my stomach and knew that I was in labor then. The pain is something that's hard to describe..also my son is four so it's even hard to remember (I'm 32 weeks along with my second so Ill be remembering the feeling in a few weeks). All I know is that it hurt all over really bad after a little while. I got to the hospital about 2 hours after I had got up and they gave me the IV and hooked my up to the fetal monitor and well, it was all downhill from there (in a matter of speaking) I ended up getting an epidural, which I actually didn't have a good initial experiance with. The doctor couldn't get it in correctly and had to keep trying and that was rough. It took almost 45 minutes to get in there and working. It was a great hour after that with virtually no pain, mostly just pressure. But it only lasted about an hour before it started to wear off and I could feel the contractions like never before. I would suggest getting an epidural because I doubt the experiance I had happens to a lot of women. It's better to be comfortable!!! Then it came time to push which I didn't really feel. A lot of women have said they really felt the urge to push and there was some buring and such..I didn't feel ANY of that. Then out came baby and the pain like instantly stopped. You have some mild contractions after the baby comes out to deliver the afterbirth but for me I was too busy concentrating on my new baby to even notice them. I was sore afterwards but it was totallly worth it and the soreness didn't last more then a couple of days for me.

Well, sorry that was so long..I hope it helps you out a little bit.

Congrats on your baby!

Answer 4

When your body decides to go into labor you will know, usually between 37 & 40 weeks but may be earlier if it is head straight for hospital. You may be lucky like I was and have your water break, it was not a movie style gush...rather a slow, slow trickle! Most hospitals want you in as soon as your water breaks due to infection. Otherwise it will be contractions which is a tighting thatt starts in your back & wrapps around to your tummy it tightens as this happens. It will e painfull and you should wait till contractions are 5 to 6 min apart (from start of contraction to start of next contraction!) If you feel anything is wrong or abonormal always call your OB or head up to the labor & delivery floor at the hospital they will gladly check you out! Good Luck!

Answer 5

Well for me, I was about 38 weeks when I went into labor. For everyone it is different and they experience different symptoms. For me I work up in the morning to go to school (college). It was a normal morning and not to sound gross but I had this extreme urge to take a crap and it wouldn't go away. I just took it as being constipated. I take the city bus to school since my school is downtown and driving cost to much. The bus ride started to give me a pain of my right side of my body and went to my back. Walking made it worse. I called my mom and said I am in pain and I have to take a crap and I think I am constipated. She then had me call my sister who has had two children. My sister told me a lot of time having the feeling of constipation and having pain in your side is a sign you are having a contraction and most likely in labor. So I called an ambulance to take me to the hospital and low and behold I was dialated 4 cm. For you it might be different, but you will know. Also time contractions. The closer they are, you should go to the hospital.

Answer 6

as far as when do you feel it, all depends on your body, usually right before or right after your water breaks but im not sure i have had 4 kids and neither of those times has my water broke on its own as far aswhat does it feel like, well im not going to lie and i dont want to scare you but it HURTS LIKE HELL. its about 8-10 times worse than having menstrual cramps or stomach ache, and last but not least you are going to feel it obviously in the vaginal area, especially the shoulders, good luck, god bless on new baby and i hope i didnt scare you (too much) anyway.

Answer 7

You'll have a light splatter of diahrrea. Then bloody mucus will come out and ruin the chair you are sitting in, and then you'll start noticing water gushing out. Gushing.