(to any midwife's) how can i tell myself if in early labour? what are the 1st most common signs?

Question

had a check up and heads fully fixed down there. lost some sort of gunky stuff this morning and feeling really tired and weak 2day?

dont concernd!

belly feels weird i feel like i have been sick all night and really drained been having twinges for days now so just ashumed it was braxtons!

its all very weird. had back ache all the way through

hi all..... im 38weeks......... it was blood coloured.

this is baby 3

Answer 1

Im 34 weeks, had a show in the night after having had diahrrea and cramps yesterday. Had 2 hours of regular contractions which then just stopped.

Went to see midwife this morning and was told that no bleeding / baby moving etc was a good sign and nothing to worry about. Just get bags packed and rest. As this is my 2nd baby and 1st was born at 37 weeks i have been told to go to hospital as soon as i have regular timeable tightenings because preterm and 2nd / 3rd etc labours are usually very quick.

Good luck!

Answer 2

gunky stuff?? with a pink tinge, could be your show. IF it is green go straight to the labour ward, this means baby is in distress.
Also with early labour look out for crapms or contractions that come consistently and get stronger and closer, the best thing you can do is get a check up or ring the hospital to find out for sure where you are at.
BACK ACHE COULD BE LABOUR TOO, SOME PEOPLE FEEL PAIN DIFFERENT TO OTHERS, I HAD NO PAIN UNTIL THE LAST LEG OF IT, I SUGGEST YOU RING THE HOSPITAL OR GO IN
sorry for caps lock, didn't realise.
PS WOO HOO, BABY ON THE WAY, GOOD LUCK, LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE AND HOW IT GOES VIA FRIEND LIST

Answer 3

The 'gunky' stuff you had this morning could be 'a show' this is the 'plug' of mucus coming away, and usually means labour in imminent. You didn't say how many weeks you are, but you say the head was fully engaged at your last check-up, this is a good sign.

Other common symptoms of labour include:
*back-pain
*period type pains
*feeling or actually being sick
*diorrhoea
*general upset stomach/and/or cramps
*tightening of the uterus (strong braxton hicks with a pattern to them)
*waters breaking (uncommon)

HTH and goodluck xx

Answer 4

Sounds like you had a show, if it was blood tinged. That can happen weeks before labour, although in my 2nd pregnancy it happened in the morning, went into labour that night. 1st pregnancy it was 8 days before being induced.
Otherwise, you are looking for regular, tightening, contractions or period pain like cramps. Do not be fooled these cramps will not stay period like, they get heaps worse. Trying not to scare you, but its true! You will absolutely know the feeling, when you are in labour. Its unmistakeable. Any woman will tell you that if you're in doubt, you're probably not in actual labour. But call hospital or MW anyway to check.
Good luck, how many weeks are you????

Answer 5

I think i just answered your last question....im not a midwife but was looking at symptoms of going into labour yesterday on the web and one site said some women have flu-like symptoms...feeling drained etc (as you described) for me it was the loss of the plug of mucous one day before and also I had a bout of diahorrea the day before aswell...apparently common going into labour, our bodies like to have a natural clear-out. The first part of labour feels like period type cramps. Goodluck x x x How exciting

Answer 6

I know most people are telling you it could be a show and it can happen a few weeks before - my daughter had a baby few months ago and was told as soon as you have a show phone the hospital - I would phone just to check, she was 3 weeks early. Good luck.

Answer 7

if its blood stained mucus it could be a show, but you can have a show upto 2 weeks before going into labour. if you are concerned ring your mw.

Answer 8

try www.midwivesonline.com
real midwives on there who can help good luck x

Answer 9

you will start getting some major pains in the stomach and back, it's not fun