What were you doing when you went into labor/ or when your water broke?

Question

I am the mother of five, and due soon for our sixth baby. For four of the five I woke up during the night in labor, and for the fifth it came on slower, throughout the morning while I was doing light housework. I'm just curious how common it is to wake up in labor, as opposed to having it start during the day. My water has always broken at the hospital, hours into labor, but if yours broke without warning, what were you doing when it happened? Thanks for sharing.

Answer 1

The first time, I didn't realize I was in labor, but I think it probably started when I climbed down into a drainage ditch to rescue a dog. Sounds crazy, I know, but it was a poor pup that had been hit by a car but was very much alive. It was the middle of January, and I couldn't let him freeze to death. After I got him to the vet, I went home, and I felt really achy down into the front of my thighs all day. I had a ob appt later that afternoon, and when I got there, I was 5cm dilated, and in labor.

My second time, I was lying on the couch with my 2 year old, watching Mr. Rogers Neighborhood on PBS. LOL I just started having weird rubbery-feeling contractions in my lower back, and I figured that was probably labor. My water didn't break until the doctor broke it at 9cm at the hospital.

Answer 2

I have just one baby. But here's my story anyway: my contractions started at night while relaxing on the couch and continued all night--no sleep. I labored through the day and when they started getting pretty uncomfortable, I got into a bath in hopes of easing the pain a little bit and within 3 minutes, my water broke. I was bummed because the bath felt so good and I wanted to stay in but we headed for the hospital and within 3 1/2 hours, there was my boy!

Answer 3

My water broke on its own. My husband and I had been out all morning doing errands and when we got home I decided to lie down for a bit. He started changing the oil in the car. A short time later he opened the door and yelled into me. I couldn't hear him and when I sat up to say, "what?", my water broke! It definitely was like a flood. The funny thing is he wanted to know if I could bring him an old t-shirt and I said, "No, because my water just broke." Talk about panic--it was our first baby. While I called the doctor, he finished the oil change and we were off to the races. It's very messy, I'm glad I had a waterproof pad on the bed under the sheets to save the mattress. Apparently I'd been in labor for awhile but just wasn't catching on [or maybe I was in denial! :)]

Answer 4

My first the doc broke it. The 2nd time around my water broke at work and leaked for 3 days. I wasn't sure it was my water until the 4th day when it didn't stop. ( I did work all 3 of those days it was leaking in a nursing home running up and down halls to) The 3rd I went into labor during the night. My water broke when I went to use the bathroom. As I stood up it all went in the toilet. Lucky me! Labor and delivery was 30 minutes. No we didnt make it to the hospital.lol Being on your 6th I'm sure it'll be quick!

Answer 5

Well when I went into labor with my son I was in my county mall when my 2 minute apart contractions started. I was walking and walking. Well I got what I needed at the mall and went home. My mom drew me a luke warm bath and I sat in there for about an hour. Then the pain got more intense. When I got to the hospital I could walk. I went to my Labor room and they hooked me up. My nurse checked me and I was only 4cm dialaited and this was at 9:00 pm. I walked until almost 8cm and then they broke my water and well after they broke my water right away I went from 8 to almost 10cm I pushed for about an hour!! It was sooo wonderful I had a 6lbs 15oz baby boy. I had him may 24, 2005!

Answer 6

I thought I was in labor a long time (like a couple weeks) before I actually was. One day though I noticed the contractions were actually sticking around all day, and around noon I started writing down when they came and how hard they were. My husband and I were out to eat at a Chinese bistro when they were getting hard enough that I couldn't just keep on laughing right through them (something was striking me hilarious!). We watched "Toys" with Robin Williams when we got home, and through the night I drank about 17 gallons of water. Near the end of the movie I was getting pretty uncomfortable, and we stayed home as long as I could take it (I didn't want to go in before I needed to). My water broke after the sun came up the next day. Our son was born at 11:42 that morning. :)

Answer 7

I was at my 38 weeks doctor appointment waiting for the doctor to come in. My water broke while waiting. He came in and checked me and I was diated to 4 and 100% effaced. I hadn't any noticeable contractions yet. He walked me across the strees to the hospital. My daughter was born 2 hours and 15 minutes later. I had about an hour worth of contractions before I staretd pushing, and then pushed for 20 minutes. I guess I got lucky. I'm frightened about how fast labor will be with my current pregnany though. I'm hoping it's not faster, I want to make it to the hospital.

Answer 8

With my first one, I woke up in the night in labor, my water never broke until I was at the hospital. With the second one, it was really slow and started during the day when I was just running errands and stuff. My water didn't break with that one til I was in the hospital either.

Answer 9

I woke up in the middle of the night in labor. My water never broke until right before I gave birth.

Answer 10

First baby-dog tripped me in the driveway so can't really count that one lol.

Second baby-I was in labor all day on Thanksgiving. I was eating my turkey when I noticed it.

Third baby- I woke up in the middle of the night hurting but didn't actually feel like I needed to go to the hospital until around 9am.