Going into Labor?

You will lose your mucous plug (bloody show) when it is really the time. Even after that, you may labor for many hours until you are at a 10 and delivery is imminent.
My first I stayed at home for 10 hours after seeing the mucous plug (when I went to the bathroom) and still was only a 3+ at admittance. Pitocin induced labors do tend to be shorter so try to hang in there. If you are not in a rural area you should have plenty of time! Congrats! And apologies for this hideously hot weather. My second was born August 6th and I swear by bowls of ice water for the swollen feet:)

there are so many signs. but it's different for a lot of people. the last mom mentioned the mucos plug, but i didn't lose mine until my kids were actually being pushed out. my oldest was 4 1/2 hours from start to finish. i had never experienced labor before, and when it first started i wasn't sure. my doc said if you think its false, then take a HOT shower and if its false, the contractions should stop. well, when i did that, my water broke. my daughter was induced by my request because my son came so fast and i was dialated to a 4 and 90% at 8 1/2 months. she took about 8 hours, but they did not use pitocin. i wish i could tell you exactly what will happen, but truth is, when it starts, you'll know, trust me.

I too was induced with my first and wondered if I would know when with number 2. I would say as long as you are not a long way from the place you are delivering and have your stuff ready to go, be patient and trust that you will know.

I didn't have my stuff packed and then not only was I up in the middle of the night (about 10 days before my due date) with the real-deal contractions, I had to pack in between them and get my son to my mom's (just a few miles away). I still had plenty of time and was totally ready for the epidural apon arrival but I know that not everyone has that kind of time.

So, pack and have a plan and know that when you have to stop what you are doing due to the contraction (sleep, talking..)to concentrate on pain management, go. I would stop talking and pace in the early stages but I know that is different for everyone too.

Ultimately be prepared and trust the plan and yourself!

Trust me K. you will know. Also, be aware that if you have a lot of BH contractions it's not uncommon for you to have a quick labor and delivery.

For starters, your water may break. That's a good first clue.

Second you may loose your "plug" a red mucousy discharge. That's a good clue.

Third you'll be able to tell the difference btwn real contractions and BH contractions. If you lie down and take a nap and the contractions go away it's BH. If they don't you're in labor.

You'll probably still have plenty of time to get to the hospital. Do you have back up childcare for your son if MIL isn't in town yet? My DD (my only genetic child) was born 3w 5d early in 4h 32m.

They tell you not to go to the hospital until your contractions are 5 minutes apart. My first two were five minutes apart, so we headed straight there.

I hope you have an easy labor and delivery and are snuggling your healthy baby girl soon after MIL arrives.

K.-

I was induced with my first two and baby #3 came on her own. I remember waking up in the morning feeling strange. I was having what I thought were just Braxton-Hicks, but they were getting more regular and more painful. I started to time them and found they were 5 minutes apart. So I called the midwife and she said "call the hospital and get going!" 6 hours later, I had my baby girl! When you go into true labor, you'll probably know. All three of my labors were about the same length. It sounds like you were blessed with a short labor, too.

Good luck too you!
-B.-

Don't worry you will get to the hosptial in time!(unless you live in the boonies) I went past my due date had tons of braxton hicks, and was dilatedat 2cm for over a month (I never went to the hospital "thinking" it was time. One night I was rinsing the dishes and watching Greys Anatomy when "water" just started comin down my leg.After the show was over we went tothe hospital.Then I just sat there for 9 hours with NOTHING happening! The nurses told me later that I should've staid home till I had contractions that were timeable.So I guess what I'm saying is dont worry it will happen when its the right time and the hospital will be close enough! Good luck, congratulation's and blessed be. D.