Just for Fun! How Did You Know You Were in Labor?

I had the poops bad. Called my sister, timed what I thought were just cramps from things stretching lol. Bout 45 minutes later, my daughter was born!

my water broke at 2 am in a dead sleep! i woke my bf up to a wet bed LOL starting contracting and off to the hosp. we went...i didnt deliver though (c-sec) till 5pm the next day! i didnt even dialate to 1! haha
it was the best time of my life. i enjoyed my hosp stay.
good luck!!!!

I knew I was in labor when the cytotec and pitocin kicked in and started feeling the contractions :D

I was sick as a dog with an upper respiratory thing. My husband was away on a golf trip and I was up for nights on end, coughing, coughing, coughing.
Got up to pee and BAM! my water broke from the coughing then I knew I was in labor b/c the contractions began almost immediately. Apparently, you CAN cough yourself into labor.

No mistaking it was time for me. I was talking to a co-worker (thankfully a woman) in her office (on her b-day) and mid-sentence I felt a huge gush. Yup just like TV (which I was told 4 days prior in birthing class that I shouldn't have to worry much about water breaking like on TV, as few women experience it quite like that - they were wrong about me!) So, no contractions for an hour or so later after I got to the hospital. I was at 35 weeks, so it was very scary and unexpected, but it's a fun story to tell 3 1/2 years later. I always joke about 2 things: 1. I'm glad my water broke because I'm too indecisive to determine if I had been in "real" labor, and 2. I'm sometimes glad baby girl came 5 weeks early because we didn't find out the gender, so I don't think I could have waited much longer to know what we were having - I'm way too impatient! Apparently so was she :) All great stories ladies, a great part of being a mom - sharing your experience!

On October 28, I stopped by my mom's work to grabbed some breakfast before heading to school. I went to the bathroom while I was there and notice that the crotch of my jeans was wet. I had been having a light discharge for weeks, but it had never gotten through my jeans before. I told my mom. She told me that I should wait to go to school, hang out in her office, and call the clinic. The clinic told me to go to the hospital to have the discharge tested for amniotic fluid.

So we drove the 45 minutes to the hospital, got it tested, and were sent home. I was a bit disappointed because I was absolutely miserable being pregnant. Luckily, I had an induction scheduled for November 1.

The next morning (October 29) I awoke at 5am to pee. I got up and noticed that the discharge was much heavier than the day before. After I used the bathroom, I put on a pad, and crawled back into bed. Before falling back asleep, I texted my mom (Who was in the next room) telling her what happened and asked if I should call the hospital or just ignore it. Then I went back to sleep... It was 5am, what can I say?

My mom walked into my bed about 5 minutes later, woke me up, and called me crazy. I called the hospital, while she packed my bag (I'm a procrastinator). The hospital told me that the maternity ward was completely full, and that I would have to go to a different hospital... They called a hospital that was 30 minutes away from me, told them that I was coming in, and told me to take my time.

We got to the hospital around 7, and they only had to look at my completely soaked pj pants before they told me that I was there to stay.

I was lucky that my water broke, otherwise I would have been like your friend. My contractions were a 3 on a pain scale of 10, until I hit the 8cm mark. One contraction I was smiling and the next contraction I was crying... The nurse checked me and was amazed to find me 8cm. About half an hour later they were telling me to push.

So if my water wouldn't have broken, and the contractions were my only sign of labor... I would have been delivering in the car.

With my 1st, I went to the doctor because I had being leaking for a couple hours. While wating my water broke and they send me to an emergency c-section for risk of infection. Never felt any contraction or pain.
My second one I thought I was having Braxton hicks so all night I just note my contrations all night long. When my husband wake up and saw my notes he wanted to bring me to the hospital but I didn't wanted to go and stay in there for hours before they let me go. I went anyway and I am glad my husband made me go because they weren't Braxton hicks and our baby born within 3 hours, lol.

my water broke at 1:15 a.m. It wasn't a big gush like I had imagined. It was a small trickle and I was annoyed because I thought I was peeing myself. After going to the restroom and changing my underwear it kept happening so I figured out it must be my water breaking. I was 36 weeks and 2 days at the time. 12 hours later we had our DD.

My first was i went to the doctor for my check up at 39 weeks and she checked me and said yep you will probably have this baby next week. Went home got ready for work at 4pm. had a bloody mucus when i wiped from peeing but thought it was from my exam earlier that day. Went to work had some back pain so i set most the night got off work at 10pm. went home and peed again and i had more blood a mucus and was going to just go to bed and my husband said you need to go to the hospital. So i first called my mom who is a RN and she said to call my doctor because i was in labor. Called my doctor and went to the hospital and was admitted at 11pm. Then 8am the next morning my water broke by itself and 11:52am my beautiful daughter was born.

Im currently 12 weeks with our 2nd and nervous to how my labor will be this time around. Im just worried i wont make it to the hospital in time but luckily i live just 30mins from it

My first two were induced. With my first my water started leaking and mucus was coming out, they gave me some time and had to induce me. They had to tell me I was "in labor" I think based on monitored contractions and dilation, but the pitocin-induced contractions are impossible to ignore. My second was a complete and total break (gush ALL over, thankfully at home, not so thankfully right after I took my toddler out to play) and again I did not go into labor and was induced. Once in labor, my first was born within 5 1/2 hours (1/2 hour pushing) and my second within about 3 hours (1/2 hour of pushing again).

I was having contractions all day last Friday that woke me up around 3 in the morning after 2 hours of sleep and I was never able to sleep again. We ended up going to the hospital since I've never had natural labor and wanted to be sure that wasn't it since we were in the middle of a snow storm (I didn't want to drag the kids out later in the middle of the night), but they were not "real" contractions. It will be interesting when this guy finally comes, but I'm really hoping NOT in my car! Glad your friend and her baby are doing well!

My first time, I started to feel contractions around midnight on thursday night. Even thuogh they weren't strong, I just knew it was contractions. My husband and I were all excited and couldn't sleep. We should have because the baby didn't come til Saturday night! I had contractions off and on all day Friday, all night Friday, went to the hospital at 3 am, got sent home, and just toughed it out at home for another 12 hours until I couldn't take anymore contractions and went to the hospital at 3 pm Saturday. I cried relief when they admitted me. Then I got an epidural and rested and felt aaaaall good. I had the most relaxed birth ever. My daughter came at 10 pm on saturday, almost 48 hours after I first felt the contractions.

2nd child, I felt the contractions start really mildly about 4 pm and started timing, them, they were still really far apart. After learning my lesson the first time, I tried to sleep that night. At 2 or 3 in the morning they felt too strong and I was NOT sleeping so we called the in-laws over to watch my daughter, so we could go to the hospital. It took them about an hour to get there it was the longest hour of my life! They admitted me at the hospital, I got the epidural and got some rest. I was expecting another easy birth but my labor stalled that morning and I wouldn't move past 8 cm. The baby's heart rate was dropping during contractions so the were worried about giving me pitocin. They decided to try a little bit and didn't like what they saw on the heart monitor, I immediately went in to a C-section. That part was a little stressful and unexpected, and I felt disconnected from what was going on since I couldn't see with that curtain they put in front of you. I didn't like it. Daughter #2 was out at 10 am and this time I cried with relief when I heard the baby cry. I didn't realized but I guess I was worried with the whole "urgent" c-section vibe. Thank God for the anesthesiologist, he was very calming to me. Not what you expect from the anesthesiolgist but he was the only person (besides my hubby) on "my side" of the curtain.

Ahhh, such a wonderful emotional experience no matter how you slice it! Thanks for the walk down memory lane :)

**PS after reading these I learned an important lesson about labor. It's never Pee! It's your water breaking!

I sneezed, my water broke. A month early. I was in such denial I didn't want to go to the hospital and almost had the baby in the car! He was my first.

I didn't know I was in labor! I also just had back labor, and when I was having back pain, I figured, well I'm almost due and surely it is normal to have back pain. I went to my weekly midwife appointment and she was checking me and asked "Did you know you are having contractions?" What??? They were already 3 minutes apart and my midwife wanted to call an ambulance to bring me to the hospital. I ended up driving myself home first and then to the hospital...had my son 31 hours later. I never felt any pain in my front- just terrible back pain.

Mine came 6 weeks early. I lost my plug at 7 weeks early & had some braxton hicks. Knowing I still had a month & a half to go I went walking around a local carnival Saturday evening. That night the contractions seemed to be harder so I went to the hospital. They said I wasn't in labor but did an ultrasound to make sure baby was OK. Their exact words "Oh my, she's already a good 6 pound baby by our measurements! How exciting!" They kept me overnight Saturday night & sent me home on Sunday morning. I kept pretty relaxed Sunday getting up to only pee & eat. Sunday night I got a nose bleed (I never ever get those so I'm sure it's attributed to labor). Monday morning at 7am my water broke. I had my DD at 2:36 that afternoon. My "good 6 pound baby) was 9 pounds. LOL! Congrats on the pregnancy!!!

wow what a story. Well the day i went to the hospital i woke up that morning at seven am and i was leaking. Didn't think anything of it so i put on a panty liner, went back to sleep and woke up around one pm. I was still leaking, my panty liner was soaked, so i called my friend who had just recently had a baby and asked her if it was normal to be leaking, she said no but that i should call my Dr. I did and the nurse told me that i had to go to the hospital, that they would test to see if my water broke. I took a shower, packed my bag for the hospital (just in case) and i drove myself to the hospital. I didn't want to tell anybody because i thought it was a false alarm, it was my second time going to the hospital so i didn't want to excite anyone. On my way my MIL calls me and i told her what I'm doing and what happened, she of course is happy and calls my husband , bc he's at work, i'm at the hospital and sure enough it was my water that broke. I was honestly waiting for the gushing water to come out like everybody told me it would, that's why i ignored the leak. 18 hrs later i gave birth. My contractions were so strong and painful but i was expecting more pain so i didn't even know they were contractions. What is your story?

Mine may be tmi, but now that it's all over and been a few years, it is kinda funny. First, I was at work. My back was hurting, I supposed from holding my weight, sleeping weird, and being stuck at the desk. I kinda leaned back but kept working (only 1 more week of work to go) and the lady working right behind me asked if I was in labor, would I know it. I laughed and said yeah of course and she said "Ya think?". I thought that was odd but before I could ask what she meant, a client called. I started feeling contractions, but it was 6 weeks early so I figured it must be braxton hicks and I went to the bathroom just to put water on my face and collect myself, have some privacy. NO privacy to be had for a very pregnant woman in a bathroom looking like she doesn't feel well. Before I knew it there were a million women in there and I kept insisting I just wanted to breathe and have a moment to myself. An old lady asked who my supervisor was. I told her, but insisted it was braxton hicks because it's TOO EARLY. She patted my arm and said "Honey, braxton hicks don't make you cry" (I realized I'd teared up, partly from pain, partly from being overwhelmed with people, partly fearful because it was too early). She got my supervisor and walked me to the next floor where my husband worked, and he took me home. By the time I was almost home, I was feeling perfectly fine, nothing wrong at all. So he stayed with me awhile while I took a nap, I sent him back to work when I woke up. While he was at work, I had an overwhelming desire to take advantage of the day off and packed my hospital bag, his overnight bag, and ran to the store to get a gown and robe for the hospital stay. That night, we went to my favorite restaurant for my birthday dinner. I didn't want anything but soup. Mom said later she KNEW something was wrong if my birthday dinner was a small bowl of soup. But I thought I was fine! Now the TMI part: we made love that night. Right at the climax, my water broke. We kinda freaked out, but didn't know for sure, timing wise, if that was my water or not. I took a quick shower while husband changed the sheets, and I had little mini-contractions but they weren't painful. Then my lower back was just "sore", a dull ache. I leaned forward and let the warm water run over my back to relax the muscles. It helped a little but not too much. I got dressed and pulled out a pregnancy book to see if I could know "for sure" what was happening (Ok, I was an idiot, I know). When I stood up, more fluid leaked out and I started crying. My husband was like "what is wrong, what do I do?" and I just said my body was crazy, I didn't know what was wrong, I thought I may have wet myself. He took me to the hospital just in case. I wouldn't talk to the check in lady in the women's ward because I didn't want someone to hear, in case I had just wet myself (embarassed!) so I kept saying "I want to talk to someone privately". They kept asking who my dr was and I just walked into an empty room and waited. A nurse asked what was up and I said "I'm here because I don't know if my water broke or if I wet myself" and she laughed and told me to get comfortable and they'd find out shortly. Hark, I was in labor! A nurse rolled her eyes when I told her we didn't know for sure because we'd just made love and she said "There's something called contractions that come with labor" and I said "Yes, and if you do it right, there's something called "contractions" that come with sex". She dropped her jaw and said "Yeah, you're right!" like she'd forgotten. Our son came soon after.

My first was pretty generic with contractions. My secound labor totaled an hour and 15 minutes. I had no time for anything at the hospital no blood work no epidural. The house doc pushed me down the hall into a delivery room. I was 9 c dialated. I had a couple contractions far apart then bam they were like 5 minutes apart and really hard. My water never broke,my doc broke mine right before I started pushing...CRAZY My third baby I didn't really think I was in labor. He was 31/2 weeks early. I had been having contractions for weeks but nothing regular. So at about 4am I dropped my husband off to meet his foreman to head out to a job 3 hours away and had a contractions on the way home and thought nothing of it. I kept waking up every half hour contracting still didn't think anythin.By 9 when I took my then 4yo to preschool they were about 15 min apart and I calld my dr. went to the hospital and they told me I probably wasnt in labor because I was only 2cm dialated but kept me under observation. that was a 10am. By 330pm I was 7cm dialated. My water never broke on its own with all three of my babies and I never lost my plug either, I did have a bloddy show with my last on though. Good Luck to you

I easily could have mistaken the fact that I was in labor, it really wasn't anything more than a lil' odd feeling I had, no water breaking, no loosing my mucus plug, no harsh contractions...just a feeling in my gut. If it wasn't for the months and months prior listening to both my Mom and sister tell me over and over again how fast the women in our family have babies, I might have been just like your friend, having my baby in the car!

I was clueless with my first. I wasn't feeling most of my contractions and those I did feel I thought were Braxton Hicks. They weren't regular and weren't very uncomfortable. If it hadn't been for my water breaking while I was taking a shower at home I would have never gone to the hospital until the very end just about. I remember being hooked up to the monitor and the nurses would be looking at these strong, regular contractions and I had no clue.
My second was almost born in the car. I slept through most of my labor! I kept waking up to go to the bathroom to pee but never looked at the clock so had no idea how regular and close it was. I had one really strong contraction so we called, my midwife almost wasn't going to have me come in yet. I barely got there in time to have a few transition contractions and push him out. My husband was, shall we say..far from following speed laws to get me there and not have him in the car.
Third we decided it was better to have false alarms then risk anything again. Turns out we "guessed" right.

First time- Water broke (yup big gush)- 3 hours total- Pain started about 5 minutes after water gushed.

Second time- Water Leaking Slowly- 1 hour of painful labor, 4 hours from onset of leaking

3rd time- Induced labor- 20 minutes total

4th time- routine visit, too far gone to ignore braxton hicks, had to go back the next day to see progress, then they kept me. 10 hours or so of waiting around for things to start then it was about an hour and a half of painful labor.

My water broke and slowly leaked starting at 10:00 pm. Contractions started hard by 11:00 p.m. and were 4 mins apart from the beginning. No doubt I was in labor! Baby was born at 8:00 a.m. after consistently progressing labor and then over 3 hours of pushing!!

At 37.5 weeks, I thought that I was urinating on myself all day long. I went to the midwife and had it tested, but the litmus paper had expired so it didn't change color!

I wasn't dilated at all and headed to the grocery store. I reached up for eggs and a gush soaked my leggings to my ankles...I STILL thought I was peeing on myself.

Later that afternoon, it happened again. All I could think was...how am I going to work tomorrow if I keep peeing on myself!?!?!?

It was 6 or 7 hours before I had contractions that were significant.

19 hours later I had my daughter. I stayed at 2 cm for12 hours or so of that excruciating back labor.

the first time my water broke (1 week late), i had her 6 hours later because i had an epidural..

the second time i waited like a whole day after my contractions started, they were like 15 minutes apart consistently. the next morning they were 5 minutes apart for about 30 minutes, by the time i got to the hospital i was fully dialated and ready, she came in the 10 minutes after that, they had to break my water.

Well I knew.
I had contractions that were more painful...
It was at night.
I was up all night, in pain.... I told my Husband.
I was still up the next morning 12 hours later.... still having contractions. And in pain. Rocking myself in my rocking chair.
And then my mucus plug came out while I was peeing.

My Doc said don't go to the hospital until it is about 5 minutes apart.
So then, that morning, around 10:30am, it started to get about 5 minutes apart.
I call my Husband and tell him, and tell him to come home from work to pick me up and we have to go to the Hospital. (I was already packed and ready).
All his office workers knew, he'd had to leave at any minute, per me.

So I get to the hospital... labored there another 14 hours. By this time it was night time. Again.
My daughter would not come out, complications arose, then I had to have an emergency c-section. It was after midnight by then. The next day.
So, over 24 hours later, after having started contractions... I had my daughter.

all the best,
Susan

Wow nice. With my son I was expecting to have my water break hahaha but no it didn't. I was 38 weeks just barely, my mom had a feeling I was going to go into labor and came to my house calling out of work. Sure enough that night my contractions were hitting hard and ever 3-5 minutes. So just in case they weren't the real thing we had my mom and her fiancee to stay at my house while my husband and I went to the drs. We got there and the contractions had slowed so they gave me a Popsicle that kicked them up. About an hour later the dr came in and checked me and said that I was already 4 1/2 cm and 100% effaced. So I was admitted. Called my mom and they came right away, about an hour later I had my room and epidural and was happy as a clam. was in labor for 18 hours then when it came time to push it had worn off so I was very cranky. My mom touched my leg and I cussed her out hahaha. I also had my best friend and my best friends mom in there too.
I started pushing around 2:30 p.m. on March 31st, 2010 my dr told me she was leaving at 3 and wanted him out before she left hahaha my son popped out at 2:55 p.m. unfortunately I don't remember much after that because I passed out from to much blood loss when my son tore me and and they couldn't find the bleed. I almost needed a blood transfusion. Woke up a few hours later but still couldn't hold my son because my arms were numb for some reason. Was in the hospital for 4 days. Now we are expecting baby number 2 in May I guess we'll see how that one goes hahaha.

1st and 3rd, I was induced (boring!) With my second, I couldn't sleep one night, got really bitchy because I was cranky, so I called my obgyn to whine about it (seriously, like I said, I was cranky!!) He told me I was in labor and to get to the hospital right away. I was like 'no, not in labor, just really freaking tired!!' He repeated his instructions... I went to the hospital and was 7cm!! I probably didn't need an epidural, but guess what?! I WANTED SOME SLEEP!! Got those drugs, slept for 2 hours, woke up, pushed, BABY!!

Now this one isn't my story, but my mom's, and I remember it from my POV even though I was 2 1/2. Mom was pregnant with my brother, and we had just gotten back from the post office. Dad was working in the basement. Mom had just sat down and put her feet up and says 'uh-oh, go get daddy!'... her water broke. Dad came upstairs, I sat in the living room coloring, and I heard *everything* while my brother came (apparently literally) flying out (my parents bedroom was RIGHT next to the living room). I was SO FREAKING MAD when the paramedics got there, because I had all my crayons lined up by color, and they moved me to get the stretcher in and lost my purple (which our neighbor later found, LOL)... If you go to the rescue squad's place that responded to my brother's birth, he has a plaque on the wall with his footprint and my handprint :)

Hello, I have four grown kids. With my first one, I was induced. You knew. With my second one, I thought I had cramps and as it turned out, it was labor, but I just had cramps through the whole thing. I got there an hour before my son was born. With the next two, I had pressure and pain in my stomach and knew what was happening. However, all of my babies except the second one were 10 hours of labor. I had plenty of time with those. I leaked water with the second one and only was aware of it breaking with the fourth.
Good luck with your precious baby.
K. K.

I took some castor oil one afternoon a week before my due date...I just felt like we were ready. I went to sleep, and woke up with cramps. I thought it was just the laxative effect from the castor oil. My back was cramping, so I took a long shower, as in a 3 hour shower. After about 6 hours of heat on my back, or shower, I finally realized what was happening. I woke my husband and grandma, called the midwife, and waddled my pregnant self out the car saying "I think I'm going to have him in the parking lot!" I'll never forget an older man walking his dog outside that morning...he walked by looking very interested 3 times before we left. LOL. My son was born 2 hours later. Labor does not feel nearly as bad as I was told, at least not until the last hour or so.

I never had any contractions before labor started, although I did have 10 hours of false labor the day before my son was born. It was normal early stage contractions for that long, except I didn't dilate or efface anymore, and they finally stopped. When I actually went into labor the next morning, I woke up with horrible contractions. Went to the bathroom, had another really hard contraction, went back to bed, and then as I was laying there could feel my water break. Not like what you see in the movies, I just felt it, and then I could feel a couple of drops came out. Went to the bathroom and checked (more horrible contractions), and was sure about it. When my midwife came over (I had a home birth) about 45 minutes later, as soon as she checked me the water came rushing out (the head was holding it back). I went straight into active labor at the beginning, which is why my contractions were so horrible from the start, he was born 6 hours after I woke up with the first contraction. I think if you're in tune with your body, you just know.

With my first, I had a contraction and just knew immediately that I was in labor. It was stronger, more intense than the braxton hicks had been. I timed it and exactly 10 min later another one. Then they were every 5-7 min apart for several hours and eventually every 2-3 min. I didn't want to go to the hospital too soon so I had a midwife come to the house twice to see how far I was dilated. 1st time I was only a 1 after 12 hrs of labor, 2nd time I was a 3 about 16 hrs in. At about 22 hrs into my labor, I decided I had enough and went to the hospital. They admitted me immediately and upon examination, I was a 7. The nurse told me if she broke my water, the baby would come fast, which my baby girl did come right after that. Total time from 1st contraction was 24 hrs and 2 min. She was born 1 hr and 13 min before her due date.

Baby number 2 decided that he didn't want to make an appearance. He was huge so a week after my due date, I got induced to avoid a potential c-section. About 6 hrs into induction, dilated to a 6-7, the nurse broke my water and 2 hrs later out came my 10 lb 7 oz baby!!!!

Both times when the nurse broke my water, it felt like a water balloon popped inside me and the water gushed out.

I wish you the best of luck, and an easy labor and delivery!

I had worked one day, came home and cleaned house, and when I finally sat down to rest around 11PM, I started to feel something. It didn't feel like what I thought contractions would be, but they kept coming about 15 minutes apart and I couldn't figure out what they were. So I googled contractions! (This would seem so fitting if you knew me.) I kept keeping track and when they hit 5 minutes apart I went to the hospital. I still didn't feel like I was in labor. I went to the ER about 2AM and they thought I was fine and had me walk up to the 3rd floor to OB. Even the nurse admitting me told me she thought I was about to be sent home until she checked me and saw my water was about to break and I was at 5 cm. I still didn't feel like I was having contractions or in labor, but I had my son just a few hours later around noon. It would have been even faster, but they put me on magnesium for high blood pressure and that really stalled my labor. I was so worried my water was going to break while I was at work and luckily I didn't have to worry about that!

I woke up one morning with cramps and just went back to sleep, as I kept having false labor pains and the cramps seemed like menstrual cramps without a pattern. I woke up four or five times feeling the same way. Finally got up to go to the bathroom and there was blood and blood clots everywhere. So I called the hospital and my hubby who arranged for a ride for me, and off I went. Well I kept getting sent home to walk, to regularize my contractions and dilate past a two. Finally just as I was walking out the hospital doorway at 6pm that evening the hard contractions hit, so labored it out at my moms for two hours, then went back in. The nurses I guess did not believe I was in hard labor and made me walk around, even though I had to get wheeled in by a wheelchair. I kept asking for drugs and they told me I didn't need them yet. They didn't even tell te doc I was there and she almost went home!! finally they told her I was there and she checked me and I was 7 cm dilated. My son was born an hour later. Talk about a close call, thanks to the nurses!

Haha. I didn't know! I was a week overdue and went to the hospital to be induced but when they hooked me up to the monitors I was in labor. Obviously as the night went on I figured it out but I thought they were braxton hicks contractions. I'ld been having them since 15 weeks.

I had small contractions for approximately 9 hours before I realized I might actually be in labor. I just thought it was constipation because I was plagued with it the last 2 months I was pregnant. I was also having some clear discharge but again nothing more than I was experiencing the last few weeks of pregnancy. After a hectic day of errands I took a bath which usually helps with constipation but the pains only got worse. That was 11 pm and by 3 am we were headed to the hospital. They told me my water had broken and I was there to stay. The baby wasn't born until 1pm so it was almost a 24 hour labor.

With my first one, I had absolutely no idea! My back was just really uncomfortable and I decided to take a really hot bath. Ha! Worst mistake ever. It kickstarted my hard labor and J was here less than 5 hours later. My mother seriously thought he was going to be born in the car on the way to the hospital too. :D It wouldn't have been a big deal for me though since my grandmother was an RN and she'd delivered hundreds of babies. It only took as long as it did because the doc gave me something to slow it down. The isolet wasn't even completely warmed up since the nurse hadn't bothered to turn it on right away. She figured since I was a first time momma, that we'd be there all night. I sure fooled her and it was so funny watching the doc get after her about it.

My second one, I wasn't sure at first. I just had the uncomfortable feeling and stayed up all night drinking cocoa and eating animal cookies. By the time my contractions were noticeably getting closer together, and I realized what was going on, I had to call my husband home from work and have him pack everything for the trip. This little guy had decided to show up two weeks early, on my birthday no less! C was with us three hours after checking in. I got a lot of complaints that I missed Thanksgiving and people didn't get their Bailey's Irish Cream cheesecake that year. Never mind I was in the hospital with a baby less than a day old. :D

I didn't get to have my girls naturally. :( My oldest was an emergency section because she had the cord wrapped around her throat and of course my insurance wouldn't pay for a vbac for my second daughter. :(

They induced me after a day of no dialating. That was just disgusting.. and the stupid nurse left the room for forever so my poor exhusband was changing the plastic sheet thing they put under me while I was laying in the hospital bed because I was laying in watery mayo (thats what it looked like). It was disgusting. I was impossible, my daughter wanted to stay in me lol. Then a new nurse twisted me up in the catheter and it leaked (after I told her she was twisting me up)... they finally gave me a c section because when I got the epidural my daughter's heartbeat went dangerously low. My hip was hurting a lot (prior marine injury) and my back hurt. It was an interesting 2 days before she was born haha :P

@Katrina, I'm jealous lol! That would be the perfect place to break water, shower :P

My first: I had back pain, but not like labor. Knew things were happening when my water broke! But I still had no "contractions" in the traditional sense until I checked in at the hospital.

My second: I had a bloody show. Then, I had real contractions, in the front. My water was broken at the hospital for me at 8cm.

My third: I also had a bloody show, but not as pronounced - more like streaked mucus. Frontal contractions kicked in, but not too strong and in groups for about 15 minutes then nothing for like 45 minutes. I had LOTS of back discomfort though. Again, my water was broken in the hospital at 8cms.

For me, the breaking of my water usually sends me into overdrive with the birth process and baby just falls out. My third (and most recent) was less then 30 minutes from the break to birth.

Best advice: Listen to your body! I am generally "dry" for most of the pregnancy and about 2 weeks before hand, my body starts producing a lot of wet mucus and I need to wear a light pad or liner to stay comfortable. This is my signal that things are "changing". You will know! If you are unsure, the worse that can happen is that you check in and then leave if you are not actively laboring. IMO, I think it is better to get checked and decide to leave so you are not "on the clock" then have a delivery in a car!

Good luck!
~C.

baby "1" (girl--the 1 i put up 4 adoption when a teenager b4 i was married): my water broke...baby was born w/in 10 hours...some mild mes in iv.

baby 1 (girl): mild contraction for/dialating for a few days...water broke... baby was born w/in 6 hours...some mild meds in iv.
baby 2 (girl): mild contractions and hard contractions...baby born 10 min after water broke...no meds at all (this was a unassisted home waterbirth and my best birthing exsperiance so far)
baby 3 (boy): hard contractions at 31weeks...put on meds...then again more hard contractions at 37 weeks...baby was born w/in 8 hours...some mild meds durring labor by iv an oral...was thinking of getting E (this was by far the worst/hardest labor/delivery i have had so far)

With all of my labors/deliveries i had mostly back pain...and the wors part is crowning.

My first broke my water(7 1/2 hrs labor), my second woke me up with contractions(3 1/2 hrs labor) , my third and fourth had regular contractions(4 hrs ea.), which for me, were 10 min. apart. I was so fast that if I had anything regular, I was told to go to the hospital. Never had braxton hicks contractions.

WIth my first, my water broke. With my second, I was like your friend, woke up with extreme back pain... I got to the hospital at 2:21a and delivered at 2:31a.

First one was a scheduled C-section (breech), so no labor. Yay!

Second one - my water broke while I was sleeping. Wake up! It's time to go! 26 hours and a successful vbac later, I had another beautiful girl.

Best of luck to you for a quick and painless delivery!!

With my son, I woke up at 8 am on Sunday morning to go pee. While I was going, my water broke. I wasn't really sure it had though this being my first. We spent the morning putting the crib together (I wasn't due for two more weeks) and after a couple hours decided that, yeah water broke, let's go. We got to the hospital at 3:45pmand he was bor at 2:07 am...on Labor day of all days.

With my daughter, it was 2:30 in the afternoon and were on our way out the door to get my son's two-yr pics taken and maternity pics. My husband had gone to the car and I was in the kitchen w/ DS gating his juice & my water broke (I was sure this time). I told my son, go tell daddy there's a change of plans, we have to go to the hospital. He ran out the door yelling "we're going to the store!!" lol! They induced my contractions and she came along at 10:51pm, with only 3 min of pushing.

Great pregnancies, great labors, amazing babies! Number three is due ^in September...wonder how that one will go?

Good luck to you!

I WISH I had delivered in the car! Haha! My labor with my first was 72 hours. It was horrible. A friend of mine actually delivered her baby in the car too! It must be more common than I thought!

I hope your labor and delivery go smoothly!

My water never broke, and my plug never came out. Well until after at the hospital. I had false labor on my due day, but got sent home. My son was really low down in position too and there was alot of pressure. But then a few days later in the evening time, I was spending time with my hubby and I started getting contractions, and my back was hurting, there was so much pressure down there due to him being so low, so I got in the bath tub because I thought it would help, and I waited it out cause I wasnt sure it was the real deal yet, but it kept getting worse and closer together. So my mother and I are really close and she told me to call her when I thought it was time, so my hubby called her and told her what was happening and she told me to get my crazy butt out of the tub and get dressed lol, it was baby time!

So she rushed over, and we headed to the hospital, and when I got there I was already 4 centimeters going on 5. So it was good I got there when I did haha.

Everything went extremely smooth, and painless due to the amazing epidural :)
I did all the labor, and delivery in 8 hours.

And now a year later, I cant remember why I worried so much. It seems like no big deal now.

Good luck!!!!!!!! Your going to do great, just make sure your bags are packed, everyone knows where to go, and how to get there, and let your body do the rest. He will let you know when he is ready to come out :)

Hi elena-

Thanks for the memories...my first was supposed to be a scheduled c section on april 12th (due date was 20 april) due to the fact baby was breech, and they had discovered a cyst on left ovary, and he was not likely to turn. We were in germany at the time...and thank god my parents flew over to be there for the birth (the plan was to travel a bit before section...HA!)

On the morning of 6 april, I lost my plug and was feeling crampy...so went to the clinic...they kept saying 'ersta muder' (sp?) 'first time mother'...and sent me home. Noon...still crampy...went back...told to go home again...so we settled in playing cards...had dinner...more cards...my mom kept saying "Was that a contraction?" when I winced a bit...lol...I kept saying NO!!! I did NOT want to go back and feel silly... again...after dinner, I decided to take a shower...and in the middle, there was NO DOUBT it was labor...so soaking wet, in PJ's they took me to hospital. They finally did a pelvic...I was 7 cm...they quickly gave me something to stop contractions...I signed god knows what papers (in german) while being shaved and prepped for my c section...and son was born shortly after. In my pictures...I am a MESS! lol So much for nice makeup etc to go with my 'planned' c...

Son was 7 lbs...8 oz...and the benign (thank god) cyst (and ovary) were the size of a grapefruit.

Oh...and throughout the pregnancy they did sonograms...and throughOUT the pregnancy, they assured me it was a girl!!!!

*memories*
Michele/cat

My water broke! I didn't start having contractions until a few hours later. I was in labor for 13 hours.

I didn't with my first, which went naturally. Was in for a NST on the baby, and after being on the monitor for 30 minutes, the nurse came in and said "do you know you're having contractions every 3 minutes?".
I had no clue!
24 hrs later I had my son. :)

I was induced with my second, so I don't have a good story for that one!

With my 1st I was induced at 37 weeks due to low fluid level and had an epidural and felt no pain through the entire thing. Was about 12 hours. When it was time to push my ex husband almost passed out though lol.

My 2nd I went to my 37 week check-up and had my daughter with me. When the midwife checked me she smiled and said I was 5 cm dilated and my water was bulging and I needed to go up to L&D. I asked her if I could please go home first and take my daughter home. She looked at me like I was crazy and told me NO! I was not having any contractions. My mom came and got my daughter and they broke my water. I would not let them induce untill hubby could get there as he was a few hours away. Finally at 745 they gave me the pitocin. I wanted an epidural but there were 8 other women having babies and i was the last on the list! Wow was that painful! At 1230 I felt the urge to push. Babies heartbeat was dropping w every contraction though so they had to use plunger (vacume extractor) to get him out quickly. I had him T 1242. When hubby got there he turned on a ball game and i was in a lot of pain so i yelled at him and he was great through the rest, fed me ice chips and wiped my face w a wet washcloth, even held a leg as i pushed.

My 3rd I was napping and felt some pretty strong contractions so I called my friend and she came and dropped me at the hospital and took kids home. I went into the bathroom to change and pee and my water broke! She confirmed my water really had broke and checked me and i was 6 cm dilated. I labored for about 3 hours and got stuck at 8 cm. The dr said he wanted to give me pitocin. I refused to get it untill I had an epidural (yeah learned the last time) the contractions w/o the pitocin were bareable but I knew what would happen after the pitocin. So I got the epidural and then pitocin and pushed for about 20 mins and had another boy. Hubby was wonderful through the entire labor and delivery. Talked to me and wiped forhead and fed ice to me. Held my leg again.

Well... I had contractions for about an hour at about 6AM, but it really just felt crampy. I took a shower, convinced I was not in labor - shaved my legs and everything! My husband that I was insane, yelling at me to get out of the shower and get to the hospital (I was overdue). At 7:30, my water broke... Yep, that's when I knew. Holy contractions - ouch... Got to the hospital about 8:00 and my daughter was born at 9:57AM. :)

Honestly, I never went in to labor! I consider myself very lucky. I carried my twins to 38 weeks and had a scheduled c-section. Baby #3 is due to arrive at the end of June, and I hope I don't go into labor before she arrives! I think it would be pretty awesome to get through this whole child birth thing with three kids and never experiencing a single contraction.

Mine is short and simple....my contractions were coming 5 minutes apart so checked in at hospital and then later had to have my water broken for me.