When Did You Go into Labor with Your First Born?

I went into my prenatal appointment on my edd at 40 weeks exactly, disappointed as heck not to be in labor already, went and ate double breakfasts at our favorite "single people" restaurant, and to my surprise went into labor later that day. But the baby didn't come out until two days later!

Try not to think about it in a stressful way. The fetus actually releases a hormone that cues the uterus to begin contractions. So it's entirely up to the little boo inside you :) I know you probably feel huge and uncomfortable but it will all be over so soon and you will be on to the next phase so remember to stay in the moment! You will do great!!!

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I was 38 weeks and when I went into the hospital my contractions were 2-5 minutes apart. when the dr checked me I was already 4 1/2 cm dilated and 100% effaced. I got my epidural about an hour after I got there hahahaha. It was awesome until 18 hours later when it wore off. Now I am about 7 weeks out from my due date with baby number 2. Good luck don't worry your little one will let you know when they want out.

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Mommy knows when she will go into labor. I knew when i was goong to with both of my kids and i was right both times. Same thing with most all of my mommy friends. I know these last few weeks are hard mama but hang in there....before u know it your healthy baby will be in your arms and no longer in the protection of your womb. This is as close as you'll ever be....so enjoy this every second cause i wish i could have it back. Much love,
S.

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I was induced with my first child, and I'm pretty sure that my due date was off by two weeks. And then she was induced a week earlier than that, so I believe she was three weeks early (even the doctor saw her come out and said "Oh, I guess she was earlier than I thought she was"). She was only 6 pounds, she had problems breastfeeding, and we were really worried about her weight because she was so tiny. What happened was that my first ultrasound measured at a due date of February 7. But my doctor, for some reason, insisted on going by the due date according to my last period, which was January 21. Then she wanted to induce a week early (she said she was afraid I wouldn't make it to the hospital in time, but I now believe she just wanted to schedule it to make it convenient for her, because there was no medical reason for it) and unfortunately I agreed. I regret it now, but she's a healthy 8 year old, so she's fine.

Anyway, my point is, hang in there! Take lots of walks, walk up and down stairs, get lots of rest (as much as you can). My mom was about two weeks past her due date with me and I finally came, so don't worry. Your baby will come when he/she is ready. Congratulations!!

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I was about 2 weeks early. But I was really sick and up coughing all night, every night. Apparently I coughed so hard/much that my water broke. Then, of course, labor begins!

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My water broke with my first at 37w 3days. Hang in there!!

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3 weeks early - but I do not think my due date estimate was even remotely close. She came out 7lbs 11 ounces... does that seem like a pre-mature weight to you? It sure doesn't to me!!

Don't stress if you haven't met your due date... they are man made estimates and every women's pregnancy - including each different pregnancy will be different lengths of time. When the fetus is done developing, it sends a stimulus to the woman's body thru pheromones, chemicals and hormones - which will start the cascade of changes that eventually becomes labor.

Tho some women definitely have problems with getting labor to start and even fewer have complications that require surgical prevention (this is natural birth, not medical intervention births - like pitocin, epidurals, laying on the back and constant fetal monitoring, etc) - - they are the very small minority.

Some births can be 36 weeks and fully formed, some take 42 weeks. Don't be in a hurry to press your baby to come out into the world before they are ready. Nature is a miraculous thing... as are womens' bodies!

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I was just like you. forty weeks and no sign of labor. I ended up having to be induced after a week overdue. And had to have a c section due to the position she was in, but everything turned out ok and i now have a healthy baby girl. I know you are miserable, but it will come soon.

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I was due on 12/18 and I went into labor on 12/23 very early in the morning and the day before I had an appointment with my OB and she did a membrane sweep in the hopes that it would jump start my labor naturally. I had an induction scheduled for the 26th and I really didnt want to have any intervention so I went home on the 22nd so hoping that the sweep would work. Sure enough less than 24hrs after I was in labor and I didnt actually deliver until just a bit past midnight the next day so now I have a 12/24 (Christmas Eve) baby
Good Luck and just take this extra time to rest (if this is your first believe me when I say that you will be thankful you rested while you could/can)

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Good morning Elana. My first child was due October 31 and was born October 23rd, my second child was due January 28th and was born Feb. 2, and my last child was due may 28th and was born May 27h. hang in there. J.

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Girl my babies jut get so cozy and don't want to come out :D With my first I was induced at 41 wks, but I was starting to dilate right when they were inducing. With my second I was induced at 39 wks bc the baby could have possibly been large, which he wasn't, but when the broke my water I went right into labor. Now the third time around we will see! Induction isn't that bad if it has to happen, I have still had two babies vaginally and they are just great. Congrats!

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I went into labor 5 days after my due date... after a failed induction on my due date. lol. My doctor even stripped my membranes 4 times... a couple of times before my due date hoping to induce early labor (My DD was really big, and it did cause some problmes for me.), again on the day they induced labor, and then one more time the day after. lol.

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This one will vary for everyone. My first was born at 39 weeks 6 days and 22 hrs and 47 min. (or an hr and 13 min before her due date). I had to get induced with my second one at 41 weeks. Each baby and each pregnancy is different. Don't worry about the numbers. I didn't dilate with baby #1 until I was in labor. (and she was born on time) With baby #2, I was dilated for 3 weeks, each week progressing to a higher number and still had to get induced a week after my due date. The doctors use those numbers to gauge where you are in that exact moment in time. At any moment you can go into labor and all those numbers will change. You're almost there!!!!

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My firstborn came two days after his due date. Two looooooong days. Hang in there, you will not be the first woman in history to be pregnant forever! I know it seems like it will never end. Try to stay busy and distracted so you're not focusing every second on not going into labor. Take a few minutes to appreciate how awesome it is that you're going to meet your baby soon! Good luck.

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I went into labor the day before my due date. In fact, I had my first born 10 minutes before my due date. Labor started by my water breaking when I got out of bed to use the bathroom in the middle of the night. Just because you are not dilated does not mean you can't go into labor at any moment. EVERY woman is different. You cannot judge your situation by the situations of others. Your body and your baby is unique. With that said, hang tight, the end is almost near. Good luck.

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41 weeks! I was scheduled to be induced but we kept getting delayed since the hospital was so busy, but a week after my due date I ended up going into labor. I was only 1 cm dilated and hadn't had any other signs leading up to it either but my water ended up breaking and I went into labor on my own. Now we joke that my son only does things in his own time (which is pretty true), we also joked that I gave birth to a 1month old since he was 9 lbs.

Hang in there! I know how uncomfortable it can be in the end and the anticipation of going past your due date sucks! But hopefully it will happen soon, good luck to you!

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Pre-term labor started at 28 weeks, and I was put on bed rest. They took the baby because of complications at 35 weeks. Now he's a happy, healthy 13 year old. :)

Congratulations on your pregnancy! You don't have much longer to wait!

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I went into labor at 40 weeks 5 days. I saw the doctor and was not dilated and had not had any contractions on a Friday. He said let's go the weekend and I will see you Monday to discuss being induced. Well I went into labor on my own Sunday night and delivered my baby girl Monday evening.
Good luck and Congrats!

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I was 13 days early and it was 2am. I wasn't even packed nor did I have a pediatrician picked out. Count your blessings!! Just keep doing your kick counts and go for some walks and take some naps. Good luck.

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I was pretty lucky. I had both my kids the day after my due date. Try doin some walking. That seemed to work for me. If your up to it, a little sex won't hurt either. :) Good luck to you.

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I was pretty lucky. I had both my kids the day after my due date. Try doin some walking. That seemed to work for me. If your up to it, a little sex won't hurt either. :) Good luck to you.

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I went into labor 7 days late with my 1st on the day I was scheduled to be indiced!

baby number 2 was 10 days late and I had to be induced on 2 different dates to get her to come out.

Be patient...I know it's hard, but you will have the rest of your life to spend time with your child. Let them finish cooking :)

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42 weeks. I was scheduled for an induction and started labor on my own, but was still given pitocin because I wasn't moving fast enough. I wish I had decline the pit and just let myself labor naturally because I think things ended up being harder and longer than they needed to be, but all was well in the end.

The average woman in the US delivers her first at 41 weeks and 1 day so you're definitely not in the minority to be going over 40 weeks. Just trust that your body and your baby will let you know when the time is right. Congrats!

Edited to add...at some point if you are using an OB and not a midwife, he or she will start to talk to you about "options" which means induction. Unless there is a clear and urgent need to do so (fetal distress, maternal distress) I would urge you to resist the idea that "you are x days over due (usually 41 weeks is the popular magic number) so let's just induce." Another popular tactic is to scare you with your baby being too big - know that the sizes are just estimates and they're usually not right. A friend had a c-section early due to large size and the poor kid was 6.5 lbs. My first was estimated at 6-7 lbs and was 9.2. Of course you have to listen to your doc, but just know that some practices and hospitals are very induction happy and will offer it for no good reason and you don't have to say yes!

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Induced and c-sextion with #1 and 40 wks + 4 with #2 - another c-section.

Please know that induction does not always work. If your body is not ready you really increase your chances of a c-section.

Good luck!

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On my due date! But she didn't come till the next day.

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3 weeks early.. I had not had any contractions and my water broke.. Got to the hospital still no contractions, but they hooked me up and said, oh yes, you are having heavy contractions. Stayed in the hospital for 17 hours only had about an hour of hard labor.

I was in shock the whole time, telling them , I was not due for 3 weeks and was not feeling anything.

FYI~ It was a full moon and the Labor portion of the hospital was PACKED! Spent most of my time in the recover section of the LDR... which was fine. My husband laughed and talked all night. Our last night alone.

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36 weeks.
The week before I wasn't dilated at all at my dr's appointment.
The night before I delievered (I had a very quick labor/delivery) I had driven 7 hours. The dr's don't know for sure if all the driving contributed to my dilation and early labor, but it was a popular theory with most.

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On my due date my Midwife stripped my membranes because my husband was on leave from deployment and I wanted him to have time to spend with his son, and I and then 4 days later I went into labor. It was after midnight, and by 8 am my son was born. It was a super quick labor, and delivery. I easily could have gone a week over though. Just hang in there, and you will be in labor in no time!

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I never went into labor on my own. I was induced two days after my due date. Even then it took a long time for me to fully dilated. I guess my baby just didn't want to come out.

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1 week early with my first born.
My son was c-section... so well that was at 38 weeks.

My friend was 1 week late. Had to be induced.

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i thought firsts were usually late? that's what i had always been told, read, and saw in my friends. my son was a week late. he came the day before the dr. wanted to induce me because he was "so big". bleh. he was 8 lbs. what do they know.

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