Are There Any Early Signs to Tell If I Will Deliver Early?

Updated on February 12, 2013
T.P. asks from Castle Rock, CO
13 answers

I have heard that first babies typcially deliver later than their due date and have slower labors. I am 6 weeks from my due date and worried about working right up to the end. I am a nanny and am quitting due to DH and I moving away in May, so no company policies or leave to worry about. But I gave my notice to make Friday, March 22nd my last day and my due date is Monday, March 25th. Will there be any signs I should look for to know if I might go early and should just quit sooner? I just worry about going into labor and being further away from where my husband works if it happens early.

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A.W.

answers from Kalamazoo on

You never really know......but if it was me? I would stop working two wks before my due date if possible and rest up!
Hope you have a good plan in place in case you go into labor while at work!

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More Answers

K.A.

answers from San Diego on

That 40 weeks is a guess. And no, not all first time mothers are late and have slow labors. I wasn't. My OB kept trying to stick to it and I kept telling her she was wrong, even the ultrasounds said an earlier date than the spinny wheel of doom.
I guessed my second child's birthday exactly, and it wasn't 40 weeks. My third was 4 days earlier than my guess, which was before 40 weeks. All spontanious labors and they were all full term.
The only way I knew I was in labor with my first was my water broke while I was in the shower, and even then I wasn't sure that's what happened. I wasn't having any contractions at all, they were just like the irregular Braxton Hicks I'd been having for 2 weeks before. He was born 8 hours later and I wasn't feeling contractions for a large part of it. Threw the nurses for a loop because they figured they had all the time in the world LOL
Personally, those last couple weeks I didn't want to do anything. I felt like poo. My husband did a large part of taking care of our older kids when I was pregnant with their siblings those last couple of weeks.
There are no "tried and true" signs of labor starting. All 3 of mine were totally different.
I would be ready to stop working earlier if you feel like it's too much.
Congratulations on your baby-to-be! May you have a safe and fast labor and delivery and a very healthy baby!

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S.W.

answers from Minneapolis on

I've had one baby. She came 11 days before her "due" date and I had NO warning. Was just lounging on the couch when my water broke. Luckily I was at home and not at work. Labor was a total of 8 hours.

I agree with Katrina that the last two weeks I would've been worthless in any job that required physical work. I needed to SIT DOWN. Up until then I was feeling great and walking a lot, etc.

I would talk with your employer about their plans, and work out an emergency plan in case it's necessary.

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K.H.

answers from Detroit on

You can never tell. Five weeks before my due date with my first, I was getting ready for work and my water broke. Freaked the heck out of my boss when I called in. :) I always thought I would be late based on family history. I went into labor with my second on my due date and had a c-section with my third so never made it past the due date with any of them.

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L.F.

answers from San Francisco on

You just never know. Obviously if you start having regular contractions, call your midwife and get checked out. But normally you will have warning before going into labor. It won't just suddenly happen while you are at work. I would just take it easy the last few weeks and if your body is telling you to quit sooner, do that. Just pay attention to your body and warning signs. Congrats!

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B.C.

answers from Norfolk on

My son is an only child.
I had no Braxton Hicks contractions at all.
I was convinced he was going to be on the late side.
I worked in an office and planned to work right up till I had the baby - I wanted 12 weeks of maternity leave WITH the baby once he was here (more would have been nice but I could not afford to take more time off).
I worked on Friday then went into labor 5am Mon morning and had our son Tue 5pm.
I was my Mom's first born and she was 36 hrs in labor with me.
It turned out that I labored 36 hrs with our son.
And he was born EXACTLY on the first estimated predicted due date - which I hear is pretty unusual.
We were sure of the dates/estimates because we went through IVF to have him - there was NO guessing when conception took place.
If you conceived without going though a fertility procedure that pin points conception - the estimated due date has a 2 week window give or take (so 2 weeks prior or 2 weeks after is completely normal).
There's a tendency to follow the same pattern that your mother had (with her first born), so that might give you some insight, but it's not always a reliable predictor.
Since you will be leaving anyway due to your move, if you are feeling really tired you could quit sooner - they are going to have to find a new nanny anyway - a week or two won't make a huge difference.

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J.S.

answers from Hartford on

There's really no way to tell this soon. There's really no way to tell unless you end up with complications or until you go into labor. For now just plan for your due date. You could actually go to 42 weeks, which is normal.

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J.G.

answers from Chicago on

Not really. I had my daughter 5 days early, my son on his due date. With both, I knew I would pop within the week because I had lots of little signs --bad back pain, diarreah, etc.

But not all women get signs. Some just go fast, while others of us take our time working up to labor.

I figure I will go with my third within a week of my due date since this was the case with my first two. Since this is your first, chances are your baby will come after your due date.

I would work out an emergency plan with your employeer, however, because baby comes when baby comes ;-) You never can tell.

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J.B.

answers from Houston on

I quit my job with my first about week b4 my due date, bc I wanted to rest a bit b4 going into labor. I did go a week beyond my due date and was induced and I had the same story with all three of my kids, they were just nice and cozy in there I guess :). So I had three inductions with no birthing complications, well a little with the first but all went fine ultimately. Now of three of my best friends, the story was different. One went three wks early with her first that ended in c section, one had a preemie at 30 wks, one was on track it seemed but they had to schedule a c, bc her baby did not turn. I was the only one who went late and had a kind of long labor the first time. So I said ALL that to say, you never can tell what these little babies are going to do! My best advice would be to give yourself a week or so before your date to rest, have dinner out with your man, take a bubble bath and just chill to get ready for this very special but very tiring time in your life :) congratulations!

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S.E.

answers from New York on

sadly no.. i had my first, my daughter, 6months ago.. i had her 4 days early.. from the time i was about 6months along all i heard from everyone was how i was "definatley" going to have her a few weeks early.. i was huuuggee.. and im only 5foot tall so it made me look even bigger.. i went to a bbq 2months before my due date and had people looking at me in horror because they thought i was due anyday and i would say no, 2more months.. i had everyone in my family betting id pop 4 weeks early.. needless to say by the time i was a week or 2 away from my due date i was pretty frustrated that i hadnt had her yet because it seemed so sure id go way early... so yeah, you never really know
.. and also i had a really quick labor/delivery -but i have heard from many people that in general with first pregnancies you do tend to go into labor later

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J.W.

answers from Philadelphia on

My first was 7 days late, second was 11 days late. I worked until I went to the hospital with both. But since you are a nanny you may not have that flexibility since someone is really depending on you. I would just make sure the family has a back up plan in case you do go early. Good luck!

B.S.

answers from Lansing on

With my first daughter I stopped working on her due date. And she didn't come until 11 days after that. I personally was SOOO bored for those 11 days! With my second I worked until the day she was born. Both my daughters were late.

But like others have stated its really very hard to tell what will happen. I would say as long as you're close to your hospital/doctors that working until that date should be fine.

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A.C.

answers from Atlanta on

Nope, no signs. Sorry. With both of my babies, my doctors (two different ones) were convinced I was going to deliver early because of the babies' growth, process, my dilation, etc.

My son was 3 days late, and my daughter was induced 10 days late.

My girlfriend had none of the "signs" I had and gave birth in her 37th week.

No way of knowing. Sorry.

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