Will I Know Before I Go into Labor?

Every woman and every pregnancy is different.

With my 1st... I started to have more contractions than usual... then my mucous plug came out.... then that same day/night... I started having more contractions... by the time the contractions got to 5 minutes apart... it was the next day... my water never broke.
My daughter was born 1 week before my due date.

You cannot predict it....

With my 2nd pregnancy, it was a planned c-section.

With my first - I too was worried about where my water will break. This time around I am hoping it will be at the office right in front of my boss... just kidding. Well, maybe - she's been giving me a hard time about being preggo and wanting to take 2 months of maternity so I'm feeling a little annoyed and very, very pregnant =)

I'm at 37 weeks, can barely fit between the driver's seat and the steering wheel, and want to find a shirt that says "yes, I do know that my stomach is huge!"

It depends on the person and the pregnancy -there's absolutely no way to tell! Sorry! Some women lose their mucus plugs and see that and feel that this is a good indication of labor coming soon, however it can be a few weeks before you go into labor after losing it, and many of us never see it. Some women are textbook cases who have small contractions and start dilating and are effaced at their last doctor's appt., and in a day or two their water breaks, etc.

Personally, I woke up at 6:30 on the dot one morning a week before my due date with my water breaking -and I mean going off like a geyser! However I didn't have contractions -no dilation -nothing, so I was induced. With the second baby they decided to induce a week early because my BP was starting to go up and so I never started laboring at home. You just never know! Each pregnancy of yours may be different or very similar too.

I am on baby #4 and I never know before hand, but I also have never had my water break. Even if it did, you aren't going to randomly gush all over people. You will feel it and immediately know what is going on and get to a safe haven. Just keep dark pants on and don't plan day long outings.

As far as labor, you will know when you are having real contractions the key is figuring out if they are consistent. Many times on your first baby you run to the hospital and your contractions are not consistent. Wait until they are 5 minutes apart and not varying then you are good to go!

Good luck and don't worry, as a woman your body will take you through it like you've been there before. Plus, worrying is not good for the baby! = )

Sadly, no one can predict this for you. Everyone has a different experience. Some have contractions that build for days, some have their water break in the kitchen while making soup. Some feel "punk" as The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy described, some go for a doctor's check up and are told it's time to go to the hospital. The truth is, your water may break in public (although it's not that common really). Try to go about your business normally and don't worry so much, it'll happen as it should.

Ok, when I was pregnant, I hated it when people would say things like "sorry everyone is different"; I just wanted to hear stories so that I could have an idea of what to look for, so I'll tell you mine. I just had my first daughter last February.

about two-three weeks before, i started contracting more frequently and more painfully than normal; probably just braxton-hicks. I started walking a lot, shopping a lot (so that I could stay on my feet as much as possible), and I got one of those big balance balls. I sat on that ball for like 3 days straight, rocking back and forth--I would almost swear that's what finally got labor going, but maybe it was just a coincidence. Also, I had sex the night before I went into labor, and by 11 am I was in labor. My water never "broke". I had no big gush. I thought it broke one night while I was on the ball, and I even went to the hospital, but they told me i just peed my pants (I still don't believe that--it definitely felt like it was coming out of the vagina hole).

Anyway, back to how I felt in the week leading up to labor. I felt sick, like I had the flu or something about three days before I went into labor. Earlier in the week, and maybe even for a couple of weeks, I felt SO hot that I couldn't stand it. I gave birth during that huge snow storm in February, and the only way I could get relief from how hot I was, was to go outside in shorts and a tank top and just stand there with my arms spread out for a few minutes. It was heaven...and everyone else would be freezing thinking I was crazy. I got really swollen the week of, and gained 10 pounds (I assume in water weight, because my foot and ankles looked like professor klumps). I did start having the mucous stuff come out about two days before labor. It wasnt one big clump, but just chunks of gooey stuff randomly for like two days. Then the morning I went into labor, I got out of bed around 11am, and when i put my legs over the bed I felt a little rip or tear or pop. not sure how to describe that feeling, but it wasnt painful or anything. i could just tell that something happened. i went to the bathroom and i had a little more leaking--but i thought maybe i just "peed my pants" again. Oh, I should mention, this happened like a day after the first time they told me i peed my pants. I think they were wrong, because they almost sent me home the second time too---even though I was definitely in labor that time. It was for the same reason, they said my water didnt break--but I must just have weird fluid that doesnt turn the testing stick the right color. then that was it, i was in labor.

Sorry, there is no way to know, but do not live in fear of a what if that is unlikely at best. Just do your normal thing, and when it is time, its time.

Oh I wish I could tell you exactly how it will be , but it is different for every woman , what I can tell you is that you will know when you are in "real labor". I don't know how it is just one of those things where your instinct takes over and you just know. Don't be afraid to leave the house because you will drive yourself insane!. With my first 2 pregnancies I was out and about driving and seeing friends during the day and felt "normal" , and when into labor that night , mine was contractions that quickly got stronger , longer and closer together , my waters didn't break until I was at the pushing stage. I didn't lose my mucus plug beforehand either , I just knew that the contractions were real because they hurt and stopped me from what I was doing , whereas a braxton hick I was able to carry on with whatever I was doing at the time.

Good luck and try not to worry too much!

I wouldn't worry about your water breaking in public. First of all, I have known scores of pregnant women, and I can't think of a single one this has happened to. Secondly, even if it did, no one would care. Seriously NO ONE WILL CARE. So don't make yourself a hermit over the possibility that something so rare will happen.

I didn't go into labor naturally with my first, so I was wondered how/if I would know I was in labor with the second. Everyone told me, "Believe me, you'll know!" And... I kind of did, but it wasn't as obvious as everyone made it seem like it would be. I'm one of the lucky ones,where labor really wasn't that painful. I had been having Braxton-Hicks contractions throughout the pregnancy, and labor just felt like those, only coming at more regular intervals. I went to the hospital once my contractions were 4 minutes apart and 1 minute long (about 15 hours after they started). When I arrived, I was already 5-6 cm dilated, and the baby was born a couple of hours later.

But prior to it happening, I didn't feel anything different at all. No signs in the days beforehand that delivery was imminent.

Good luck!

Just like everyone said, you really can't tell. I'm less than 2 weeks from my due date with my 4th and I still can't tell what signs to look for. Only 1 in 10 women have their water break before contractions start, and most of those break while they're sleeping in bed. Go out, do your thing, and just know it will happen - eventually!

My water never did break by itself with my first baby. I'd been in labor having contractions 3 minutes apart all dang day. My doctor finally broke my water and things really got rolling after that!
With my second baby, I was scheduled to be induced the next morning and just had terrible cramps and my back hurt so bad I could barely stand it.
The plan was to get plenty of rest for the next day. We went out to dinner to get my favorite meal, but I couldn't eat anything at all and I couldn't sleep at all either. I didn't even realize I was in labor and my water broke on it's own at 5am.
I knew for sure I was in labor after that!

All I can say is.....you'll know when you know.
Your back might be hurting so bad because you're out of whack from the weight of the baby. I couldn't have lived without the chiropractor with either of my pregnancies. Just a thought.

Best wishes and be sure to let us know when your baby arrives!

I don't know how it will be for you, but by 38 weeks or so I was so ready to not be pregnant anymore many of my early birth fears dissipated! Don't get me wrong, it was an incredible journey and experience, but I I was ready to get me balance, my bladder and a view of my feet back! I didn't know my labor was going to start at all. A week before my due date I got up in the middle of the night to pee and as I was sitting there I felt (and I really think I also heard) a pop. This was my water breaking. However, it was just a little fluid a first, then a bit more over the next couple minutes.

Congratulations! My baby just woke up. Must go!

I see everyone's answers and they are all different! My first one I was in labor 30 hours before my water broke. My contractions were 2-3 minutes apart pretty much the whole time too. Not fun!! The 2nd child My contractions were the same and my water never broke. I was in labor a total of 21 hours. They broke my water at the hospital. You never know! Good luck!

I had no idea.. I was working full time. on my feet was a buyer in a store. I had meetings with vendors in and out of the store all day .I . was the upstairs floor manager covering lunches..It was a typical day..

I was craving a particular lunch so after a out of store meeting, another buyer and I had a late lunch and I decided for the very first time, to go home early!

Got home, got undressed read the front page of the newspaper and thought I felt a feeling like I was starting my period, stood up and my water broke!

3 Weeks early! I was in complete denial.. The water was like a big trickle.. If I had been wearing a large pad, it would have caught all of it.. so consider wearing pads if you go out in public..

I had to run to a neighbors with a towel between my legs to ask her to feed our cat.I kept telling the doctor I was not due.. he told me he would send an ambulance if I did not get to the hospital within and hour!. She was not born for another 20 hours! But they ended up having to monitor the baby because I lost my water so early,,

If you feel good, go about your business.. If you are tired or sore, rest. If you are craving things, eat it.. If you have energy to do something go for it..

I am excited for you! This is very exciting!

i think that every woman's labor is different. i had read everything about all the early signs and how contractions get closer together and last longer until they are on top of each other with no break during transition. not at all true for me. i had no early signs except for random braxton hicks. my water broke one nite but contractions didn't start for another hour. they were 2 min apart throughout my entire labor including transition... thank god b/c it meant i got a break even during the most intense contractions. anyway, i think you'll know when it happens. most first time moms have longer labors. maybe it's nature's way of letting us figure out what's going on. besides, not many women give birth without knowing it's happening.

They day before I went into labor my back stopped hurting. I had a lot of energy and walked and walked and walked. That evening I had contractions every 30 minutes (that did not hurt). That morning my water broke in the morning so went to the hospital. When your contractions become regular labor is starting. They don't have hurt at first but they may come at intervals of every half hour or so for a day. Then they get closer and closer together until they are about 6 - 4 minutes apart and hurt. This is usually when you go to the hospital. From there labor gets more unbearable and you can get your epidural if you are far enough dilated. Good luck!! Or your water could break early ... you never know. Just take it easy when your body tells you to.

You will have some signs. Don't worry about going out after 37 weeks. Most likely you will go "late" since it is your first. If you plan to have a birth that is not intervened with, you could go 2-3 weeks past 40 weeks and everything still be totally normal and okay.

Typically - if there is a typically- you will start to have more braxton-hicks contractions over time, and you will be having a hard time talking through a contraction when it is actually "time" but then it could still be MANY hours before your water breaks and the baby comes.

With my first, I let them break my water, which I regret. Water cushions your contractions so they aren't so painful. Let it break naturally if possible and you will be more comfortable.

With my second, I had so many braxton-hicks for so long that it was harder for me to tell the difference, but I found myself wanting to just STAY in the tub in the warm water and that was a cue. My husband finally made me get out and go to breakfast near the hospital (I had been up all night on the birth ball and in the tub) and when I sat down to pee one last time before going, my water broke on the toilet. I heard mine pop too, but it was just a little water and then it kept coming after I stood up, but kind of intermittently. We had an hour ride to the hospital and I soaked several towels on the way.

Also, in regards to your mucous plug that someone else mentioned- with my first I lost it two weeks before I went into labor and with my second I did not notice losing one at all.

With both my labors, I felt very antsy just before- like I could not sleep, wanted to flit from one activity to the next all night, and wanted to take HOURS long baths. Sometimes you may not even notice it yourself. Have your husband tune in to see if you are acting "off" and then it will probably be soon (by soon- I mean in the hours or days following)

Congrats! And try not to worry!
M.