How Will I Know?!
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Category: Pregnant
Forum Name: Pregnancy
Forum Description: Pregnant! Wanting to chat to other mums-to-be (or dads-to-be)? Share your thoughts, experiences, and ideas... This is that place!
URL: https://www.ohbaby.co.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=6485
Printed Date: 26 August 2025 at 1:06am
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Topic: How Will I Know?!
Posted By: mamanee
Subject: How Will I Know?!
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 3:58pm
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For the past week or two I've been having this strange foreboding feeling that I'm going to go into labour soon. I know it's too early, and sometimes I feel like I'm being irrational about it, but last night I 'think' I got a couple of braxton hicks contractions. But then, I don't know what they're supposed to feel like. I just had this pain across the middle of my bump, that lasted about 30 seconds or so, and I got it again every 10 or so minutes for a few hours. I feel fine today though.
I just feel like I could 'go' at anytime. Is this feeling normal? Also, how will I know what kind of pain is the start of labour? Feeling very OVER being pregnant at the moment. Feel huge, uncomfortable and our couch has fleas from being stored in a garage with sleeping cats for ages. So now I'm covered in bites, grumpy, sleep deprived and waiting patiently till DPs payday so we can get a flea bomb thing, or some insect repellant. I HAVE to spend a few hours on the couch (the other couch, not the flea infested one) with my feet elevated on the armrest as my restless leg syndrome is still with me every night, so I can't get away from the fleas. I can't stand having warm/hot feet either, so no blankets on my legs! ARGH, I'm so itchy. Wow, I'm not even sure what I just typed there, but I'm just over it. 
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Replies:
Posted By: Bizzy
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:15pm
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i used to wonder the same thing and people would say to me "oh you'll know when you are in labour." of course i never went into labour naturally with either of my kids so never got to test that theory out. i did think once that i was labour - for about half an hour - but that may have been wishful thinking. ------------- http://www.myfitnesspal.com/weight-loss-ticker"> 
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Posted By: Skyflame
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:23pm
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I keep wondering the same thing myself, especially since i kept having pains yesterday. Gone today though. I keep wondering lately whether I will acyually get any of the pre-labour signs (ie.mucus plug, cleansing etc.)
It kinda makes me worry about going into labour withour realising and being too late to drive to the hospital as we have a 40 min drive. |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:24pm
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AW, I'm so sorry, sounds so sucky and it's horrible once you get just so completely past it.
with the sense of feeling like any time could be "it", That is completely normal - you do start to feel like that - like you just want to stay close to home.. for some that happens weeks out, others closer to the time. I think especially with your first and not completely being sure what will happen it's easy to get a bit wary. The best you can do though - is spend some time, make sure things are ready and get things prepared for your labour bag, for once you get home, all that stuff. The last 6 - 8 weeks really drag, and the closer you get to the due date, the longer each darn week takes! Usually, UUUUSUALLY, lol, you will have some other signs that labour might be on it's way. Braxton hicks will start increasing from this point on anyway and can get a bit painful, often dependant on where baby is lying.. some you won't notice, others you'll think OOH. But mostly, you might get a few more of those, closer and closer. You'll feel like baby has dropped into your pelvis.. ie, you will feel like someone has stuck a bowling ball up there between your legs, and you'll know what that loose-legged waddly feeling is. alot of people get really nestyish, grumpy, or feel like they HAVE to get everything done or tie up loose ends. The day i went into labour with Ayja i had gone into town finished up all loose ends and picked up paris from daycare and walked home again! i had been staying home for weeks before that so was pretty out of the ordinary... he he, that night i went into labour and that was that. You might also get some d's and sometimes v's, your body will clean itself out in prep for labour - gross i know. You might actually not feel like eating to much eaither around that time. For the most part, only about 10% of people get their waters breaking as first signs of labour. I thought i was one of those with Paris, but looking back i had probably been in early labour without knowing it for most of the days beforehand, with that bowlingball feeling, feeling like i needed to pee all the time - way more than the usual overpregnant stuff, and pains in the lower region too, as well as i thought paris was getting into weird annoying painful positions!! (Braxton hicks.. i didn't know it) Anyway, this is a long post. Hope it helps some. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja 
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Posted By: Guests
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:36pm
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I know its what it is from my experience you do just know. To me it felt like periods pains from the beginning of your period. I kinda expected it tho coz i had a big show just before.
Oh yep my waters didnt break until i started pushing LOL |
Posted By: BaAsKa
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:40pm
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I never had the dropping feeling with my son im not sure if it was because i was induced???? but i would think that i shouldv felt it anyway?? but nothing just the contractions started like a big BANG!! and i soooooo knew what they were!!! an uncomfortable rising crampy feeling in my belly and mostly my back!!! I also never had any water to break! so that didnt help! ( i had Olygohydrosis where there is no fluid replenishing around bubs).
My mum never knew that she was in labour with me - she thought it was indigestion!! but she was 4cms dialated!! 
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Posted By: Skyflame
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 4:51pm
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I sometimes feel like I am getting the start of period pain, but then again it really feels like the 3 day of cramps for me as I get really really bad period pain and am incopacitated for 1-2 days at the start of mine. Not much notice before that either.
There was no position i could get comfy in yesterday at all and I just want to have this baby now so I dont feel sick anymore (nausea since week 4) I also had to pee every 5 mins yesterday but not really go. It was very bizarre, seems to have eased off today. Oh well midwife tomorrow and i will talk to her about it then. I just hope baby stays put til wed afternoon as we have my MIL staying with us till then and am not sure i want to be in labour with her and her partner in the house. |
Posted By: jack_&_charli
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 8:27pm
i was 7days overdue, been having 'braxton hicks' all day, had a 'show' 2 days before and was still in denial when contractions got closer together and more intense
i think i'd convinced myself that she was never going to come out so it couldn't possibly be happening! 
hang in there girls, the end is near and i totally feel for you!! the last 8-10wks of pregnancy suck! ------------- http://www.alternatickers.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: busymum
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 9:32pm
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The last few weeks really do drag, I find the last 2 weeks are the worst for me because I feel so very tired and just want it all OVER! Renee it sounds like you are getting BH, they get firmer and firmer as you get closer to 'the day' but there's not really any telling when things will start, even on your third time which is a bit annoying sometimes lol.
Labour starts like BH, the stomach-cramping kind of thing, you can count it as being labour once you are having at least one contraction every 5-10 minutes, and all of them being 45+ seconds long. You'll be able to talk and move around and stuff in between contractions but usually once you're in established labour, there usually won't be time for chatting in between. Or so they say. That was the case for my #2 but with #3 I was still asking questions in between contractions right through! -------------  |
Posted By: TaylasMum
Date Posted: 01 April 2007 at 10:34pm
My plug come away in the morning, I rang m/w she said ill see you in a few days, well that night contractiom started, I think I know the day before, I had this feeling I had to rest and a urge to make up the babys bed.
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Posted By: yummymummy
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 12:26am
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I woke up in the middle of the night, got up to go to the batchroom and felt a warm trickle down my leg and thought oh oh!
My waters had broken, I was almost 5 weeks early and had not had any warning signs! But trust me, you'll know when it's happening - can't confuse those contractions with anything but... They start mild and just keep getting stronger and stronger and become quite frequent and longer lasting - you'll just know you want to be in hospital (or where you are giving birth). Good luck and try to relax - it will happen when it will, no point worrying about it ------------- http://lilypie.com">  http://lilypie.com">
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 7:16am
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Its normal to think that Renee, I know I did.
I remember I ahd a fear of my waters breaking out in public, but luckily they broke at home while watching tv, I jsut felt a sudden urge to go to the loo then a bit of pressure then well i made it in time before i leaked anywhere. It was quite a gap between them breaking adn contractions starting, and believe me you will know when your in labour the contractions are far stronger than braxton hicks. Mine started kinda like strongish period pains across my bump then got stronger and stronger, I knew when to call my mw when each contraction was getting unbearable and making me sick (dont worry doesnt happen to every1 and they have injections to help relieve that). I couldnt even talk, all i could say was i need water, is it over yet lol. i didnt even hurl abuse either i jsut nearly broke DF and mw hand lol. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |
Posted By: mum2paris
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 9:32am
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lol, I was in denial with Paris, everyone says first labour 12 hours.. our midwife came round 2.5 hrs after first contractions and told me we had to get to the hospital straight away, i started pushing about 20 mins later!
Another good way to find out if they are the real thing is to go for a walk, take a bath or rest, if they are the real thing, no matter what you do they will get longer and stronger. That said, with ayja they lasted as long as a sneeze for ages, very regluar but stayed short until i got into the bath, then straight away were on top of one another and looong. I now am unsure whether i like the bath or want to avoid it in future. ------------- Janine and her 2 cool chicks, Paris & Ayja
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Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 10:11am
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from one that has just been there, they are right when they say you will know, it just might not be right away.
I had back labour so basically was getting an ache through my back and after a couple of hours realised it was coming and going, and decided to time them. My whole labour I feel was relatively quick (realised at 8.30pm I might be in labour, and he was born at 5.40pm the next day), but there was still plenty of time to get to the hospital, and while I got there early compared to most, when labour really kicked in (around 8.30am the next day) I knew for sure that it was happening. (appologies for the ramble, I am very tired!) ------------- "> 
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 10:22am
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OK, I didn't read all the rest of the posts because I'm lazy - and you are probably going to hate me for saying this (God, I'm about to mess with a pregnant woman, am I nuts?)
But I'd try make the most of now and the size of your bump as it is only going to get bigger and more uncomfortable! So try as much as you can to do things where you can relax... having baths... get someone to give you a massage... anything you can to feel a bit better as it's gonna be a loooong 8 weeks otherwise! And yeah, braxton hicks are completely normal. I hope for your sake that you don't have your babe early as I couldn't imagine how hard it would be having a prem babe. Hope you manage to feel better soon! xox |
Posted By: Faraway
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 6:15pm
| Can I ask what the "show/mucus plug" looks like? Does it come away in one piece or is it like a really thick discharge? Does everyone have this happen? |
Posted By: Sarah Beth
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 7:01pm
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mine was a cross between cottage cheese and snot to be honest, there was no blood. something you will definately notice as being different ------------- ">
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Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 9:15pm
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Mmmm cottage cheese..
Oh and for Nikki - I was bracing myself for hating you! What you said was very true, and it's not really as bad as I made out. I am feeling heaps better now, was just having a grumpy miserable day. Thanks everyone for your comments.
I'm..nearly..there.. Next month even! |
Posted By: jax
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 9:52pm
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Hey eomachine, are you in Auckland? I just fleabombed my house and have a couple of the bombs left over if you're keen - just drop me a PM. ------------- Jacquie - Mama to Erin, 13.07.06 - Chief Cat Chaser & Marmite Sammie Eater 
Love many, trust few, harm none. ~Anon~ |
Posted By: mamanee
Date Posted: 02 April 2007 at 10:14pm
Ohh, I'm in Hamilton Jax, but thank you very very much for the offer. 
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Posted By: MyMinis
Date Posted: 03 April 2007 at 7:35am
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i didnt even see my show/mucus plug, so I wouldnt even know what it looks like lol. i was anxiously looking for it form about 36wks (when i was officially over being pregnant lol), but i still wouldnt know what it looks like hehe.
it really isnt long now is it Renee. just try to relax adn look after yourself  ------------- http://lilypie.com">
http://lilypie.com">
http://tweetytweety85.bebo.com - bebo |