how did your labor start (2nd time mums)

I thought some first time (and second time etc ) mums might find this interesting .
Not me however, I've actually decided that I don't want to give birth again , and so im keeping my legs crossed .....

but for those who have done it before, would you like to tell the rest of the class how your labor started ? not your whole birth story , just the basics, eg waters breaking, a show , etc etc

Mine (with Caitlyn ) started the night before she was born , with backache, it wasn't located in the lower back , it was an all over back ache, the next morning I woke up to nothing .
Then at midday I was babysitting my sister, and I felt my first contraction , it wasn't a gentle one, it was a "take over your body so you can't think of anything else " one, it felt like someone was squeezing the life out of me and also like someone was standing inside my tummy and pulling it in .

After that , it was on like a scone .

So , anyone else want to share ?

also , I couldn't decide if this should go in pregnancy or first baby , but it took long enough to get into this section

I can't change the title, but really , it should just read "how did your labour start " as it was meant to be for everyone whos had a baby to reply , but preggy brain , i made it sound like I only wanted opinions of mums of more than one , sorry !!!!

Edited by caitlynsmygirl

#1 was textbook
Show, then waters broke about 10 mins later, contractions started an hour after waters broke, bout 10 mins apart, baby born about 9 hours after that.
#2 on and off contractions, regular and OW for about 2 days before, would have contractions every 10 mins for hours then it would stop. PITA.
tiny tiny tiny amount of show, barely noticable on the day I had her, but back onwith the old on and off contractions thing. was very tired by then. MW said come in lets have a look if you are 3 cm dilted we will get it started today (I was 2 weeks late and getting induced on the following day) was 4 cm, so she gave me some gel and away laughing (well not laughing) waters broken about 2 hourslater by MW baby born about 20 ins after that.
COMPLETELY different.

With Ollie, I had a show about 1 week prior to going into labour. I knew once contractions started, they felt different to braxton hicks (took my breath away, while BH were more uncomfy than anything). My contractions were regular (if far apart) and slowly got closer and stronger. My waters were ruptured while in labour.

With Lilia, I only had a tiny bit of show prior to going into labour. I had irregular contractions (I guess it would be termed false labour?) for about a day prior. I'd have a few close together then nothing for a while - it was very frustrating! Finally on the Sunday night they were regular and then slowly (though not as slowly as with Ollie!) got stronger. I had my waters ruptured while in labour this time around too.

#1 ~ 10days early, 4 days of strong BH then a show then another day of BH then contractions for 13hrs waters broke and baby was out 30mins later.

#2 ~ 11days late, 5 days false labour / BH, show woke up at 2am with contractions and baby was born b4 50mins later (waters didnt break)

#3 ~ 2days late, 2wks 5days of false labour from 5pm onwards every night had s&s and with in 12hrs i was having what i thought was just more false labour pains, at 2am i was in early labour 5am i was in full on labour waters broke 20mins b4 he was born.

will be interesting to see how things go this time.

Jack - Started having mild cramps Friday morning, slowly got worse until he was born Sat sfternoon.

Caprece - Same mild cramps funnily enough on a Friday morning again as soon as they started I knew. She was born Sat morning (2 years ago today )

Both times I had showy stuff coming away for about a week before hand.

#1, woke at 2am with mild period like/"poo" cramps. DH woke a few hours late and noticed I complained/groaned a little more every 2 minutes. Got to the hospital a 6 when my waters broke and she was born just after 7am.

#2 I was so freaked out that it was going to be faster than the #1 so the when I woke at 2am with very mild stomach cramps we rushed straight to the hospital only to have it all stop. The sent me home, and then at 7am my waters broke and I had really strong cramps and she was born just after 8am

I dont remember getting a show with either of mine and probably could have ended up having the first at home as I didnt think the contractions were bad enough to really be considered contractions.

#1 Got flu on due date and all BHs stopped. The day I started to feel better we went for a walk and I got a couple of sharp pains and the runs. Next day woke to "false labour" every 12 min ALL day. Proper contractions started at 10pm and Tom was born by ventouse at 6pm next day

#2 BH a month before hand every night. Got very stressed about my MW and everything stopped. Went to Dunedin to "relax" and BH started in car. Got there and contractions started. rang MW and they stopped ( I had issues with MW) Was induced next day and labour started within 4 hours. James born by emergency CS 7am next day.

no shows with either and both times waters artificially broken

Millyz it is when the mucus plug in your cervix starts to come out.

#1 - I had a show on Friday and woke on Sun morn with period type pain that strengthened during the day. DD was born just after midnight - waters broke naturally but not until about 10.30 pm.

#2 - hopefully just as good!

4 weeks early - waters broke 3am Sat, went into hospital for monitoring and stayed; no contractions til about 1am Sun, 2nd stage started about 5pm, baby born at 6:07pm with help of forceps.

At 36 weeks I had my show, then 4 days later, 11:30pm, I thought I'd peed in my pants in bed lol, so got up and sat on the loo and it just kept trickling so I knew it was waters. Then at about midnight I started getting mild period-type pains, 3 mins apart, which lasted till about 2pm that day. Established labour started at 2pm when I was 3cm dilated, and she was born at 5:29pm.