How Did Labour Start For You?

[angelsgirl]

I think if my waters broke I would want to get to the hospital as soon as i could!!!
I'm a bit of a stresser and would be too stressed to stay at home i think!

Has anyone had their waters break in public??? (its one thing i'm a little scared of!!!)

Also the pains like i had last night can they go on and on like that (coming and then going after a few hours) for ages?
My edd is the 8th... could they keep happening even past this date?

 

[sparassidae]

For me, I've only ever had regular contractions the day of birth, or in the case of child #2 I had a few hours the day before.

But I'm sure there are women who have contractions for days (weeks?) beforehand. As I said, it's your womb practising and getting ready, so it's a good thing (although annoying).

As far as your EDD is concerned- note the E- estimated It really doesn't have a lot of relevance in terms of your child's birthdate. It's not a 'use-by' date that guarantees a baby by then.

 

[llghoney]

subbing

 

[faithmom]

For me, I've only ever had regular contractions the day of birth, or in the case of child #2 I had a few hours the day before.

But I'm sure there are women who have contractions for days (weeks?) beforehand. As I said, it's your womb practising and getting ready, so it's a good thing (although annoying).

As far as your EDD is concerned- note the E- estimated It really doesn't have a lot of relevance in terms of your child's birthdate. It's not a 'use-by' date that guarantees a baby by then.

I think if my waters broke I would want to get to the hospital as soon as i could!!!
I'm a bit of a stresser and would be too stressed to stay at home i think!

Has anyone had their waters break in public??? (its one thing i'm a little scared of!!!)

Also the pains like i had last night can they go on and on like that (coming and then going after a few hours) for ages?
My edd is the 8th... could they keep happening even past this date?

angel....whatever your preferrence, at home or hospital, just have your plan in place. It is important that you have charge of the things you "can", because God and your baby are taking charge of plenty of the rest.

I love sparrasidae's wisdom , both on that contractions can be a fast or lengthy situation. And that it is "estimated"....don't go by the date. I don't know anyone yet who has actually had their baby on their due date (and I am an aunt of 19 nieces and nephews).

Honestly, if your plug is clearing, and you have braxton-hix contractions increasing, and you are nesting, I think you are seeing signs of change. There is just no way to know the day or the hour (much like the next arrival of our Saviour, right? LOL!).

Be sure to eat things that both give you strength, engery and keep things (ahem) moving. Fiber, lean protein, healthy-whole-grain carbs and a lot of liquids. This will keep your body ready for the workout of labor. Sleep when you can, even if it is cat naps here and there. Elevate your feet....if the baby is putting the pressure on down there now, I KNOW your feet are having at least some swelling (even if you can't see them).

And when labor begins for real, give yourself gentle pep talks about this being "normal" feelings of pressure and pain. Don't be afraid, be excited but use the adrenaline for energy. And visualize your body opening up and giving you your baby when you do your breathing.

Last thing. I was the first in my family to give birth. Thank Heaven's a friend who had her baby 5 years before me called and said this:

(hope everyone will forgive me for being blunt on this)

Many people don't know exactly "how" to push when it comes time to push. When it is time to push, take a deep breath, and begin pushing as if you're having the most increadibly constipated moment of your life. It is exactly the same muscles. If you do this right from the start, it can save you a lot of energy in the pushing phase.

Yep...being blunt.

 

[faithmom]

subbing

LOL....I don't get it. :o What does "subbing" mean?

 

[charligirl]

I was induced but once the contractions began it was an ache in my back EXACTLY the same as my period back ache, but much worse!

 

[faithmom]

Ok....I think we need a funny water breaking story. The two times my water spontaneously broke it was in the same room. (I will say that I kept on of those disposable mattress pad soakers that nursing homes use stashed in my car for the drive to the hospital...which was good and useful, but once it breaks, a large maxi will do....A MAXI WILL NOT HELP FOR A LARGE INITIAL GUSH THOUGH!)

Anyway back to the funny story. On my first, I woke up with the usual distinct need to go pee...which we all know happens a gazillion times a night during pregnancy, only it was tied to a strong, what I thought, was a braxton hix contraction (I had them all the time). I was still a little under a month away, but had been nesting like crazy. My ob was reassuring me, that though she had dropped, and I'd begun to efface, I hadn't dialated at all. WELL, 3 kids later, we now know that is just how my body goes about it.

So I get up, it's the middle of the night, I take two steps and my water breaks. I had a night shirt on, so it was ALL OVER! AND we had hardwood floors. I was terrified I was going to slip! I am telling my husband to wake up (he sleeps like the dead), because my water broke.

Do you know what he says mumbling into the pillow?

"That's o.k. honey, we'll just clean it up in the morning, now come back to bed."

It took a bit of shouting, but I did finally get him awake and he gathered the sheets off of the bed, cleaned things up, and helped me get ready to go.

Someday when that daughter is older, I will have to tell her that about her daddy.

 

[llghoney]

LOL....I don't get it. :o What does "subbing" mean?

lol, subscribing to the thread

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

#4- trickle that started labour. Dont worry leisamd- I called the hospital a few hours later, contractions were regular and they said only come in when I wanted to- that I didn't need to get in there early just because my waters had broken. I was really glad, I prefer to labour at home.

lol, I didn't call the hospital for more than 12 hours after my waters broke, because it was a fair drive in to the hospital, and I knew they would just check that my waters had broken and send me home to wait to go into labour, I already knew my waters broke, so I wanted to wait to go into labour before I went in. When I did finally go in (still not in labour) they were a bit cross with me! I also didn't want to go in straight away because once you're in, you're kind of on the clock - and I just wanted to relax for a bit longer! But I was careful and I was keeping an eye on my baby's movements, if I thought there was something wrong I would have rushed in...

Also the pains like i had last night can they go on and on like that (coming and then going after a few hours) for ages?

I had pains like that for 30 hrs before I went into labour with my first, and on and off for 6 days before I went into labour with my second - very annoying!
But when it's really it, they will get stronger, so you won't be able to speak through them...

On the waters breaking thing, mine popped and gushed - into the toilet, I was still half asleep and assumed I'd just gone to the toilet, it wasn't til later that I realised, when I kept leaking!

 

[gracepaints]

I think if my waters broke I would want to get to the hospital as soon as i could!!!
I'm a bit of a stresser and would be too stressed to stay at home i think!

If you go to the hospital with broken waters, you are immediately on a time table. Most give you only 12 hours to deliver or they will want to put you on pitocin or do a section. It is a good idea to wait at home until your contractions are strong and regular to avoid unnecessary interventions.

 

[sparassidae]

. I don't know anyone yet who has actually had their baby on their due date (and I am an aunt of 19 nieces and nephews).

Me! Me! #4 was born on her due date! Very special

I am telling my husband to wake up (he sleeps like the dead), because my water broke.

Do you know what he says mumbling into the pillow?

"That's o.k. honey, we'll just clean it up in the morning, now come back to bed."

I can soooo see this happening. Mine was only a trickle, and yeah it ws about 5am or something, so I just got a towel to lie on and tried to go back to sleep (difficult, the contractions started and kept waking me up). In the morning DH asked why I didn't wake him up to tell him. "Why, what were you going to do? It's not like it's time to go in yet"

 

[angelsgirl]

Last thing. I was the first in my family to give birth. Thank Heaven's a friend who had her baby 5 years before me called and said this:

(hope everyone will forgive me for being blunt on this)

Many people don't know exactly "how" to push when it comes time to push. When it is time to push, take a deep breath, and begin pushing as if you're having the most increadibly constipated moment of your life. It is exactly the same muscles. If you do this right from the start, it can save you a lot of energy in the pushing phase.

Yep...being blunt.

Hehehe... that is quite amusing!!!

Thanks for all the other advice too... I know my EDD is just an estimate... but its really hard to think that I may go over, i really don't want to!!!

I love the story about your waters breaking too... very funny!!!

After your waters break, how long does it take for the contractions to start?

 

[sparassidae]

Depends. For me, the only time my waters broke first, the contractions started right away (but only slowly, like every 10 minutes or so)

Some people their contractions don't start for a while.

The only issue is a supposed infection risk once your waters have broken, so Drs put a deadline on your labour apparently. But I've read stuff that says there isn't really an infection risk for about a day or something anyway, unless you have a bath, have sex or an internal exam or something.

No expert here, mind you

 

[faithmom]

I'm a really fast deliverer.

My water broke on my first baby, and contractions started full strenth, every 7 minutes or so about a half an hour later. She was born in just past 12 hours. THAT included them asking to delay pushing because a high risk baby was being born simultaneously in the room next door, and only one doctor was on.

My second baby was born in 4 hours, with the water breaking in the labor and delivery room.

My third, my water also broke at home, and he was born in less than 4 hours.

I think I am unusual in how fast I deliver. I also think that possibly my initial labor is so similar to braxton hicks contractions, that I maybe didn't know that those day or two before that I was "in" labor, because for me, once the water broke, it all seems like active labor (as in, intense enough that it knocks the wind right out of you with each contraction, when labor began a half an hour after my water broke on my first, I couldn't even walk out the first contraction, my legs shook like there was an earthquake going on).

I think you might be getting the picture...there is a huge range of experiences for labor.

Just keep reminding yourself that God designed your body for many possibilities to bring your baby into the world. If you want to be near doctors for something unexpected, that if fine, if you want to be home until things are really rolling, that is fine too.

Like I said, take charge of the things you can control (and let what you can't just happen.).

 

[angelsgirl]

I'm a really fast deliverer.

My water broke on my first baby, and contractions started full strenth, every 7 minutes or so about a half an hour later. She was born in just past 12 hours. THAT included them asking to delay pushing because a high risk baby was being born simultaneously in the room next door, and only one doctor was on.

Can you stop yourself from pushing when your body is telling you to???
Wow... i think i would like to have your sort of labours!!!
I can just see me having a hugely long labour!!! Ah well, at the end of it I will have my little one, so it will all be worth it!!!

My husband told the baby that he/she had to come out tonight... not looking likely though!!! So we'll have to see if the baby obeys his dad!!!

 

[sgrimsley]

I woke up in the middle of the night (two days past my due date) to go to the bathroom and second I stood up, I thought I wet my pants. I changed, went back to bed and then realized I was having contractions. On my way back the bathroom, I leaked pink gooey stuff all over the floor and realized that my water had broken. My contractions were already 1 minute long and 3 minutes apart. No early labor for me! DS was born 10.5 hours later.

This is exactly my story except I had a daughter 10 hrs later.

 

[MyaShane]

After your waters break, how long does it take for the contractions to start?

My water broke around 1-2am and we called and went into the hospital right away. My contractions intensified right away. On our way, they were coming 2 minutes apart and a whole lot stronger. She was born at 9am, but it felt like it went pretty fast.
It's different for everyone though.

 

[faithmom]

Can you stop yourself from pushing when your body is telling you to???
Wow... i think i would like to have your sort of labours!!!
I can just see me having a hugely long labour!!! Ah well, at the end of it I will have my little one, so it will all be worth it!!!

My husband told the baby that he/she had to come out tonight... not looking likely though!!! So we'll have to see if the baby obeys his dad!!!

I just stuck with my breathing and did what they said. I think I pushed for about 20 minutes after the doctor came in and said I could push now.

My baby was early, but healthy and feisty as all get out...so, in the NICU, she was right next door to the little one was born just before her. That little one had Downs Syndrom and problems with breathing and heart rate (which they knew at delivery). I hated that mine came so early, but just when you think you have it tough, you look next to you and someone else has it tougher.

I had caught that the baby next door was in a dire situation over the course of my labor. I knew mine wasn't, it somehow gives one willpower to do things like that (not push), when you know a life so fragile is in a scarey situation. It was also a teen mom, and at 31 I felt so much more in control than I would have at that age.

I will say, on my 3rd baby, I had to keep myself from pushing without being told. The nurse didn't believe me when I said I deliver fast. She hadn't been back to check on me for over an hour, and I felt my baby beginning to move into the birth canal. Again one Doc and a busy morning, but I told her I go fast and she didn't listen.

I had to have hubby stay by my "ahem", as I held my "ahem" with my hands while he yelled for the nurse to get in there ( I was afraid that I couldn't keep my son in, and I didn't want him to fall). She came in with a sarcastic comment of "You weren't even to 3 when I last checked, what is all the fuss about." Then she stopped in her tracks and said, "Oh no! He's crowning!" The doctor walked in the room at that moment, my hubby said, "My wife and I told her that our babies come fast, she didn't listen, and it's time."

The doctor ordered her out of the room, said send anyone else in, and told me, "yep, you have to push."

I could not have waited any longer with him (but by the 3rd baby, the muscle shelf in the body is much different than with the first).

He was out in one push.

Fast is good, but too fast can be a little scarey.

 

[gracepaints]

Every nurse on the OB floor has caught a baby. Unless you know there is something wrong, when you body says push, push. Babies should not have to wait on a doctor.

 

[-~Truth_N_Trust~-]

After your waters break, how long does it take for the contractions to start?

My waters broke around 7am, at 10am I had my first tiny contraction, then I had 30hrs of mild, pre-labour contractions - not really painful.

Generally they let you wait around 24hrs after your waters brake to go into labour. If that time passes then yes there is a risk of infection and they will induce you. After you're waters brake, no sex, no bath and just try to bring on labour!