how do you know...

[docsaf]

how do you know when labor is coming?

I am 39w pregnant and everyone keeps expecting it to happen at any second - except me. I feel better than I have in weeks. I am waking up more in the middle of the night, but the baby has dropped a little so I am breathing so much easier. I have asked my OB what the signs are and she told me that when I have "real" contractions they will be so painful that I will feel like I can't walk. Besides the mucus plug, water breaking, and "real" contractions, were there other hints/signs that you were going into labor that day/night?

[mjmom69]

Something I experienced besides the pain was shaking legs (uncontrollable) and pressure. But my water didn't break on it's own so that may be why.

[docsaf]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I keep hearing that the pain is unmistakable - I was wondering if there are any smaller signs before that happens. I haven't had many BH contractions. I was feeling crampy and thought that maybe that was a sign that labor was coming soon. It was a sign - that I have some sort of stomach bug. I just hope that it is short so that I can get my strength back before the baby comes.

[pertykitty]

with my son i the night before labor i slept better than i had in months, maybe my body knew!  with him i just woke up with pain, real pain and my water broke a few hours after.

with my dd it was 4:20am and for some reason i woke up and jumped out of bed just in time as my water broke.  no time to guess that one! lol

good luck, it will be soon, very soon.  of course it could still be a few weeks

[PamelaBee]

Believe me you will know when you're in labour!  The pain is undescribable... Braxton Hicks are mild compared to the real mccoy!  All women are different and thresholds of pain are different, but you will know for sure the onset of labour, they are role up in the fetal position crampy/pain...agony!  Sorry... : (

[adgal]

I too am wondering this...I have been told that the contractions will be consitant and not subside like they do with Braxton Hicks.  Also, that when they are 5 minutes apart it's time to head to L&D.