How will I know Im actually in Labor???

Cheyne - posted on 09/19/2009

Hun, honestly, you will DEF know!! Your contractions come closer and closer together! My waters didn't break till an hour or so before i had my son and yet I had been in labour for 17 hours beforehand!!!

Charquita - posted on 09/18/2009

i was induced so i wouldn't know but the contractions will sure tell u because they're horrible. i'm not tryin to scare u just remember your baby is worth the pain!

Dusty - posted on 09/16/2009

everyone says that "you will just know" but i sure didn't. i woke up one morning kinda wet down there. not soaked, just kinda wet. i got up and went to the bathroom and sat on my bed for a few minutes and felt like i was having cramps but not strong ones at all, hardly noticable. i had NO braxton hicks contractions through my entire pregnacy. i called my sister and she is the one who told me i was in labor and that my water had boke. which was good cause i was only in labor for 4 and a half hours!



it just helps to have someone who knows what they are doing. but you will DEFINATELY know when it gets closer. there is no mistaking that.



this might not be helpful at all but i surely didn't know like everyone said i would.

Kori - posted on 09/12/2009

I always wondered how I would be able to tell if I was just haveing braxxton hicks contractions or if it was the real deal. I had contractions for three days before the actual day came.. My water didnt break or anything, but when the contractions happend I couldn't deal with how badly they hurt and nothing would help so I wait a few hours and then I just knew that I had to go down to the hospitial, and when I got there I was 3cm dialated and they put me in a room. :-D You'll be able to tell, you will just know.

Kayla - posted on 09/10/2009

ythere are many ways. 1. could start getting contractions, 2. water breaks or begins leaking, 3. or you could go to the bathroom and after you wipe see pink in your urine just means your mucas plug is coming out or has fallen out. it all depends on the person.

Holly - posted on 09/09/2009

i asked that before i was but trust, when you feel it, you will know.

Caitelyn - posted on 09/08/2009

You may not know until you get a really really obvious sign of labour! i didnt, i thought i was constipated, then had my mucous plug show abut 3 hours into the first contractions....i spent 11 of my 16 hours, AT HOME! i was in the hospital for 5 hours before my son was born! The pain is different though, once the really big contractions hit.

But some advice that my OB/GYN gave me, was that young mums just get in, and labour really well. Some women have it a bit harder, but most young mums have a "good" labour.

Stephanie - posted on 09/08/2009

dont wana sound bitchy but u'll know, its a completely different pain than u'l ever have, i got induced and started gettn bad period cramp style pains at first, easy to cope with and then after my waters broke 6 hours later the real pain hit, i remeber walking around the hospital clinging to walls. i cudnt speak, breath, move do anyting and then i got the epidural at 6cm dilated, all il say it was a complete breath of fresh air, felt nothing and my baby was back to back and i needed a vacum delevery, worth every minute of it tho, good luck xxxxxx

Anna - posted on 09/02/2009

I had mild cramping starting around midnight the day I was due. I was able to sleep through them. In the morning I still was cramping and it came and went. I still wasn't sure if they were contractions. As the day progressed they started getting stronger, closer together and regular. Then I knew they were contractions because I was able to time them. As every contraction came they would stop me dead in my tracks. You can feel the pain climbing up and letting loose. And when they went away I felt completely fine. It is rather painful but as I'm sure you have heard, it is very much so worth it. :)

Caitlyn - posted on 09/01/2009

Well sorry for such a lengthy reply to your question but.....
My Labour Story....

We spent April 10, 11, 12, and 13 (Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday night) at the hospital. Every night.. They hooked me up to the monitor and checked me for dilation. I was having painful contractions at this point but I was between 1 and 2 cm so they gave me morphine for the pain(so i could rest for when hard labour hit). Those days went by and I was still only at 1-2 cm. The pain stopped and Thursday I got a sudden burst of energy and decided I wanted to walk straight across town and back. (8-10 miles easy). So Thursday night I started having horrible pains but we didn`t want to go and sit there for hours. My mom told me to see how I felt in the morning. I was still in excruciating pain but again, was to exhausted to sit there and have them send me home. My mom was off work at 2:00 pm and said we would go then if I was still in pain! So by 12:00 pm my neighbor came over and was rubbing my back I was in that much pain. I could tell at that point I was in labour and it wasn`t fake labour. The difference is when you are having false labour the pain is in your abdomim, belly etc. Well when you are in real labour the pain is there in your stomach and it is not steady. It really does come every so many minutes apart and last for whatever amount of time. The other differance is, there is a constant pressure in your bum.(TMI) Like you need to poop SO badly but you are extremely constipated! The majority of the pain is in your bottom!

Christina - posted on 09/01/2009

well funny to say but you feel really constipated. Even if you are actually able to go to the toilet. i just had my daughter 2 weeks and 2 days ago and thats how i felt. I also had the mucas plug but didnt have contractions for 2 days afterwards

Jessica - posted on 09/01/2009

For 3 weeks i had false labor which actually hurt a little at times and even made me cry. But the difference between that time and the real time was that I stopped crying coz it just hurt too much and I started getting angry hahaha. That's when i relized it was the real thing I suppose.
And whatever I did it did not ease up whatsoever, whether I was standing, sitting, walking, they came on like clockwork and each one gradually worse. the false labor I had would start off in a pattern, but never get too much worse, or would get worse then would back off and keep going in a cycle, same with the timing. be like clockwork, getting quicker and quicker, then they would just stop or get further and further apart again.
Basically, you'll know. And when I was pregnant I hated people telling me that, but, when it fucking hurts, and it will not stop no matter what you do, it's time to meet your bub!

Paige - posted on 09/01/2009

trust me you will know! back pain, loss of mucus plug, contractions, and youu will definelty know if you get an intense urge to push!

Lucy - posted on 08/31/2009

Im sooo glad you asked this question,, i was curious alsoo...(:

Shannon - posted on 08/31/2009

I always got annoyed when i asked that question and everyone told me "you will know" but its true, you will. my contractions felt like period cramps times 1000!! each one gradually got worse and then at its worst, gradually got better then a little break before it started all over again while getting stronger, for 12 hours. When your water breaks its really annoying too because it doesn't stop leaking! Good Luck hope your labor and delivery go smoothly! Don't be afraid to ask for pain meds. if you need to. Oh and something I wanna add that no one told me, when its time to push your body makes you push on its own but try not to just breathe through it and call the nurse.

Rachel - posted on 08/31/2009

You just will. You will also defiantly know wen u want 2 push by which time u should b at d hospital unless ur havin a home birth. But u want a midwife wit u wen u want 2 push.

Leah - posted on 08/30/2009

how it got explained to me was a brownish reddish or pinkish discharge

Victoria - posted on 08/30/2009

what is your mucus plug? i was just reading these because thats a good question i have asked so many people how i will know when im actually in labour

Amanda - posted on 08/30/2009

I know how to tell if your contractions are getting closer, if you touch your stomach during a MILD contraction it feels as hard as your chin if your having a MEDIUM contraction its as hard as the tip of your nose, and if your having a I guess really bad contraction your stomach will be as hard as your forehead, lol hope that all made sense.

Kailey - posted on 08/29/2009

You should take a birthing class. I'm taking one with my mom as my "birthing coach." We're learning so much and I would be so scared if I didn't prepare myself this way. Check with your doctor. Some places have classes for free for young expectant mothers.

Leah - posted on 08/28/2009

thanx guys!!! for all of the help!!! only 22 more days.....or sooner???

Nessa - posted on 08/28/2009

every one says it you will just no it starts with cramps then your water should brak but dont leave it to then to go to the hospital cause your water may not break when you due if soon good luck and remember its all worth it that is the only thing that keep me goin

Kc - posted on 08/28/2009

i didnt have my water broke they broke them for me

but you will defiently know the labour pain! its more the pain of trying to figure out when its time to goto the hospitalfor "active labour"

but you kindof justknow when it starts! i kept the maternity wards number in my phone because if you ever think you are its a quick trip there and they can check or even assess you over the phone they were really helpful for me :)

goodluck

Helen Katrina - posted on 08/28/2009

its an insticnt thing... you kinda just no, plus your mucus plug will come out, the waters breaking and contractions.. there's many different things, but yeah like i said you'll just no

Cleo - posted on 08/27/2009

Well your mucus plug should come out quite soon before, also your waters will (should) break and you will get regular contractions that for me started out like period like cramps and i felt crampy the day before that. Just don't worry you will deffinitely know. good luck :D

Renae - posted on 08/27/2009

You will just know. something in your brain tells you and if it doesnt then the pain will. also keep an eye our for your mucas plug thats usually a good sign its happening. good luck. and just remember its all worth it in the end :)