How Did Your Labor Start?

1st Baby --Lost the mucus plug and went into very slow steady --back labor starting early that day Pain never went away between contractions so it was very hard to time them. I couldn't tell when they started and ended. Went to the hospital--they wanted to send me home but my water broke before I even left. Baby was born a little over 24 hrs. after I loss the plug.

2nd Baby--had contractions starting at 4:30 a.m. Finally woke up hubby and was like "I think?? I am in labor" and then next thing you know--I was screaming in pain because the contractions got really strong much more quickly than with number one. I went into the bathroom to find my husband shaving and was like "WHAT are you doing?? Get in the car!"

Now 36 plus weeks pregnant with number 3 and feeling like I am going to go into labor every single night because my dang back is so sore and I am having TONS of cramping. Probably just sore from chasing two crazy little kids all day. :)

The waiting is excrutiating, isn't it?? ;)

Never dilated. With my first, I started to leak some fluid just after his due date and because it was a "break" they gave me a window to go into labor before inducing. I did not go into labor so was induced. With my second, I also did not dilate early and my water completely broke just over three weeks early. I still didn't go into labor with him and was induced. With my third, at my 36 week appointment I was dilated less than centimeter, so I'm trying not to get my hopes up for an earlier delivery again. Good luck waiting--it is always nice for moms to have friends who are excited for them!

I hadn't dropped, dilated or anything, and I was awoken with my water breaking. I was induced with my second.

With my first, I dilated to 3cm about 4 weeks before my due date. I had constant Braxton Hicks contractions from 30 weeks on and lost my mucus plug every few days after dilating to 3. Finally, at 40 weeks and 6 days, I got a contraction that I KNEW was real. 6 hours later, it got hard and I had to actively manage the pain. My mom was my labor coach, so at this time, I went to her house. 11 hours after that, (17 hours after 1st contraction) It was so bad I went in to the hospital. I was 6cm at that point. 5 hours later (22 hours total), she was born.

With my second, I had constant Braxton Hicks contractions from 20 weeks on. 3 weeks before my due date, my dr stripped my membranes, I had sex, and walked hard for an hour. I dilated 3 cm that night. From that point on, I lost my mucus plug every couple days, but no other progress no matter what I did. ON my due date, my water broke very early in the morning. Within minutes, very hard contractions started, and I went to the hospital. I was at 6cm when I got there. 3 hours later, a resident checked me and said I was at 8cm. As soon as he took off his gloves, baby slid right out.

I don't know if I was dilated or not because my doctor doesn't check unless there is a problem or you are over your due date. Everyone told me I had "dropped" but I couldn't really tell. I never lost my mucous plug. I had just gotten into bed and started to feel contractions. They went on for about 20 minutes so I decided to jump in the shower just in case (didn't want to go to the hospital w/o shaving!!). In the shower my water broke. About 1.5 hours later my contractions were 5 mins apart and we went to the hospital. At that time I was 3 cms dilated.

Mine was like yours, water broke, and then back labor. 17 hours till transition, then things got a little easier!

This was back in the stone ages, though (40 years ago), and I was strapped down to the delivery table and had my baby hauled out of me with forceps, a huge episiotomy, and considerable physical damage that seriously affects my life today. I doubt that any of that was necessary, and I am so grateful that women today generally receive more humane and gentle treatment.

Ok I was clueless.
2:30am water broke.
Didn't know it was my water breaking.
Soon after I felt constipated.
Didn't know it was labor because it didn't really hurt.
Finially at 3:30am I saw blood, called the SO, drove myself to the hosp, but still wasn't in pain.
Started checking in at 4:40am - delievered at 5:24.
Dr. barely made it, SO didn't make it, friend made it about 30 seconds after she was out.
All I know it I was completely dilated when the nurse checked me, begged me not to push, asked who my dr was, 3 pushes and she was out.
You should print these out for your friend to read while in the hospital. She might get a kick out of hearing labor stories.
Gongrats to her! =)

dropped, contractions, water breaking about 12 hrs later, full dilation a day later, then 2 hrs of pushing... but I had a 10.2 pounder naturally!!

I was 1cm when checked at a prenatal appt, then 2 days later, I woke up in the middle of the night with BAD cramping. I went to the hospital when I noticed contractions that were 5 mins apart. Upon arrival, doc checked me and said I was 8cm. 10 mins later, I was 10cm and started pushing. 10 minutes later, my baby was born. Fast, easy labor.

No water breaking. No loosing my mucus plug. No dialating. No dropping.

On Oct.12th, 2003 at @ 1:45am I awoke feeling icky...nothing to painful, just a lil' strange and unusual. I couldn't get back to sleep. I woke up my hubby and told him I didn't feel good, this was nothing new to him because I had 'morning sickness' from start to finish! He told me to try to get some sleep:) At about 2:30am I felt a tightness in my stomach and slight pain. I waited and felt it again about 15 mins later. I called my sister. She was
excited and told me it was time. I was not sure, she said "take a shower,
relax, pack your to go bag and if you are still feeling this way it's time and
come get me on your way" :) I packed my bag, kicked hubby and told him
let's go. We left my house at about 5:15am. We stopped and picked up my sisters. We stopped at the gas station so hubby could get a 'snack'. *Hubby is ruled by his stomach and I tease him still to this day that he
made me wait while in labor so he could feed himself!* We got to the
hospital at 6:15am and got checked in. They took us up to the room and
got us situated. They checked me and I was at 4. The nurse told me to
relax we would be there for awhile. They were in no hurry. I told them I
have a family history of fast labors, they weren't concerned. I told them I
tested + for group B? and needed antibiotics. They didn't hurry. I threw up.
I asked for the epidural. They gave it to me and checked me again. I was
at 5. They hooked me up to my first dose of antibiotics. My Dr. arrived and
checked me, I was at 8. My nurse came in and I told her I thought it was
time. She laughed at me and said "wishful thinking". I gave my sister a
look, she told the nurse to call my Dr. in now please. She huffed out of the
room. She came back about 15 mins (the longest 15 mins of my life) later
w/my Dr. and chuckling, but we could tell she was annoyed, told my Dr.
that I thought it was time. Dr. checked me, said "oh goodness" and
everyone scrambled! I remember pushing and watching the fetal heart
monitor a lot, I remember my nurse repeatedly telling me she was "sorry
sweetie" and "you don't mess around, do ya"...

At 12:34pm on Oct.12th,2003 my first born son arrived! He was perfect! Everyone said he was "amazing and strong", he could hold his head up
from the moment he arrived! They placed him on my chest and I said "Hi
Korbin, I'm your Mommy" and he lifted his head and looked right back at
me! It was awesome and I will never forget it!

~ I had two more babies, another boy and a girl and due to my fast deliver with my first, my Dr. (same nice man) opted to induce me with both my next babies. Funny part is I got to the hospital for check-in with the next two at 6am and had both other kids right around noon too, just like the first time!

~That nurse was so sweet to me for the rest of the time and when shift change came she brought in her replacement and introduced us, then proceeded to relay the story of how she didn't believe me and finished by telling her that "She means business" :) It was so funny, even my sister laughed, which was a big deal because she was so mad at her for not taking me seriously!

I love your idea! I am always interested in hearing about other womans labor and delivery stories!!
I started to dilate at about 33 weeks pregnant due to stress (a drunk neighbor drove his truck into the front of our house!!...yup nice huh?) By 36 weeks I was about 3cm dilated, but the contracting and dilation stopped there. At my 39ish week dr visit I was informed by my doctor that I had lost my mucus plug, was a good 3 almost 4cm dilated, about 70% effaced, baby was at a -2 station and I would be having the baby very soon!!! Well my husband was not state side yet!!!.....(He was on his way home from Iraq) So I insisted that they schedule and induction for Monday (mind you it was Thursday), she argued with me for a few minutes insisting that I would never make it that long, but gave up and set me up for an induction 7am Monday morning. My husband called me as I was leaving the clinic to let me know he was in Atlanta!!! and his flight would land here in MN at 3pm that afternoon. I think that I started contracting at that moment, but I sure was in denial. My mother insisted on driving me to the airport to get my husband, but I declined the offer. Should have listened to my mama, by 3pm my contractions were coming every 5 minutes, but I still managed to drive to the airport, walk all the way to the terminal to meet my husband at the gate, drive back towards home, sit at my in-laws for 2.5 hours.... before I gave in and begged to go home to labor in peace!!...sheesh. By 11pm I was at the hospital and fully dilated by midnight. My water didn't break till I was ready to push and the doctor broke it right as my son was making his grand entrance it the world. I went into labor at 39 weeks-4days pregnant my labor started at about 11am, active labor at about 8pm and I was fully dilated by midnight. It was the most amazing experience in my life, perfect in every way and though it was so crazy that’s my life!!

With my first little guy I had started dilating about 3 days beforehand and I noticed I had passed my plug. I'd been having low achy pain in my back, but not realizing I was in labor I chose to take a really hot bath to help me relax. Neither my grandmother (a RN) or my mother realized that I was be in labor. The bath kicked me right into hard labor and he was here 5 hours later. My mother honestly thought we would deliver him on the side of the road. It went so fast the isolet wasn't even completely warm since the nurse assumed first time mamma, we're going to be here all night and she had delayed turning it on. It was so funny watching the doc get after her over that one.

My second son, I started dilating about 3 days before him too. I had done lots of walking the day before, and I had a bit of fun with my husband that night. So I sat up all night drinking cocoa and reading, not even really realizing that things had started until about 9 that morning. I hadn't even packed yet! So all I can remember is calling my husband home from work and telling him what to do around contractions. I slept most of the 1 1/2 hour car drive and that little guy arrived 3 hours after checking in. On my birthday no less.

My oldest daughter was more difficult. I started dilating and expected her within three days. I was having strong contractions but they kept stopping. When she wasn't there, even my doc got concerned and started having me do ultrasounds every day because everything else was normal. It took a week for a tech to finally notice the cord was wrapped around her throat and I had an emergency section. My husband didn't even arrive until she was an hour old.

My youngest daughter was section too because of my insurance (they refused to pay for vbac) although my doc said if I arrived in advanced stages of labor he would have let me try. But I was just starting to go into very early stages when the scheduled section arrived so I wasn't able to. :(

LOL its one is greattt

so i was 15 when i gave birth to my daughter. it was hell.

so like i said i was 15 did not do labor classes so i had no clue what was going on, i started getting crazy pain in my stomach while i was at the computer doing school work, and the pain kept going. i figured i ate something that did not agree with me. so 2 days later these pains got worse i was only 33 weeks and i was getting them every 15 mins, so i went to the doct. and they said it was early labor they stopped it ect. so i was wrong lol it was not something i ate. sent me home to be put on bed rest. so i was on bed rest till i was 37 weeks along, and i was still having pains but they were much closer together. so i went to the labor and delivery at 2 in the morning they made me walk for 2 hours and nothing happened, so they sent me back home i was still only a finger tip dilated with all the contractions i thought i would have been at least 6. and i did not sleep when i went home it was too painful, so at 630 in the morning, i was back at the hospital, got me in and i was 6 cm. they gave me an epidural. because at this point i was screaming. i felt a bit better after the epidural, but not much it was like it was not working, so then i was 10 cm and they made me push, my daughter was sunny side up. so i was pushing for an hour and she wouldnt budge, then another hour passed then another. so then they we going to prep me for a C-section. they told me to give it one more push, and they could see her hair coming out before they could see her, then she finally decided to make her appearance. 8:24 pm. 14 hours of transitional labor, and 4 weeks of active labor. and then to discover the reason i could feel soo much of the pain....i had a leak in my epidural hose.

i will never have any more kiddos after that labor it was horrid.
well worth it, but neverrrr again

my water broak, but it was a slow leak. My sil went to the hospital with mild cramping and was 6 cm!

With my first I was dialated to 3 and two days later my water broke. My contractions began 2 hours later and I was dialated to 8 an hour after that. I got an epidural and a few hours later only had to push 2 times. He was 2 weeks early.

With my second I was dialated to 2 for 2 weeks. I woke up in the middle of the night with extreme back pain. Then the contractions started and they were VERY intense. We left the house within 10 minutes of the contractions starting. Timeline: woke up at 1:30a, arrived in ER at 2:21a, delivered at 2:31a. Yeah! WOW! No epidural with him. He was 3 days early.

I was 2 cm dilated for 2 weeks before I actually went into real labor. My son (first born) was 10 days past due date before I actually felt back ache-iness that Saturday morning... eventually, later that afternoon my water broke. He was born around 1:30 a.m. that night. But when I was in the Dr's office the weeks prior having non-stress tests (because of being past due date) they were telling me that I was having contractions while I was there. Really? I was? I didn't feel them. They nurses thought it was funny/cool. But really... I had no idea. So... just because she is starting to dilate does NOT mean labor is imminent. :( Sorry.

I was in hospital from 26 weeks, allowed to go home for the day but back every night. I only went home on weekends when DH was there. 37 weeks on the day, the doc's decided to start inducing. They started with the Foley catheter, went in on the monday morning and came out on the wednesday morning. Then they used some tablet things (can't remember what they were called) 4 times a day and I was hooked up to the monitor each time for an hour afterward... FINALLY on friday, my MP came out and my midwife "tomorrow morning we will break your waters and start your labour!" I didn't sleep a wink that night, partly because my precious cargo was kicking the you-know-what out of my insides lol! The next morning I showered and dressed as usual and got some breakfast then packed my stuff up (I'd been in the same room for so long it was like a surrogate home lol) and moved to my birth suite. 10:45 am my waters were broken but DS had pooped some green poop and it came out in the fluid... so I was hooked up to a whole bunch of machines and some Oxycontin to move the contractions along. at 8:17 pm doctors and midwives rushed in as the machines started beeping and they got out the suction equipment! 8:21 pm my first child was born!

I was dialated 2 cm for a while ( 2 weeks at least), then the night before she was born I lost my mucus plug, contractions started hours after that. The waterbag was broken at the hospital to bring the baby down. Had to have c section cause she was stuck and didn't come down any further.

I had an acupuncturist start my labor. We were hoping for homebirth and my little guy was 10 days past due, so it was time for a little help. Acu at 4 pm. Baby out at 4:16 a.m. (on 4/17-- the midwife offered to fudge the time for a little fun--4:17 on 4/17).

I would highly recommend acu induction with an experienced provider. It was wonderful and kick-started both labor and dialation.

My water broke getting ready for work. Never had contractions and didn't dialate. Was induced 8 hrs later, and had gorgeous boy 14 hrs after that. when induced though, contractions came on fast and strong I could barely caught my breath!!! Good luck to your GF!!

I've had 3 extremely different labours:

With my first, my water broke at 3am when I woke up to pee - I was 36 weeks along. Contractions start 4 hours later, building slowly but gradually. Went to the hospital at 3pm (same day) when the contractions got too intense to talk through and was only 3cm dilated. Was contracting away for a couple more hours and when they checked me at 5:45pm I was 10cm and ready to push. 30 minutes later my first little princess was born, a little peanut at 5lbs 15oz.

My second came along at 39 weeks. Some mild contractions woke me up around 5am. I hadn't dilated any yet, so I thought I'd have lots of time. I walked around the house for a couple of hours to 'get things going' and we went to the hospital about 9:30am. Got there and was 9cm dilated. They broke my water for me and I had to wait until I got the urge to push. Baby girl #2 was born just after 11am after 2 pushes. She was a nice 7lbs 6oz.

My third daughter took her sweet time! I was dilated 3cm for about 3 days when they finally induced me at 10 days past my due date. We only did the cervadil. They applied it at 9:30am and the contractions started about an hour later. They got pretty intense and close together about 4pm and my daughter was born an hour later. My water broke at the beginning of a contraction and I felt like pushing at the end of the same one. Two pushes later out popped my little porkchop (at 8lbs 4oz).

Good luck and congratulations to your friend :o)

I was dialated about 1-2 cm for all of the appointments 3-4 weeks before my son was born. I had no signs of labor until I was 5 days past my due date. I had my first contraction at about 4pm the day before he was born, but wasn't sure if it was for real (never had "practice" contractions). Went to bed that night like normal and the next day I woke up around 4 am with contractions every 3-4 minutes. I went for a walk around 6 am to help get things going a little more, called my midwife around 9 and she told me to come to office to get checked because even though my contractions were every 3 minutes at that point she didn't think they sounded painful enough. So I went in and got checked and was about 4 1/2 cm and she sent me to the hospital. My water broke right after I got to my room at about 10:30. I was fully dilated by 2 pm and then pushed for 2 1/2 hours until my little bugger finally decided to come out. I had no signs that he was coming until about 24 hours before he was born.

I was 3 cm dilated and 100% effaced for A MONTH before my water finally broke and I got to deliver my son (I am very impatient... Mother nature was playing evil tricks on my mind)... And even then it was my "fore-water" that broke, not my actual bag of water, so they still had to break my water for me when I got there. It was a Friday and I was scheduled to be induced on that Monday anyway.

3 births. Never knew if I was dilated before labor began though because vaginal exams in pregnancy are completly unneccessary and tell you nothing except that your body is doing what it was made to do. Also, 1st babies tend to drop but subsequent babies do not usually drop until mom is in active labor.
1st birth- water broke and then contractions began. 16 hours later and my first beautiful daughter was born at 7lbs, 9oz and 21". Only hospital birth.

2nd birth- I did not want my water to break before labor was fully underway because it helps to have the cushion there. So, I took vitamin C starting at 30 weeks. It worked and my water broke as the baby was born. Contractions started in the middle of the night. 16 hours later I caught my second beautiful daughter on my bathroom floor. I tried to have a water birth but the water irritated me when I was pushing. My second daughter was the exact same size as the first.

3rd birth- Same exact scenario as the second baby. Same exact length of labor. Water broke as baby emerged. Only difference was this baby weighed 7lbs 15oz and was 20" long.

I also carried the 1st and 2nd for 38 weeks exactly but my 3rd I went to 40 weeks and 2 days. It will be interesting to see if a 4th baby would be similiar.

Lisa

My first was a very long, hard, drug free (not by choice but medically wasn't able to have epi due to blood thinners I have to take) 56 hour labor with slow dilation. They checked me periodically throughout the the first 48 and kept monitoring the baby and the contractions. Contractions were consistently off the chart but very slow dilation. They broke my water at 6 and I delivered at 8, never reached 10. In fact I didn't push her out...no joke I coughed and she flew out. They didn't have any of the instruments ready yet or anything. Luckily my DR was still sitting on the stool because she had just done a check and said and I quote " You're still only at 8, we're gonna have several more hours of labor and an hour or so of pushing because I don't even see her down in the canal yet." Less than a minute later I coughed and she flew out, the DR had to spin around in the stool to catch her. It was like something out of a comedy....except at that point I wasn't laughing...lol. Pretty sure God said enough is enough and took care of it for me as I was just plain exhausted. Our 2nd was another drug free, hard back labor but didn't last nearly as long. I delivered her at 8 as well. I was actually squeezing to hold her in because the cord was wrapped around her neck and she was completely blue. The nurses had to run next door to grab our DR who was delivering another baby at the exact same time. It was a nightmare labor and delivery but thankfully our daughter is a healthy happy 8 month old now. And I'd do it all again in a heartbeat.

I was feeling a lot of pain in my lower intestines when all the sudden I peed myself. So I thought the moment it happened. Right away I noticed my water had broken and we rushed to the hospital. It all happened in the middle of dinner. That was my first labor. I have a twelve year old, twin 1 year olds, and twins on the way. So in all so far I've had 3 labors and 2 more to come. Congrats on your little one!!!!

i had a checkup on friday, not even dilated a centimeter. sunday morning i woke up to my water breaking. i was 1 week late. we went to the hospital and the nurse discovered my son was breech. an hour later i had a beautiful little boy via emergency c-section. easy peasy! :)