With the beauty of hindsight, what were the early indicators that you were heading into labour? Obviously not including broken waters etc.

Being my 1st pregnancy, I am so paranoid at every symptom!

Any stories or symptoms you would like to share?

Great question - I've been thinking the same myself!

My waters broke and I was ignorant to the fact that I was in labour that I drove myself to the hospital!!!! I was 41 weeks pregnant so a fair chance it was my waters!!!

Alas - my waters had broken and since I had to have anti'bs for the swab test (can't for the life of me remember what it is called ) I had to go and get checked straight away.....She took the test and goes well you waters have broken...and I was like slight problem - I have left my hubby at home

Anyway - I was allowed to drive home and pick up hubby - hubby was so like I told you that you were in labour

From there I had slight period pain - didn't even think that I was in labour still - Denial much!!!!

I felt a little off on the tuesday afternoon and passed a little bit of my plug.

I really didn't think much of it and remember telling my MIL in the evening that I was nowhere near having a baby (I was 2 days overdue).

During the night I started getting period type pains which developed into contractions - I was still in denial it was labour and thought it was just prelabour that would go away in the morning.

I didn't really beleive it was labour (despite contractions being regular and 5-7 minutes apart all night...) until my waters broke in the morning (contraction went from 5 minutes apart to 3 minutes apart then). Technically it was still prelabour - since when I was checked at hospital two hours later I was only 2cm dilated. (Only went to hospital because of meconium).

I didn't have any signs really other than the contraction type pains that started coming. They were pretty far apart to atart - prob 30mins but they kept coming and didn't stop so I was relatively sure I was in early labour. It did take 24 hours for them to start turning into what I call real contractions though. Before then they didn't really bother me and I was able to continue on with my day pretty much as normal.

No feeling unwell, no mucous plug loss etc etc

I dropped about a week before. He had partially engaged quite sometime before but at 36 weeks EVERYONE commented on how 'low' I was. I think this was a sign.
The Monday night I had intense Braxton Hicks contractions, about 6 hours of them or so where I couldn't sleep and was up. But I still thought that I wasn't in labour.

the next day is where the lless obvious signs appeared, I didn't realise but my mum who is a midwife had a feeing and she filled up her car and told my midwife to be ready
I had the need to squat, we visited mum at her office and I sat there squatting, it just felt better. that night I went to yoga and usually I relaxed completely and fell asleep during the meditation but this time I couldn't relax....4 hours after the yoga finished my waters broke and 2 hours later Hamish entered the world!

Chronic indigestion, the 'runs' and vomiting. So much so I thought the contractions were just something I ate.

Edited for spelling - not having a good brain day today.

For me, it was going to the toilet for number 2's more often than usual and losing my mucous plug (although there was no blood).

lower back pain .

Oh I forgot - I was extremely grumpy and emotional...I remember the phone call to my MIL saying that 'I was over it and that he was never coming out'....I was crying at anything - and I was extremely cranky

Oh and add to that list - I had an instant need to clean and pack things away in specific items...I was in the toy room sorting Noah's toys into things with wheels, soft toys etc etc....it was really bizarre...

Oh yeah, I had that too. So I thought contractions were just a symptom of having an upset tummy for a while. Until I notiuced they were very regular!

with Jasper it was pretty obvious (cramps and then contractions for days..)

with Jovie, i *thought* it was just strong Braxton Hicks - so much so that i just pottered about the evening and went to bed. my water broke at 2.30am and she was born under 3 hours (arrived at the hospital at 8cms, she arrived about 40 mins later). so - moral of the story is -- BH that can be timed MAY BE CONTRACTIONS, lol.. even though it was my second labour, i was still fooled (or maybe i just coped better? who knows)

For about a week before i had the urge to clean more often especially the nursery & making sure clothes were in the right drawer for her

The day before i was doing more #2's than usual (just thought it was something i ate because i was only 37weeks 3 days)

my waters broke at 37weeks 4 days and i thought i'd be having a baby that day but all i got was mild period type pains and an induction the next day because 26 hours after waters breaking & period pains she wasnt budging

Diarrhea which I thought was food poisoning because of the associated pain (contractions much? LOL)

My mum swears that a pregnant woman's face changes and her nose goes a little flatter just prior to giving birth.

She saw me on the Friday morning and when they walked out she said to my dad she will have this baby before the end of the weekend (I was only 37 odd weeks). My waters broke that night and I had her early Sunday morning.

Fortunately for me waters breaking had been my clue both times, so I have no idea what will happen this time if they don't break - I think I will be in complete denial!

By the way Loveheart - good luck with you impending birth!

hmm for me hubby likes to attribute me going into labour with him accidentally taking his leave earlier than planned.. he got the dates of our scheduled induction out by a day, and figured he would start leave early as well.. anyways, just as well he did as I went into labour next morning.

For me, the night before nothing was different to the uncomfortable state I had been in for the past few weeks.. particularly as I spent the whole time analyzing the signs so to speak.

Anyways, we had pizza for dinner and went to bed and I spent the whole night tossing and turning, feeling uncomfortable and over it - I had been really lucky to sleep pretty well throughout my pregnancy, so this was a bit weird for me. Anyways, I dozed off for a short while only to wake at 6.45am - for some reason I had this idea that my waters had broken, but I wasn't in a puddle or anything. Anyways, took myself off to the bathroom and felt a tightening (I'd been getting regular BHs anyways) but figured I was being too hopeful. I came back to bed for a while and as I was laying there I felt two more tightenings and I started to really wonder.

Mentioned to hubby for like the 10th time that fortnight that I felt I might be in labour, but I still really wasn't sure.. then I had another contraction and started loosing waters with every one..

I started making a note as to how regular the contractions were, and they were pretty regularly 5 mins apart.. then after about 30 mins they were suddenly 2 mins apart. I felt like a bit of an idiot as it was all so soon and I've heard so many first time mums get to hospital so soon, but I decided to call the hospital and they said come on in. Anyways, it began quickly, and then slowed right down, but 20 hours later Felix arrived

Wow! so many great stories..thanks! It gives me hope that this baby will be coming soon!!!

Keep 'em coming ladies, I love reading them