Susanne Remic is a primary school teacher, freelance writer and parenting blogger. She writes at Ghostwritermummy and Maternity Matters and in between all of that she regularly wins mummy of the year awards for running around after her two children, aged six and 19 months. This is her pregnancy blog: an online diary of her third pregnancy as she strives to overcome two difficult births, one angel child and one awkward toddler. Join Susanne as she shares every step of her journey from bump to baby!
Early signs of labour
By Susanne Remic on 16 Jan 2012
I’m a member of an online mums-to-be forum and recently, many of the women over there have been asking about the early signs of labour. These discussions have become more rife since quite a few ladies have now experienced the real thing and are now the proud owners of early arrivals.
There are quite a few early signs of labour being discussed, or questioned, and it made me wonder. Just what exactly are the early signs of labour?
I was induced with my daughter and so never experienced a ‘natural’ labour. I was given the gel and hey presto! I went into labour. With my son it was different. And yes, I knew it was coming long before it actually was. But what were the signs?
I knew I’d had a little bleed on the Saturday morning. I wasn’t in any pain though, so we went about our business for the day. The big one had a birthday party at a soft play place and so we all trooped off. In the ladies, another mum asked if I had had any signs of labour and I told her I hadn’t. I didn’t think I had. But at the back of my mind, I was wondering if the tender, period-pain type feelings in my abdomen were anything to be concerned about. I was over a week past my due date, after all.
We left the party and went to a car wash. Sitting there as the huge blue brushes swished and swooshed, the pains began to grow a little stronger. Could still be Braxton Hicks, I told myself. I’d read they were a sign that the cervix was preparing for labour but not an actual indication of it. I’d also read that Braxton Hicks disappeared in the bath as the hot water soothed them. So when these pains continued after I was bump high in bubbles, I began to realise that this really was it.
That night we watched a film and played Mario Kart. I never said a word to my husband as I just wasn’t sure. We went to bed and I did not sleep. I clutched my phone and timed the pains. When they were six minutes apart and actually starting to hurt, I woke him.
But I still don’t know what the early signs of labour are.
I had a small bleed. Some women have a significant bleed. Some women lose their mucus plug quite noticeably. Some women have their waters break long before contractions kick in. Some women experience back ache. It can be so different for so many women. And it can be different in different pregnancies too.
With my daughter, my waters broke before I really felt proper contractions. Once they’d gone, I knew I was in labour as the very next second, I was in agony. With my son, the midwife had to break my waters long after the contractions had become unbearable.
This time, I won’t experience any of the signs of early labour, as my section is scheduled for two weeks before my due date. I have a history of going well past my due date so I’m not expecting an early surprise- although I could be wrong, of course.
In a way, I am relieved. But in another, I feel a little sad to be missing out on the excitement of ‘am I in labour?’ and sometimes wish that things were different. Then I remember. It hurts. But it hurts for a reason- because at the end of it all Mother Nature presents you with one of life’s greatest gifts. No pain, no gain.
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