How Did You Know You Were In Labor? 7 Moms Tell Their Stories
If only we had a magic wand that would tell expectant mothers exactly how and when they would go into labor. For women who are planners and like to know the map of things from the very beginning, the last few weeks of pregnancy can be maddening. It can be filled with suspense, fear, and boredom of not knowing the specifics of the big D-day. But just like every woman is different, so is their labor. Some might have had signs for weeks while others had zero clue until they landed in the hospital bed. If you are in your last few weeks of pregnancy, it might be interesting to know the different ways women go into labor. Here at MomJunction, we bring you 7 moms who share their labor experiences:
1. Right On Time
“My baby was right on time. My water broke on my due date. The previous night I felt worried every time I went to the washroom. I started getting contractions soon after which lasted for about 16 hours. I thought it would be easy labor, but it seemed like forever.” Vaidya
2. Fooled By Contractions
“I was having Braxton Hicks contractions for two weeks before my due date. When I told my friend about it, she suggested I visit the hospital just in case. I drove myself 5 km and the nurse came in and weighed me. They gave me a bed and asked me to lie down. Then the doctor came and checked and asked me if I was in any pain. I told her it was just like Braxton Hicks contractions. Five minutes later, my water broke and my pain went from zero to “Oh, Mama.” I had a rapid labor which lasted only a few hours and the contractions were excruciatingly painful with no time to recover from the pain. It was a pain I will never forget all my life.” Minakshi
3. The Textbook Kind
“I had a bloody show for about 2 weeks before my water broke. My mucus plug had also come off. I went into labor soon after that and had a normal delivery.” Ashley
4. Morning Surprise
“I woke up in the wee hours of the morning in a wet bed. I thought I had peed myself. Only after a few seconds had it dawned on me that my water broke. I immediately got up and woke my husband. We rushed to the hospital soon, but my contractions didn’t start a few hours later. I was in labor for over 19 hours when the doctor finally decided on a C-section.” Nayla
5. The One Like Rachel From F.R.I.E.N.D.S
“I was a week past my due date and we had tried everything from pineapple, eggplant, and walking. That’s when my doctor suggested that we try making love as it can help induce labor. And just when we were ready to jump into bed, I heard a pop and my water broke. We immediately got dressed and hit the road.” Sharamita
6. The Home Birth
“I was 35 weeks pregnant and had no clue what to expect as this was my first time being pregnant. I felt like I was getting period cramps which happened more frequently. I immediately called my midwife to come over to my house. She asked me to breathe in and out and it took her 30 minutes to reach. By the time she reached, she was surprised to see that I was already 8 centimeters dilated. Things went on pretty smoothly and I had my son in my arms in an hour.” Lavanya
7. Induced Labor
“I was past my due date and the inducing process was started on a Wednesday. My water broke the next day and I had immediate contractions. I had my baby after 4 hours of pushing.” Naja
Now it’s your turn. How did you know you were in labor? Please share your experiences in the comment section below. We would be thrilled to know your side of the story.
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