Moms, when did you go into labor?

I take it this is your first child, don't be nervous. Trust me, you will know when it is time. I'm due May 15th with my 7th. When I had my first I was 18, and I just knew. I felt something that felt like menstral cramps that kept easing up and then coming back ever so often. My womanly instincts told me it was time. So, being anxious I got my back ready,sat on my bed timing them and waited for my mom to get up for work. They weren't that close yet, so I waited until she had her coffee and was curling her hair, and went to the bathroom and told her. She said ok, she had to go to work to open the store and she'd be back call her when 5 minutes apart. That was pretty much it. I was due April 30th, she was born April 26th, 15 years ago. My second was 2 weeks late so I was induced. My third one, I started having contractions while watching the Bulls in the championship game. I will never forget that because it was the year they went into double overtime and they won their 5th championshiopring (5yrs in a row). And me being stubborn I was determined to finish watching the game, after all, it was my third child. It was the 3rd quarter when I started contractions and I waited until the game was over, which about 1am. And she was born on her due date. My 4th was born on her due date also. I started going into labor around 4am, but for some strange reason thought it was braxton hicks, just because it wasn't like the others. But started to prepare just in case. The childs father was to start trucking school that morning, and I figured I'd wait to see if it was the real thing, so I didn't wake him and tell him. Well around 10 am, she was ready so he had to leave school early. My 5th was induced, he was due the 12th, but my husband and I agreed that if he didn't come by then we'd get induced so the baby could be born on his bday, Fri. July,13th. The 6th, we lost. Now this 7th one, I'm anxious to see what happens. And did I mention with all of them the doctor had to break my water? So, I have no clue what that is like. Anyway, goodluck with labor and delivery, and with the new blessing.

New mom questions aren't annoying! Every mom and baby are different so none of this might end up applying with you but just having the information can help. For me I went 3 days over with my first, then 5 days over with #2, 6 days early with #3, 1 day early with #4, 10 days over with #5 and 2 weeks early with #6. My first labor was just under 11 hours from the first contraction until she was born, my last was 19 hours but was extremely easy. You asked how you know it's time. The simplest answer is: You just KNOW. It really will feel different than the practice contractions. For me my back would feel very tender and my hips and thighs ached. Usually the contraction would start in my back and spread around until my whole belly was tight. There are lots of scary labor stories out there so it helps to be prepared for the worst case scenario but labor can also be very easy to so it's nothing to be scared of.

Every Labor is different. With My first, I went in the day before my due date, thinking I had contractions, found out they were just braxton Hicks, but I was really dehydrated (the hubby and I had had food poisioning, and I forgot to replace the fluids I lost) so they hooked me up to an Iv and then sent me home. the next morning I woke up, and I was in labor, I knew it was labor, there was no question, but I had been in there the day before with braxton hicks. A good way to tell them apart, is, drink a glass of water, if they go away, its just braxton hicks, if they don't they may be the real deal. My first labor lasted maybe 10 hours from start to finish. My second one, we took early (one week) as my first was very large, My second one took about 4 hours or so.. if that.. I was dialated to four centimeters for almost a month before we took him though, so I didn't have long to dialate. After they broke my water, and set me up on the pitocin, I dialated from a four to a ten in 20 minutes, then I pushed twice and out he came. The second one around was def. much easier then the first... the first I pushed for an hour, which wasn't bad considering he was 10 pounds 14 ounces.. ALso, very rarely does your water break like it does on t.v., if it even breaks at home, it will be more like a leak, then a gush. (I think some women may have it gush, but it's not very often) COngrats again on your baby. I remember waiting for my little guys to come out.. it seemed like the day would never come.. enjoy it, it will come soon enough, (and then, on occasion, you'll wish you could put them back in for awhile so you can nap) (:

I was in slow labor for 2 weeks...went to the hospital 3 times and they just told me to go home coz I was not dilated yet. I got so frustrated because it was past my due. My OB decided to induced me. 3 days before I would be induced, I was bleeding but am afraid to go back to the hospital because they might sent me home again. I was not dilated still. They check me and they discovered that all this time, my amionotic fluid was already leaking. I was so mad coz 2 weeks of labor was not easy. Then they induced me and I finally gave birth more than 24 hours later. I am expecting my second baby come July. And I am crossing my fingers that this time, it will be quite normal labor and not that long. Suppose to be second babies come quickier than the first one.

First of all, I'd like to congratulate you. It's a wonderful, although, painful experience. Never think that new mom discussions are annoying. I'm sure all (or at least most) moms would gladly help out. I was due on December 28, 2005 but delivered 10 days early. What clued me in that I was in labor was the discharge of the bloody show. Then I started timing my contractions and called for help when they were about 5-7 minutes apart and 1-2 minutes in length. Watch out for those contractions. This means "hardening" of the belly. To some, they're painful, but to some, like me, they weren't...until active labor. Time the contractions and take note of the strength. Be ready to go to the hospital at any time. Or call 911. It's better to go and find out that it was false labor than deliver in the car (in my opinion). To some too, the water does not break until later on. Mine had to be broken in the Emergency Room. So, there are signs but they're different for every woman. Keep them in mind and be prepared. All the best to you.

When its time you will know it is time. I went into labout at 30 weeks so totally unexpected, yet I knew, called hospital who sent out an ambulance and within 2 hours my little man was born. Think every first time mum will wonder if she will regognise the signs when it is time, but nature tends to have a way of letting you know.

I didn't go into labour on my own. I got to 42 weeks and then I had to be induced. It took 3 days of being induced, with them putting 4 lots of the cervical gel in me, before I was dilated at all (which was what they were waiting for to break my waters). The following day though, after having had my waters broken, I was holding my beautiful baby girl. So in total I was 18 days overdue by the time she was born! Stubborn child! lol.