How did you know?

I KNEW I WAS IN LABOR WHEN MY CONTRACTIONS WERE REGULAR, AND THEY WERE SO STRONG, THAT I COULD NOT WALK, TALK, OR BARELY EVEN BREATH

I was induced, but took the class...I know there is a mucus plug, A thick mucus plug blocks the cervical opening during pregnancy to hold back bacteria. When your cervix begins to thin and open, the plug will likely be discharged. You may notice a thick vaginal discharge or stringy mucus, typically brown and sometimes tinged with blood. Losing the mucus plug is a sign that labor may begin soon, but it’s not a guarantee. labor may still be a week or more away after you have a bloody show. Consistent regular contractions are a good sign you are going into labor. True labor contractions are regular, follow a predictable pattern (maybe every eight minutes), become progressively closer, last progressively longer and become progressively stronger. Each contraction is felt starting in the lower back and then radiating around to the front or visa versa. It can be hard to tell from Braxton-Hicks.

i had to be induced with my DD. but i knew i was in labor when i started to feel alotta pain in the lower abdomen, it was like a very hard period cramping and my lower back felt like some1 stabbed me about 20x

One of the easiest ones is if your water breaks (though many womens water bags break after labor, right before the birth) but even if your water breaks, you may not start regular contractions for some time.

Your contractions will come every 2-3 minutes, even if your contractions start off 30-15-10 minutes apart you arent in true labor, you might as well enjoy your time at home to eat and drink or shower, watch tv, stretch, whatver. So when they come regularly every 2-3 minutes and you're in pain AND your belly seems lower than before (your baby drops) then it is TIME TO GO.

IF you go when your contractions are coming in regular intervals, but still far apart you will be bored, maybe frightened in the hospital waiting and anticipating, but if you go when YOU are CERTAIN...then things will hopefully go smoothly once you arrive.

Good luck & I wish it were me, I miss giving birth :D

Best time to trust your mommy instincts! Like every pregnancy is different so isnt labor. Try not to let the pain and the amount of time another was in labor scare you.  I had a very easy labor (this is/was my first and only pregnency too),   my water broke at 8 pm my daughter was born at 2:06 am. I got to the hospital for the 2nd time that night around 1:50, so 16 mins after getting there she was born. The contractions I thought felt a little stronger then the cramps you get during your period. When your in labor you will just know.  Congrats mama!

I had the same concern as I had Braxton Hicks for MONTHS before, and they would come quite regularly.   I had NO PROBLEM recognizing labor, in the beginning it was much more uncomfortable, and got stronger as time went on.  It's hard to explain, it's just 'different'.

When we were on our way to the hospital they were 4 mins apart.  En route my hubby looks at me and laughs and says "And you thought you wouldn't know" right in the middle of a particularly nasty painful contraction, we laughed so hard we almost cried.  :)

 

 

My water broke while I was sleeping... but I never actually "went" into labor.... I never dilated past a 2 because she was breeched........ so I had a c-section... but I think it is just something that you will just "KNOW"

Best of luck!

Look for "bloody show" (spotting) and the contractions take your breath away.  Also the mucus plug comes out, but you can miss it if it dieinigrates.  Good luck!

My water broke...that's how I knew.

I didn't get to go through the suspense of contractions! I'm hoping next time I can experience that....

Good luck and Congratulations!!

with both of my kids my water broke first and then I began having regular contractions.