https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sun, 24 May 2026 09:49:15 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653442 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 00:28:30 +0000 irene 2653442@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water didn't break - it was the contraction + pain that came and go all through the night. It wasn't quite 5 minutes apart so I waited at home for 18 hours, timing the contractions the whole time with my iphone (yes there are apps for that lol). When it was 5 minutes apart I called my husband to tell him to come home from work, and we went in I was 7cm dilated. About 6 hours later my child was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653441 Thu, 17 Nov 2016 00:06:09 +0000 AB810 2653441@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, there were no signs of labor until my water broke. Contractions started soon after, and labor was 20 hours long. </p> <p>With my second, I had false labor on and off for days. On the day my son was born they got a little more intense, but not that bad. I only went into the hospital because I passed a very large blood clot. He was born soon after! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653399 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:38:29 +0000 Smurfette 2653399@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: this makes me feel better! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653389 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 20:07:12 +0000 Foodnerd81 2653389@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I was really worried about this too! I had a lot more contractions leaving up to labor- almost every night is have them for like half an hour while I drank a bunch of water and laid down. I even texted my bil a couple times to make sure they left their phones on overnight (he was coming over to watch the toddler when I went to the hospital). </p> <p>When it actually happened, again I gave bil the warning text. Called the midwife. In the time it took for her to call back I went from, could this be labor? to "I should head in right now tell your brother to get here NOW". Things went way faster the second time. But I could tell when things started getting real. 3.5 hours from "maybe this is labor" to baby in arms. Got to the hospital 45 minutes before she was born. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653354 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:52:30 +0000 Boogs 2653354@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>The first time my water broke. The second time my contractions became pretty obvious and I was able to time them. And btw my labor didn't go much quicker than the first time - 26 vs 22 hours. :/ </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653328 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 18:12:53 +0000 peaches1038 2653328@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Water broke and about an hour later contractions started </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653309 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 17:04:13 +0000 KayKay 2653309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smurfette: nope! I can't remember the exact stats but basically antibiotics sig reduce the chances of baby getting sick but even without them, the odds are only like 1:200 or something. So we just had to stay the full 48h just in case she came down with it. She didn't! :) now that's not to say I didn't worry about it for a week and feel really guilty that I didn't get the medicine in time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653288 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 16:28:26 +0000 babypugs 2653288@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Went to the doctor for my 38 week appointment and they told me I was in labor, ha! I'm honestly not sure if I would have figured it out on my own for a while, I'd been having painful contractions for weeks! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653250 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:55:34 +0000 delight 2653250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With DD, I woke up with contractions that kept getting closer together and more painful. With DS, I was induced. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653218 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:28:25 +0000 lamariniere 2653218@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For me it was obvious both times because my water broke first. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653212 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:23:23 +0000 mamainthesun 2653212@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke when I got up at 7 am, so we went to the hospital. But active labour only started in late afternoon! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653210 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:17:21 +0000 Smurfette 2653210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@KayKay: She didn't have to go to the NICU? They did tell me that they tell all 2nd time Mom's to call/go in when contractions are 8 mins apart, verses 5 for 1st time. Just because 2nd labor usually are much faster. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653201 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 15:05:10 +0000 KayKay 2653201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water has never broken on its own. With both DD1 and DD2, it basically just felt more like period cramps that were definitely timeable (how long and how often). The rule of thumb given to me for DD1 was to go to the hospital when I couldn't walk/talk through them. I followed that rule with DD2 and showed up at the hospital 10cm and ready to push - ha!</p> <p>@smurfette: i was GBS+ for DD2 and my entire labor was only 2.5h long from the first tiny contraction to a baby in my arms. So clearly I didn't get there 4+ hrs in advance for the antibiotics -- and actually didn't have time to get any. We just had to stay for 48h so DD2 could be monitored. I'm GBS+ this time, too, so I'll try to get to the hospital a bit earlier than last time to get the antibiotics, but you can only do what you can do! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653195 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 14:56:43 +0000 psw27 2653195@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My water broke in the middle of the night at 34 weeks. Not what I was expecting. Hoping for a completely different outcome this time - but I feel like you do, like a first timer not knowing what to expect! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653152 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:56:20 +0000 Adira 2653152@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>For #1, I wasn't really sure for the longest time. I had back labor, so all my contractions were located in my lower back and I wasn't really sure what was happening at first. I spent hours on Hellobee asking people what was going on! But as the contractions got stronger and closer together, it was pretty obvious I was in labor (Hellobee ladies confirming it for me helped).</p> <p>With #2, it was basically the exact same thing, except the contractions started off harder and closer together and increased in frequency quicker than the first time around. After about an hour, I knew I was in labor, but I still had plenty of time to get my stuff together and get to the hospital! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653148 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:52:48 +0000 ShootingStar 2653148@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had a TON of false labor. I never did go into real labor with my 2nd, but my rule of thumb for myself was the contractions needed to hurt. Not just uncomfortable, but legit hurt. And they *all* needed to hurt. Sometimes I'd have some medium ones and then a strong one, and then it would go back to medium or less. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653128 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 13:38:50 +0000 alphagam84 2653128@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>When my water broke! :silly: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653076 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:51:23 +0000 Smurfette 2653076@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: This is my fear. My water broke with LO so no question there. They found I was GBS + at 7 weeks so are just going to treat me for it (not re-swapping at 36 weeks) so I am super worried I will wait to long to get to the hospital for the 4 hours of antibiotics that I/baby need. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653055 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:25:08 +0000 maddyz 2653055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I felt the same way! But when it was time I knew.</p> <p>With my first my water broke and contractions started but it was 24 hours until baby came. Really slow and steady. Lots of time to think and get ready.</p> <p>Number two I head two weeks of false labor on and off. I called the midwives twice thinking maybe things were starting, but contractions always fizzled out. The day he came I got home from work and had 20 minutes to clean the kitchen and start dinner but contractions started and I just knew it was real this time. Much more intense. It was about 5 hours from first contraction to baby. But 15 minutes from transition to baby and i only pushed twice (lo1 I pushed for 3 hours). I was glad I called everyone when I did. There was just enough time to get everything in order. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653054 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:24:28 +0000 skinnycow 2653054@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I woke up cramping in the middle of the night and lost my mucus plug. The next morning I was having timeable contractions anywhere from 5-10 mins apart but they were only slightly uncomfortable so I wasn't 100% sure I was in labor. My water broke a few hours later and then immediately my contractions became extremely painful and 2-3 minutes apart. I definitely knew I was in labor after that and we went straight to the hospital. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653041 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 11:04:31 +0000 MrsB2012 2653041@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With me first it was the same as you, my water broke and then contractions started just over an hour later.<br /> With my second, 8i was having light cramping irregularly during the morning that made me think something might be starting. Then contractions became very regular and very strong right off the bat. There was no denying it was labour.<br /> Also, my first labor was 5 hours from contractions to delivery, my second was about 3.5 hours from timeable contractions to delivery. So not a huge difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/how-did-you-know-you-were-in-labor-1#post-2653022 Wed, 16 Nov 2016 10:37:26 +0000 catlady 2653022@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>With my first, my water broke, then pretty soon afterwards I started getting painful contractions 5 min apart. It was super obvious that I was in labor so we went to the hospital and LO was born 7 hrs later.</p> <p>Now that I'm 37 weeks along with #2, I'm nervous that I'm not going to realize I'm in labor unless my water breaks again. I feel like a first timer all over again. My OB said labor could go much faster this time though so that makes me anxious.</p> <p>Tell me...how did you know you were in labor? Was it obvious? </p>