Signs labor is coming?

So with baby #1 I never went into labor he was a scheduled c-section at 39w+5 & nothing happened! I never had a contraction, never lost my plug, nothing just went in & had him. But this time around it's different I think I just have this sense these babies are coming & soon. I haven't lost my mucus plug but I've had some contractions/cramps off & on for about 2 weeks. And not to give TMI but I can finally go #2 again - which I've heard is "your body's way of cleaning you out to prepare for labor" Is this true what do you all think? Also does your water break first or do your contractions start first? I'm confused. Thanks in advance!

Oh or any other signs labor is coming soon?

 

My girls were my first pregnancy. I felt no contractions throughout the pregnancy and during my stress tests and ob appts I was told I was having contractions but didn't feel a thing. I was very mucousy during the 3rd trimester, but other than that no signs whatsoever until one morning when I woke up and sat up on the side of the bed & a sort of gush of warm liquid came out! I was so worried I wouldn't know when I went into labor but that was pretty obvious but I stilled called my mom before I called the ob's office!

 

I went into spontaneous labor at 28wks. I just felt off that day. I was using the bathroom a lot and wasn't really hungry at all. The contrax felt different than my normal ones I had been getting.
Your water may or may not break. With one of my singletons my water broke at home then the contrax really started and with the babies I had the contrax start and my water didn't break on its own (I was 5cm when I got to the hospital and my water had not broken yet).

 

I mean it could be true but it wasnt for my other two births. I went into labor myself with both. My water didnt break with either of them. I just started getting reg. contractions. With my first...i was 38 weeks and hubby and I went to a scary movie...i felt fine that day...everythign was normal...then about 20 min. through the movie i started having reg. contractions every 5 min. by the end of the movie they were every 3 min. lol I had no signs what so ever that labor was going to start...with my second i was at work pushing a buggy of 8 toddlers and BAM contractions...no warning lol

 

Hi. I have had three singleton birth and my major sign with all of them was nesting. I didn't notice losing the plug with any of them and their waters all had to be broken during the finally stages of labour! But I was absolutely beside myself about having our home ready for them when they arrived. And I mean the slightest little fly spot on the wall sent me into a spin. DH reckons he just waits til the house looks brand new then he knows!!! Good luck and follow your gut instincts

 

all the signs you listed are considered signs that labour may possibly be starting - in other words, they could be Signs (capital S), or it could mean nothing at all. helpful, isn't it? you'll know labour is really under way when your contractions become strong & regular & you'll know you're hitting active labour when you have to stop what you're doing to focus through the contractions.

as for your water breaking, again there are no hard & fast rules - your water can break any time during labour. sometimes your water may not even break until you're pushing (although, these days, a lot of doctors like to break your water for you so that scenario is pretty rare). generally speaking, contractions will become stronger after your water breaks - but again, there are exceptions to the "rule". some women have their water break & nothing at all happens for some time. in my case, my water broke & within a half hour my contractions were coming hard & fast & my girls were born an hour & a half later. ardon: waiting for labour to start can be so frustrating! :hug:

 

FOLLOW UP: I went to the doctors today & now I am 2cm dilated and 50% thinned out - she said she'd see me next week if I was still pregnant!

 

How exciting!!
How many weeks are you now?