Labor: Where were you when it started?

[Anonymous]

It was a week before I actually was in the L&D at the hospital that I think I had my first contraction. I was in the car driving to work when I felt a small cramp - like the kind you get during PMS or when having your period. It lasted only a few seconds and was very mild - enough for me to think "that was weird" (first to time mom, I didn't know any better).

Worked right up until Wed. morning. I woke up to go get ready for work as usual, but I didn't feel right. In fact, I didn't feel good - sorta queasy/fluish. I had a gut feeling that this was "it" and DH took me to the hospital after a call to the doc. (it was either that or be stuck in the beltway traffic) and the rest is history...happy new parents to a beautiful newborn.

[Anonymous]

I already posted, but wanted to say that very rarely does your labor/water breaking happen like you see on tv and the movies - not stuck in the elevator, etc.

Good luck and congrats.

[Anonymous]

I was on bed rest for pre-term contractions (not painful at all). I went off my meds so knew that I would go into labor within days. My parents were not supposed to hop on a plane from LA until I was actually in labor and settled in at the hospital. After a false alarm (I was sent home from the hospital), the doctor told me it would probably happen in less than 48 hours...stupidly told may parents that and, the next thing I know, they are on a flight to DC...then worried that I wouldn't deliver soon enough because my dad could only take a few days off (as if I was somehow in control of the whole thing!?!?!)...Anyway, I woke up at 4:30am and my water had broken - a huge gush that no pad would have contained - I did not even have time to get out of bed before it finished. We went straight to the hospital and the contractions came on furious after the first couple of hours.

I guess from all the posts you have now realized that every one is different so no way to predict. I did not have to worry about the work thing since I was on bed rest, but it could have happened out in public during the few days that I was off bed rest...I did not really think about it at all - I guess I thought that I would feel some stronger contractions before it happened and would somehow be "prepared"...go figure!

[Anonymous]

Seems like a lot of folks whose water broke before labor had it happen in bed. Should I put down something waterproof under my sheets just in case?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The Irish Inn at Glen Echo. Ah, good times, that place.

That is too funny! We go there all the time and were just there Saturday night. Before my second son was born last June, we were literally there every weekend in the 6 weeks leading up to his birth for lunch and then would go over to ride the carousel at Glen Echo with our then 2 year old. My son ended up being 2 weeks late and had to be induced, but each week they would see us come in and say something like, "Not yet?" and we would say no. Maybe they were worried I would go into labor there, too! I love that place!

As for me and my first labor, I was in bed when I felt the first contraction. It was about 4:30 am. I was already on maternity leave so didn't go to work, but I did manage to go through the entire day functioning reasonably well. My husband took off and we hung out, but then went to pick up a friend and drop him off at the metro and we picked up my car at the repair shop in the afternoon. I remember standing there waiting to pay and having a contraction! I finally went into the hospital about 5 that evening, they broke my water for me, and I had my son at 2:35am.

[Anonymous]

I was at home when labor started. I went to the hospital @1AM and my water never broke. The doctor had to break it.

[Anonymous]

My came on like a freight-train even though it was my first, but I think it's pretty unusual for it to happen. Still, I had about 3-4 hours of walking around to do before my water broke and it was time to head to the hospital (where I gave birth another 4 hours later). However, most people I know have had it start out slowly.

[Anonymous]

I was at work on a Monday when I started to feel kind of icky - I didn't really think it was the start of labor, just thought I was feeling rotten. It was a slow day so my boss told me to go on home. I did and I went swimming (!) which made me feel better for a while. Later that night/overnight I started having contractions. I was in labor all day Tuesday, went to the hospital late afternoon on Tuesday, and my daughter was born early Wednesday morning.

My water didn't break until I was at the hospital, or if it did, my daughter's head was corking it inside me.

I did call my boss on Tuesday morning and say I wasn't feeling great and was staying home - didn't want to say I was in labor in case I really wasn't, but he sort of figured it out. :0)

[Anonymous]

My water broke around 4 a.m. in bed. I woke up to go to the bathroom (for the millionth time!) and there was the gush. I also thought I had peed myself at first.

My labor progressed pretty slowly early on so I went for a couple walks, had a prenatal massage that was already scheduled (heavenly!), went out for lunch with hubby, etc.

It's definitely nothing like the movies, especially at the beginning!