early signs of labor, or does it start suddenly the second time?

[Mary S.]

I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
will, won't it?

Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
birth.

(Enjoy the moment... enjoy the moment... deep calming breaths... LOL)

Mary S.

[Serenity]

Well we can definitely say that:

Your mucus plug may or may not come out before labour.
Your water may or may not break.
Your contractions may or may not start gradually.
Your baby may or may not engage.

With #2 I was looking for signs, but in the end had no idea that she was on
the way.
(I went in for monitoring cos she wasn't moving and had her a few hours
later.)

I'd say that #2 is much easier to look after inside than out.
Love Serenity

[toypup]

"Mary S." > wrote in message
...
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.

The polite warning my body gave me was very big and frequent BM's about 3
days before baby came (sorry, TMI). I sort of knew baby was coming the for
first baby. I pretty much knew baby was coming for the second baby.

[Ericka Kammerer]

Mary S. wrote:
> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
> BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
> if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
> mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
> doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
> will, won't it?
>
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.

It could happen out of the blue, but then again,
it might not ;-) You just don't get to know. I worked
up to my subsequent births more slowly (lots of prodromal
labor), but I never lost a mucous plug or anything like
that.

Best wishes,
Ericka

[Tina]

With my first, my water broke before ctx. started, so that was fairly
obvious. With my second, though, my water didn't break until pushing,
and labor started *very* slowly, yet I felt like I knew when it was
starting a lot better, because I had done it before, I guess.

I don't know that anyone believed me at first, because we were out at
afestival, and I had to go into a coffeehouse to use the bathroom, and
walking out, I just thought to myself -- 'the baby's coming', and I
told my husband I thought I'd be going into labor soon. The only ctx.
I noticed were braxton-hicks. But I just knew, somehow. This was at
about 3PM.

I put my mom 'on call' to help with Sage, cooked a big dinner for
myself (Mexican, 'cause I'd heard it can speed up labor), called my mom
to come over at around 8 ("Mom, I need you to come over, I think the
baby's coming" "Oh my goodness! Do you need to call an ambulance?"
"No, I'm not having contractions or anything, I just think it's going
to be soon" "grumble, mumble...."). She came over and I went to sleep
at 11 or 12, woke up at 4AM in active labor, called the midwife at 5,
we went to the hospital at about 9:30 and she was born at 10.

Short version -- I think I had a lot more warning with the second
'cause my body remembered, and warned me itself. Yours probably will,
too ; ).

Best of luck!

Tina.

[Sue]

"Mary S." > wrote in message
...
> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
> BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
> if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
> mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
> doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
> will, won't it?

I had no signs that labor was starting in any of the three pregnancies. My
water broke abruptly with #1, so I knew labor was going to happen soon. With
#2, labor started spontaneously with no warning as did #3. Sorry I can't be
of no help.
--
Sue (mom to three girls)

[Unadulterated Me]

Mary S. wrote:

> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
> BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
> if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
> mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
> doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
> will, won't it?
>
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.
>
> (Enjoy the moment... enjoy the moment... deep calming breaths... LOL)
>
> Mary S.
>


What happened last time for you?

With me I get a show at the start, either a few hours before
contractions start, or not long after contractions start, and always
have had the baby within 48 hours of having a show.

Andrea

[Nancy P.]

"Mary S." > wrote in message
...
> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start BANG
> from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful if I
> could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the mucous
> plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement doesn't always
> happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something* will, won't it?
>
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.
>
> (Enjoy the moment... enjoy the moment... deep calming breaths... LOL)
>
> Mary S.
>

I lost my mucous plug (or parts of it anyway) about a week before the second
labor). I also had early labor contractions for over a week where I thought
it was going to kick in, but it would stop after 4-10 hours. I wouldn't
have called it "polite" warning, lol, it was maddening. But when it started
for real, there was no mistaking it. I didn't nest this time either,
though.

Nancy

[Leslie]

Mary,

I'm sure it varies for everyone but I have always started labor with a sort of
low cramping backache and diarrhea. The contractions are slow once they start,
nothing like those people on t.v. who are having to rush to the hospital within
minutes of having a contraction. :-)


Leslie

Emily (2/4/91)
Jake (1/27/94)
Teddy (2/15/95)
William (3/5/01 -- VBA3C, 13 lbs. 5 oz.)
and Lorelei, expected 11/2/04

"Children come trailing clouds of glory from God, which is their home."
~ William Wordsworth

[A&G&K&H]

"Mary S." > wrote in message
...
> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
> BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
> if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
> mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
> doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
> will, won't it?
>
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.
>
> (Enjoy the moment... enjoy the moment... deep calming breaths... LOL)
>
> Mary S.

Ohhh ... I'm so excited for you :) You'll be a Mum all over again really
soon .... and it is sooooo wonderful :)

Amanda

--
DD 15th August 2002
1 tiny angel Nov 2003
DS 20th August 2004

[Kelly]

I had more signs (show, cramping, backache) with labor #1. No active signs
with subsequent labors. I walked around for 5 days at a +3 (yes, you read
that right) with my second. I had nothing with my third, but started
regular mild contractions in the middle of the night before my AROM the next
day. You just never know what's in store :)

Kelly
#4 2/05

"Mary S." > wrote in message
...
> I'm going to get that mucous thing a few days before labor begins again,
> right? I feel like I'm waiting for that first contractions to start
> BANG from out of nowhere, and it's driving me nuts. It would be helpful
> if I could tell myself that I'll probably x/y/z first (like, lose the
> mucous plug, or anything else I've forgotten). I know engagement
> doesn't always happen beforehand with a second baby, but *something*
> will, won't it?
>
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.
>
> (Enjoy the moment... enjoy the moment... deep calming breaths... LOL)
>
> Mary S.
>

[Beach mum]

"Mary S." > wrote
> Just want to know if my body is going to give me a polite warning
> beforehand, or if it could really happen out of the blue with a second
> birth.

Mine didn't give me any warning with the first, so I'd say it might not
happen. I had been fine and happily rolling along at 37 weeks when I started
to get contractions 10 minutes apart, then my water broke and then E was
born seven hours later. No mucous plug, no dropping, nothing. I kind of like
it that way because it's means you have to be prepared, but you're not
actually sitting around waiting for the next thing to happen.
--
Melissa (in Los Angeles)
Mum to Elizabeth 4/13/03
and ??? due early 3/05

[laurie]

It could really happen out of the blue, Mary. I had nothing with C.- a few
weak contractions on and off, that was it. I was 1 cm dilated for 2 weeks (at
39 and 40 weeks). No show, no dropping (with either kid). At my 41 week
appointment, I had made no "progress" from the weeks before. That was at 9 am.
I came home and made a pity post on here, and was TOTALLY depressed.

C. was in my arms at 11:10 that night after a 3 hour labor! (6 hours from
first contraction, but 3 hours of active labor)

GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!!! I've forgotten your due date- what is it again?

laurie
mommy to Jessica, 3 years
Christopher, 16.5 months