Nervous About Knowing the Labor Signs....

i was asleep when my water broke with # 2. I told my then hubby that either i just peed the bed or we had better go to the hospital. that was at 2:15am. she was born at 5:50 am. every labor is different and the signs from one may not be the same for all. just relax. :) good luck.

When I was pregnant, I had no idea what it would be like. I called my dr. every week asking the signs of labor! I was really scared. My husband works nights and we have NO family close to us! They are all at least 2hrs+ away! I started hurting around 9:30pm. I went in and woke my husband up at 3am. I was to the point I could not hardly walk! Luckily he was off that night! I don't what I will do this time, if he is at work! Good luck! I know this didnt help at all, just wanted to share my story!

Well my daughter was born 1 week early.
I lost my mucus plug, and that SAME day, I began to labor.
It was at night.
Then still onto the next day.
By the time I got to contractions at 5 minutes apart, 12 hours had gone by.
Then I went to the hospital, then labored there for another 14+ hours.
I would not dilate. My Doctor tried everything.
My daughter had to be a c-section. Emergency by then.

My son, was a planned c-section at 38 weeks.

Both born totally healthy and at over 8 pounds each.

Relax & get lots of rest, you will be glad you did. Some times there are labor signs some times there are not... similar to period some times cramps some times not. Your instinct is going to be the truest, trust it. Congrats!

I was in labor for 24 hours with my first and I waited at home for a long time as well. My best friend had her water break with her first at home and she still had a long labor, her 2nd her water had to be broken by the doctor, she had been in labor a while at that point. Every baby is different.
check out bradley method books, they help tell you exactly what's going on with your body in each stage of labor. It really helped me knowing that oh that feeling is normal, im in this stage of labor... good luck!

I was "one of the lucky ones" whose water broke (well, it was really a trickle, but I knew what it was). Labor started about an hour later.

The short version of my story is that my first was born at 35 weeks, and my early labor was not stereotypical. I called my doctor and was told the standard story--come in when the contractions are a certain time apart or a certain intensity. I waited because I couldn't clearly time my contractions. I went into transition at home. Baby was born less than 45 minutes after I arrived at the hospital. It's a great story to tell, and ended up being a very positive experience once I was through with the fear.

With my second, I was worried the whole time about the same thing happening, especially because everyone says second babies arrive more quickly (and I had an almost 3 year old at home!). I had some great advice from my doctor to share:

If you're not sure, it's better to go to the hospital too early and be sent home than to deliver a baby on the side of the road. I ended up going to the hospital around 36 weeks to be checked because I started having some of my early labor symptoms from the first time. False alarm, but it was a relief!

Trust yourself. In spite of all my worry, when the time actually came with baby 2, I knew. I'd gone through it before, and recognized what was happening earlier. And I was more attuned to it gradually intensifying, even though I couldn't time the contractions again at first. Labor did progress pretty quickly again, so I was glad I decided to go to the hospital when I did, so there was a lot less drama!

And...Rest while you can.

I completely understand where you are coming from. My first I was induced at 37 weeks because of preclampsia. Even though I was induced I had a pretty quick delivery 8 hours. I just had a baby in April and was really worried because I didn't know what it would be like to go into labor naturally. I never lost my mucus plug or had blood and my water broke right before she came out. I had my midwife appt at 11 that morning and she checked me because my bp was a little high and I was 2 days past my due date. I went home having contractions and they didn't stop. I called my doula and she thought I would be having her that night and to just relax. I decided I should call my husband and have him come home from work. When he got home we started timing the contractions, they were 5-7 mins and the midwife told me to come in when they were a little closer and stronger. When I got up and walked around they were 3-4 mins and I still wasn't sure if I should go in. I had a few strong ones and decided we should go in because I was really freaked out that we would be stuck in rush hour traffic and I would be having a baby on 405. We got to the birth center at 4:15 and my daughter was born at 5:39. I would just try to relax and go with it, because they are all so different. I was having contractions for 3 weeks before my daughter was born. Good luck to you!

Well, I can't relate because I had 12 hours of awful labor after my water broke. So, you are lucky. My thought is... your body can't go the entire time without having contractions. Just not possible to get the baby out. I wouldn't worry about it! 38 weeks is just too early. Wait until 40 weeks to see what happens. I was also dilated at a 2 for a week or so and then started labor the day before my due date. I'd be confident in what your body naturally does and not worry about it. I'm jealous of you!! Wish I had that quick of labor!! Good luck!

I say go earlier than you went with your first if you can...

When I went in for my first, I was biting at the bits to get the ok to go in. I got there and was not dilated at all...bummer right? Luckily because I was almost 2 weeks over my Dr decided to wait an hour and see where I was after an hour. After an hour I was 5cm and 4 hours later she was born.

With my second, I started getting contractions at my uncles funeral. I went in when I realized the pain was getting a little worse and I better go in. (I was 5cm when I get checked in the hospital) about 4 hours later...she was born.

Both were quick deliveries but one did not seem to be faster than the other. However with the first I had no pain meds, with the second I did. So not sure if that made a difference.

Even still I wouldn't take your chances being that you have a long drive.