Another anecdotal question about labor

[gibbinator]

I had been out in town running errands and then came home before I realized I was in labour. So in retrospect, early labour began when I was out, but I was home when I decided the crampy feeling I'd been having off and on all morning was not constipation.

[h]

I first noticed contractions while at home each time, but things picked up after that while I was out and about. I was at work when I became 100% sure I was actually in labor with DS3 (although I suspected as much when I left the house that morning).

DS1 -- woke up to contractions in the wee hours of the morning. Labored at home until going to my OBs and then to the hospital mid-day. Had the baby that evening.

DS2 -- noticed a few contractions here and there mid-morning on a Saturday while still at home. Took DS1 to a b-day party and to the park, and things picked up while we were out and about. Decided it was most definitely labor once I was back home late that night. Had the baby the next day.

DS3 -- woke up with contractions early in the morning, but I had been contracting on and off for two weeks at that point, so didn't think much of it. Went to an OB appointment and then to work. Labored all day while in a meeting; was sure I was in labor by the end of the 6 hour meeting. Decided I still had time and went out to dinner with H and the older kids, then to the kids' school since fair. Finally made it to the hospital at ~11pm and had the baby about an hour later.

[jackie011]

It was midnight or so. Felt completely normal all day long. Tried repeatedly to fall asleep that night and couldn't get comfortable. Finally realized the pain was coming and going in fairly regular intervals. Started timing and went to the hospital around 3 am.

Almost everyone I know went in to labor overnight. The only person I can think of started feeling uncomfortable driving home from work and just drive herself to the hospital instead. Baby was born at 8:00 that night!

[mrshandy]

Both times I was at home. DS was in the evening when H and I were relaxing. DD I woke in the middle of the night.

[biogirl21]

My water broke when I was at work, but I worked 5 minutes from my house so I drove home to get my husband and finish packing my bag because it wasn't done yet.

[statlerwaldorf]

My contractions started when I was sleeping, but I didn't realize they weren't BHs. My water broke about an hour after I got out of bed in the morning. I was still at home and had just got out of the shower.

[chickadee77]

I was at home. Contractions started around 3am, water broke at 7:18, we were at the hospital by 8, had a baby by 1:30pm. Our hospital bags never even made it out of our vehicle until around 9pm, and that was only hecause the hospital food sucked and I had granola bars packed. Frankly, I didn't use much (if anything) in my bag until the next day.

[Deleted]

Water broke at 4am. I was sleeping.

[dragonfly08]

I can't help with whether you'll have time to go get your bag once labor starts...I have two kids and have never gone into labor on my own as both were induced.

But I can say that there would have been plenty of time for DH to get my bag later before I really needed it. Other than having a book to read or something during the early stages of labor, there wasn't anything in there except the camera that I couldn't have done without until after each of my girls was born and DH had time to go home for a shower and, if necessary, pick up my bag. And even that is b/c at the time I didn't have a smart phone so no camera there!

[Pilsy]

Out to dinner and Target shopping.

[ginkgoleaf]

Woke up one morning in labor.

[dancingirl21]

I didn't know it at the time but I was definitely in labor while getting my hair cut and walking around the city with DH. I was 3.5 weeks from my due date and wanted to make sure I had gotten a haircut before. DH and I then walked for a bit and I felt really uncomfortable but thought I was just at the end of pregnancy. We went out to dinner with his family that night and I was at the table timing my contractions. We got home and called the pedi and were told to come in. 11 hours later I had a baby in my arms

[ringstrue]

Labor almost never happens that fast that you can't get your bag first. Even if it does, you won't need anything out of it (unless you have "during labor" things you wanna bring) until after the labor is over, and your DH can bring those when he comes or after you are done and in the process of being sent to recovery (which can take an hour or more) It's also likely that he could leave during your labor to do stuff. During an epidural they have to leave the room for at least 30 minutes anyway. DH got dinner during that time.