How do you know??

Okay so lotsa ladies try and say that when your water breaks or when you start labour and all the other things your body automatically lets you know the baby is coming. Is this true? How do you know when your baby drops? do you feel it? And a nurse said only 18% of women's water breaks before getting to the hospital. Well then how do you know its time? i know the contractions and what not. But how do you know what a contraction is if its your first? And if i had a miscarriage before 12wks would that effect when this baby will come? I am so confused. I know i have awhile to get yet cuz i am only 22wks 5 days...but you know i need answers. Oh and when do you start getting Braxton hicks? what do they feel like? Help ladies :)

[mamaofonetrying42]

Ok, Not everyOne will get BH contractions! (I never did with my 1st)

Yes, and I do belive that is true, only a few # of women have there water break at home.

I remember being just like this, "How am I to know" And Sweetie YOU WILL KNOW! You will get these pains that you have never had before,and first you might not think about it, but once they start coming and coming faster and closer together, You will just know!

and having a m/c will not effect when the baby comes.......

[mami1323]

Like mamaofonetrying42 said, you will know when it's time.  It's nothing like the bh contractions at all.  Those are quite uncomfortable and can be a little painful but full blown active labor is PAINFUL!!!!  I remember hearing a pop and then feeling extreme pain.  They come so fast once one is done and you think you will catch your breath, the next one hits.  I know what I'm saying may sound scary but really it's not as bad as it's sounding while I type.  It's just obvious....you will definitely know.

[Hope2OneDay]

I was one of the women lucky enough to have my water break. It happened early in the morning (around 7 am) and I thought I was peeing myself. I went to the bathroom only to discover it was coming out of "that" hole, not my pee hole! LOL

I had time to get dressed, get my makeup on, fix my hair and eat half a peanut butter toast before the contractions started up. By the time we were ready to walk out the door (around 8:30 I think) I had to stop walking during each contraction. Believe me, they're not your usual BH contractions! They will literally stop you in your tracks.
BH feels like a tightening up of part of your belly. It gets REAL hard for a moment, then relaxes again. Although BH may occasionally take your breath away, REAL contractions make it almost virtually impossible to think straight until they pass.
This is just MY personal experience.

I didn't have to suffer much, because I got an epidural pretty early on...although I must say that the darn thing wore off when it came time to actually push! LOL Those contractions made me feel like I was going to black out.
Again, that's just my personal experience. But hey, you asked! :-)

[mommywa]

My water broke at home as well.  It was a little popping sensation but not a great gush like some women.  I was still on the toilet cleaning up when my contractions started.  I had gone to the hospital a couple of nights earlier for mild to mod. contractions that just wouldn't go away.  Turns out I was dehydrated and after fluid the contractions finally stopped.  However, after my water broke and I had real contractions that cause labor to progress I couldn't move or speak with each contraction.  That is when you know you are in real labor.
And when you're in pain like that--you don't care what you look like, you just want to get to the hospital.  I delivered 5 hours after my water broke.  It took me about an hour to get to the hospital.

[xoxo_Confused_xoxo]

okay thank you ladies! your alll really helpful!! :D