Did anyone have it happen out of nowhere?

I'm just about 38 weeks, but I went for my checkup today and I am still not dilating. The doctor didn't say whether I was thinned out or not, but he can feel the baby's head during the exam. I've been having braxton hicks for the past few weeks and they have become stronger over the last couple of days. Tonight, the are getting painful (not unbearable just more than usual) and closer together. I still have not lost my mucous plug yet, either.

My question is did labor just START for any of you? This is my second pregnancy (first was 9 years ago, so its been a while) and I've heard it goes faster the second time. Did anyone go into labor so soon after being told 'nothing yet'?

I did.

10characters.

Quoting Kylees Mama:" I did. 10characters."

Can you elaborate a little more? Sorry, I jsut mean - were you not showing ANY signs labor was coming and how long after did you start having active labor?

With my second it happened out of nowhere. At my 39 week appointment my doctor said that I wasnt dialted and my cervix was high and posterior. She had said by the way I looked I would go past my due date. Well 12 hours later I had my daughter. We almost didnt make it to the hospital on time.

I think feeling the baby's head and it being more into position is far more important than being dilated or thinned out. I think it is a better indication of the baby being on its way.

I was dilated to 3cms and thinned out completely but he wouldnt move down at all. And i ended up with a csection ha!

The first pregnancy you can loose the plug weeks before and have those contractions weeks before. The secondary and following pregnancies often will loose the plug heralding the start of labor or during it's process..I know that with my second I was checked and nothing...4 days later I thought I was leaking amniotic fluid only to go in and find out I was a five with no plug....the third I lost my plug and was in the immediate throes 2 hours later... the fourth was the same story as the third...Although this isn't everyones story...nor does it have to happen that way..It sounds like you are warming up though 
Good Luck to you
*Blessings*

My second came on like lightning. I was a few days late, maybe dilated to 1 or 2 cm at 40 weeks, then I went into labor, she dropped right before it was time for pushing. My labor lasted 4 hours with her.

<blockquote><b>Quoting Reezie421:</b>" I'm just about 38 weeks, but I went for my checkup today and I am still not dilating. The doctor didn't ... [snip!] ... been a while) and I've heard it goes faster the second time. Did anyone go into labor so soon after being told 'nothing yet'?"</blockquote>



Yep, I went to sleep Monday night having no clue I was going to wake up in labour at 2am when i woke up for a wee lol, I gave birth to him 12 hours later- I was 38 weeks.
I never saw the need to get checked for dilation as I didn't want to get disappointed with my body.

I went to the doc for a normal check up and he informed me that the baby hadn't dropped and I wasn't dilated at all. The next morning my husband woke up and told me he thought we were gonna have the baby that day, and I just laughed. Well the entire day I was throwing up and had diarrhea but no other symptoms. Around 7pm I finally agreed to let my husband take me to l&d to make sure I wasn't dehydrated. When I arrived they checked me and said I was at a 4, 100% enfaced, a bulging bag of waters, and contractions 6 mins apart...I didn't even feel them! My daughter was born at 10pm. It was my 2nd baby but I didn't feel any of the labor signs I had before...no pain or anything. I'm glad I went to the doc now!

Ob appt at 3:30pm, fingertip dilated. Go into labor that night. Arrive at l&d after midnight. Finally checked about an hour later, still only a fingertip. Born at 5:39am. So went from 0 to 10 within 4ish hours.

Was being monitored at l&d this week and a woman came in 3cm dilated when they checked her. Then her water broke during her next contraction. She started moaning and getting frantic. Begging for an epi asap. They transferred her to the empty room across from me and we heard her baby scream, I smurf you not 15min later.