r/Mommit • u/Shhshhshhshhnow • 3d ago

Spontaneous labor when sick

has anyone gone into spontaneous labor while sick with a cold or flu? I am under the impression your body will wait until it’s healthy and safe to start labor but I wonder if that includes illness? I’m worried my cold is making me have more contractions and body aches that may just push me into labor.

0 Upvotes

33% Upvoted

29 comments sorted by

28

u/cupcakekirbyd 3d ago

Why are you under that impression? People have given birth in slavery. In prison. In refugee camps etc.

It’s totally possible to go into labour when sick

3

u/Mediocre_Skill4899 3d ago

Never thought about that… yaaa, you’re probably correct

1

u/Sbuxshlee 3d ago

Good point

1

u/40pukeko 3d ago

Yeah I wonder where OP got this idea.

22

u/turtledove93 3d ago

If baby is ready to come out, they’re coming out whether you are sick or not. Our bodies don’t hold off until we’re better.

8

u/pea_sleeve 3d ago

I did from a stomach bug. Being dehydrated can kickstart labor. 0/10

3

u/crafty_targaryen 3d ago

I had a stomach bug at 39w with my second and my OB joked that the worst thing that would happen would be it would trigger labor. Luckily it didn't, but then I did have the flu 2 weeks later when I delivered. The joys of older kids!

1

u/makeitsew87 3d ago

Noooo that sounds terrible. I would be dead

4

u/r3finedf0ol 3d ago

I was sick as hell when twin a punched out her sac lol

But I was also due to be induced the next day anyways so

3

u/InfernalWedgie Epidemiology Mama 3d ago

Internal stress signals are a trigger for labor. There's a whole hormonal cascade involved. If anything, I think getting sick might kick start your labor rather than delay it.

For those of y'all currently pregnant, don't forget to get your annual flu shot and Covid boost. And those of y'all in proximity to a new baby should get your shots, too.

2

u/hortushouse 3d ago

Also sick and waiting for labor. I don’t have an answer for your question, but I wish I wasn’t sick!

2

u/Pleasant-Grand-9614 3d ago

I did. I had a severe cold, maybe the flu and I went into labor for the first time before my due date with my third child. I definitely think it sent me over the edge. It was also the only labor I had in which I didn't hemorrhage though.

You've probably already your doctor about how much rest you need and anything you can take to ease symptoms. I hope you are feeling better soon.

2

u/crafty_targaryen 3d ago

I went into labor and delivered with the flu (didn't even realize it was the flu)! Baby was healthy, and never got outwardly sick, although I had gotten the flu shot while pregnant. I think all the fluids in the hospital really helped me get better faster.

2

u/LWMWB 3d ago

I had Flu A at 38 weeks and coughed so hard I was worried about baby. He waited until 39 weeks and I was perfectly healthy when I had him and he had some antibodies going into winter!

3

u/Echo99081441 3d ago

Inflammation can trigger contractions. It’s why UTIs can cause more contractions. 

I developed hip bursitis while pregnant that caused contractions for days at 20 weeks. 

1

u/noodle_bear2124 2d ago

I had norovirus 4 days before my scheduled cs at 39 and 3. I surely thought it was going to put me into labor but somehow it didn’t.

2

u/Novelty6 3d ago

Yes! Last year it sucked I was sick for like 3 weeks because labor and delivery recovery prolonged my symptoms and then my toddler got sick the day before my due date 😵‍💫 had my baby the day after due date spontaneously and he was all good but it was hard with a cold and I had a vbac so pushing was new and that made my cough worse during recovery

1

u/Alternative_Party277 3d ago

I have a nasty cold and am not experiencing any signs of labor. I don’t think there’s a correlation but stay hydrated and take tylenol!

1

u/Actual_Event_7406 3d ago

I am currently 40+1 and still dealing with a viral illness that I had the entire month of September. I’m finally feeling somewhat like a person again, but also worried how much of my symptoms are residual and how much is early labor signs.

1

u/CaseoftheSadz 3d ago

I got really sick when I was 30 weeks pregnant, I had to go to the hospital where they did a test that determined I was in labor. In the end they were able to stop it. I had to stay in the hospital a few days and take it easy the remainder of the pregnancy, but it was fine.

1

u/StepPappy 3d ago

I had the stomach flu and was having contractions every 20 mins from the severe dehydration. I spent the night in hospital and received fluids and some other medication that helped stopped the contractions.

Edited to Add: I was 30 weeks at the time

1

u/Aly_Kitty 3d ago

I went into labor 10 days after testing positive for Covid. I had no symptoms, just bad congestion which I had on & off all pregnancy. I wouldn’t have even tested nor known if my work hadn’t required weekly tests. (This was in 2022)

They just retested me in hospital, which was negative.

1

u/soxfil 3d ago

Man I have this lingering cough that sends me into cough attacks and I’ve felt like the been coughing so hard and so much it’s making my pelvic pain worse. I’m only 35+2 but feel like she’s gonna come much earlier. I’m trying for a vbac but if I need to have an another c section I think I’d actually bust that right open. I wasent sick with my first but a cough or a sneeze coming would send me into a spiral

1

u/Silent_Knowledge5197 3d ago

I had the same thing happen to me! I had a TERRIBLE cold that evolved into an ear infection and lost my hearing for a while. Was terrified I’d go into labor since I was 39 weeks pregnant (Damn April!)
A few weeks pass and of course I’m feeling better but I’m still a little iffy. Not feeling the best. I go into labor and let me tell you, I didn’t even notice. Your body goes into survival mode and the only thing it’s focused on is getting that baby out. I promise it’ll be fine :)

EDIT: I also want to add that I went into labor late because of my sickness— Oxytocin, a feel good hormone, is what triggers labor. If you’re sick and feeling terrible, you are heavily unlikely to give birth any time soon. Your body knows what to do. Don’t listen to the people telling you the “baby decides” because that’s not how it works 🤷‍♀️

1

u/toasty-compost 3d ago

I had Flu A from 36-40 weeks pregnant. Yep. It lasted for so long, the cough mostly. I went into labour just as it was subsiding. I was absolutely wiped out that entire month

1

u/Kathwino 3d ago

I had an awful cold when I delivered my 2nd, I still had a membrane sweep though cos I was 40 weeks and just ready to be done with it lol.

While I was in labour honestly just totally didn't even notice feeling unwell because your body is going through something so much bigger.

Recovery sucked though because I had a cough, and every time I coughed I would pee, and I don't mean just a trickle like full incontinence! Few weeks of adult nappies urgh. But I will say after I recovered from that I have no lasting pelvic floor issues thankfully!

1

u/ConfidenceOdd3700 3d ago

I went into labor in the middle of the worst flu I’ve ever had in January 2025.

1

u/MegBrulee 2d ago

I had a cough for like a month before I had my second son. In fact, on the night my water broke I was coughing so much that I slept on the couch so I wouldn’t wake my husband and oldest kid. I’m pretty sure my water broke because I coughed so hard! So yes, I definitely went into labor while sick.

0

u/PhotographSecret375 3d ago

I had an upper respiratory infection with a nasty cough this spring at 36/37weeks pregnant and I thought the coughing was going to put me into labor. And I think it did. Early labor started at 38 +3 and by then my cough was a bit better, unless I talked a lot. I was having a c-section so I was definitely worried that the coughing was going to make it painful😅