Another pregnancy question - Is this normal? Update - no baby yet!

[leighe]

I posted last week that I was 2 cm dilated and my doctor told me that the baby was coming "soon."

Well, I have been bleeding a little for the past two days and I had a dr's appointment today. They sent me to the hospital for a stress test on the baby because she wasn't moving as much as normal. I am now dilated 3 cm and although they sent me home the nurse said I was probably in "early labor" and would have the baby within the week. One of the monitors they had me attached to kept showing very mild contractions but I never felt a thing - I mean not a single thing. I've been very lucky through my whole pregnancy and I've never had a cramp, a pain, anything. Except for looking pregnant and my belly feeling heavy I haven't felt any different. I just can't believe that the baby may be coming by next week at the latest. Has anybody else almost been in labor and never felt anything? I'm kind of afraid it's going to hit me all of a sudden like a ton of bricks!

 

[bcvgal]

This sounds alot like my first delivery. Started spotting in morning, went to dr they hooked me up and i was contracting 5 mins apart. I was not feeling a thing. She sent me straight to hospital (around 9:30am). Son was born at 11:21pm. Good luck and wishing you a healthy delivery. Don't forget to post pics!!

 

[golfgal]

Yes, it is normal. How much are you bleeding? Is it just a bit of spotting? Is it your mucus plug maybe, that is often tinged with blood. I had contractions every 5 minutes from about 20 weeks on with DS13, they didn't "feel" like anything other then my stomach getting firm. If you felt your belly during one of these, it would feel a little harder. Sometimes it will only be part of your stomach that will feel hard, too.

Do you ever feel temporarily short of breath, nothing serious, just a funny feeling in your chest? That often accompanies contractions, too. I wouldn't worry too much about it hitting like a ton of bricks. Unless your water breaks, the contractions will work themselves up in intensity, even if you only have say 3 mild ones, then a few stronger ones.

One friend had a back ache and was near her due date so she called the hospital (it was night time and the dr office was closed). They told her to come in and get checked. She was dilated to a 9 and had her baby about 30 minutes later. She never felt a contraction but that is REALLY rare.

Everyone says you will know you are in labor and you will, BUT you won't trust yourself to believe it and that is when it gets hard. Hang in there, it will happen when it happens.

Oh, and as for the water breaking, some people suggest you carry a jar of pickles with you where ever you go and if your water breaks, drop the jar of pickles and no one will know the difference.

 

[MoniqueU]

I went to a checkup at 6 and a half months pregnant. The doctor did her exam then all of a sudden pushed me down and did a pelvic in about 30 seconds. I was dialated to 2.5 and never felt a thing. I had to drive myself to the hospital from her office and was put on bedrest and in and out of the hospital for the rest of my pregnancy. I still had contractions that I could now feel by putting my hand on my belly and feeling the tightening but up until that point I never felt a thing.

 

[kilee]

I guess I was contracting and didn't know it. My water broke. I was told to go the hospital the next morning if I didn't go into labor before then. Well- I never thought I was having contractions. Went to be induced 16 hrs later-- they hooked me to the monitor and I was contracting every 3-4 minutes and I was 6 cm. It was only about another 2 hrs before I knew it though.

Congrats- looks like you're about to have an exciting week!!!!

 

[OhMari]

I don't think it will be within the week, but the next 24 hours. Believe me, you will.

Go take a shower, shave your legs, try to get some sleep tonite because that baby will be coming.

 

[CamColt]

With my second my water broke at 9:15 am. They wanted me at the hospital right away since my first came so fast. With no pain I reluctantly went to the hopsital around 11:00am. Turns out I was 5.5 cm. I ended up being stuck there all day with no pain at all. Finally started pitocin at 6:30, pain started at 7:00, began pushing at 8:00, and DS was born at 8:11 pm .

Good luck!

 

[barkley]

dh had to tell me i was in labor with first child i just felt a need to keep running to the bathroom (so what was new about that-i practicly lived in there the last couple of months). i was dialated to 5 and had'nt felt much of anything.

i had read about/experienced "braxton hicks" contractions (all of a sudden your belly feels tight like someone is stretching the skin)-so i thought that the begining of labor would be like that (never felt that once during labor).

ended up staying at 5 for HOURS and had to be induced (still took forever-28 hours from dh notifying me "it's time!"). second child started the same way but he decided to be the "bullet"-went from 5-full in less than an hour (let's just say patience is still not his strong suit ).

get some rest while you can-and CONGRATULATIONS!

 

[justhat]

I went to my dr at 37 weeks on a Monday and was dilated 1cm with a 'soft' cervix. Madison was born that Thursday night, 37 weeks, 6 days. I knew I was in labor when I woke up Thursday morning, I had lots of back pain and I also kept getting up to go to the bathroom (but again, not out of the ordinary). I finally realized that the back pain that came and went were contractions. I started bleeding a little around 11am, went to the hospital around 1pm and was 4 cm and 100% effaced by then, but I definitely knew I was in labor.

 

[Ava83]

I was in labor and did not even know it, the only reason we went to the hospital was that my water broke at 4 am, and I was strep B pos. We took our time to...I took a shower got everything together...I then finally started to feel something about and hour later.

 

[Aidensmom]

I had premature labor contractions for over 6 weeks (I was put on bedrest and had medication to stop the contractions). I did not feel a thing except my belly hardening until I was actually induced, and I didn't expect such a dramatic change in what they felt like!

 

[Nancy]

I went to my dr at 37 weeks on a Monday and was dilated 1cm with a 'soft' cervix. Madison was born that Thursday night, 37 weeks, 6 days. I knew I was in labor when I woke up Thursday morning, I had lots of back pain and I also kept getting up to go to the bathroom (but again, not out of the ordinary). I finally realized that the back pain that came and went were contractions. I started bleeding a little around 11am, went to the hospital around 1pm and was 4 cm and 100% effaced by then, but I definitely knew I was in labor.

I also had back labor and didn't think it was labor because I was waiting for the contractions, not back pain that came and went. I didn't feel real front contractions until I was past 8 cm's, and that lasted about 1/2 hour.

 

[dcgrumpy]

I thought I had a stomach virus with my third.

 

[allicat]

I remember a heavy feeling in my stomach but no pains or anything.My water broke and I thought I just didnt make it to the bathroom in time
I had no idea I was in labor! It wasnt until hours later at the hospital that I learned what a contraction felt like.
Your body and baby will let you know when its time! I know the waiting is probably making you anxious!

 

[HappyMommy2]

I agree with whoever posted above that you need to take your shower and shave and pack or whatever right now. With both my kids (one born at 38 weeks and one at 37), spotting was my first indication of labor. No "mucus plug," no contractions or anything till later. Each baby was born within a day of the beginning of the spotting.
Congratulations, and keep us posted!

 

[leighe]

Thanks so much! My back hurt so bad last night I thought I was going to die so I called the dr this morning and she said, "back labor" and told me to come in. I did take a shower last night and I straightened my hair and everything because I thought it may be the last time I have "pretty" hair for a while.

So I'm off to the hospital! Thanks for all the advice. I'll post pics when I get back!

 

[OhMari]

Prayers and Pixie Dust-

 

[mickeyboat]

I posted last week that I was 2 cm dilated and my doctor told me that the baby was coming "soon."

Well, I have been bleeding a little for the past two days and I had a dr's appointment today. They sent me to the hospital for a stress test on the baby because she wasn't moving as much as normal. I am now dilated 3 cm and although they sent me home the nurse said I was probably in "early labor" and would have the baby within the week. One of the monitors they had me attached to kept showing very mild contractions but I never felt a thing - I mean not a single thing. I've been very lucky through my whole pregnancy and I've never had a cramp, a pain, anything. Except for looking pregnant and my belly feeling heavy I haven't felt any different. I just can't believe that the baby may be coming by next week at the latest. Has anybody else almost been in labor and never felt anything? I'm kind of afraid it's going to hit me all of a sudden like a ton of bricks!

With Hannah my water broke and I was having contractions at 31 weeks that I would not feel. The contractions stopped with rest and fluids, and I was induced at 34 weeks. Not the pitocin contractions, I could feel!

With Emily I was in labor all day with no real contractions. I only felt gas / constipation pains. Contractions didn't really feel like I expected until 8PM, I got to the hospital at 9PM fully dialated. Emily was born at 9:40. It was quick, but VERY INTENSE!

My mom's labors were quick and intense, too. What were your mother's labors like?

Good luck to you!

Denae

 

[mickeyboat]

Thanks so much! My back hurt so bad last night I thought I was going to die so I called the dr this morning and she said, "back labor" and told me to come in. I did take a shower last night and I straightened my hair and everything because I thought it may be the last time I have "pretty" hair for a while.

So I'm off to the hospital! Thanks for all the advice. I'll post pics when I get back!

I posted before I read this update! Congratulations in advance, and good luck!

Denae

 

[justhat]

Good luck!