OT-Did this happen to anyone else?

[tinker&belle]

Hello everyone, I am just curious and frustrated and wanted to know if anyone else experienced this. I started my 37 week of pregnancy yesterday. The last four days I have experience contractions that have gotten longer, stronger, closer together and then stopped when they got 5 minutes apart. They have gotten more painful as time has worn on as well (last night it was so bad I was crying).

Did this happen to anyone else? I have had the non-painful Braxton-Hicks, but this seems different and it is frustrating because I want to know when to go to the hospital, but my body seems to keep 'crying wolf' Anyone else had a similar experience?

 

[brymolmom]

Similar, but not exactly the same.

I had a lot of non-painful contractions (tightenings, I'd call them) at 36 - 37 weeks and beyond. Some of them, I'm sure - were B-H, but some of them were 'real' as I was walking around 4 cm dialated for a couple weeks before real labor began.

If you're concerned - call your doctor. It never hurts to be safe and check things out.

But it sounds to me like your body is getting ready. And the good news is that in most cases I know of where they are a good bit dialated before strong labor begins....it goes much more quickly than when women start out at 0 cm.

Best of luck!!!

 

[Ariel8676]

Probably just Braxton Hicks contractions ("false labor").. lets you know your body is getting ready(and kind of lets you feel what a real contraction is like..kind of..lol). They are probably starting to dialate you..which is great!! LOL
I had them real bad with my third DD, starting at about 34 weeks (but she decided to show up on the day i turned 37 weeks..and was still 7 pounds 1 oz..lol)
I agree though if you are concerned, call your doc..thats what they are there for...don't ever feel like you are bothering them!!!

 

[tripletots]

This has been 15 years ago, but it is one pain I won't forget. I had non painful contractions all through my first preg. (actually all of them), but at 37 weeks they became painful. I made a trip to the doctor who told me I was not dialated and they were Braxton Hicks contractions. He told me to go home and soak in a warm tub. Well I did that for 5 days and we finally went back to the doc again and this time I was dehydrated so they admitted me overnight. Still not dialating but definately having contactions. The next morning the doctor came by and said I had two options, one was to go home and wait and two induce labor. I chose to induce labor. I couldn't take it anymore. The doctor told my husband to go home and find care for the dog and to take his time because it was going to be a long night. Well at 1pm I was ready and had to wait until my DH was with me, which was 2 hours later. My son was born at 38 weeks and he was a healthy 7.7lbs. Anyway, I'm sure that's not what you wanted to hear, but please drink fluids or eat popcicles so you don't become dehyrated. It becomes dangerous for you and the baby.

 

[jennilouwho]

I had something similiar happen one night around that time. They thought I was dehydrated and they told me I needed to drink a lot of water. It got them to stop! Good luck!

 

[Ariel8676]

Oh yeah i didn't even think about the dehydration...i agree make sure you are drinking a TON of water. When you think you had enough, drink another glass..lol

 

[Colinsmom]

Drink water and lay on your side - if they go away, then they are BH. They could also be prodromal labor (google it for more info) - basically your body taking a long time to get going, but once it is time, it will probably go fast!

With my second, I had contractions off and on starting around 37 weeks. But a lot of them were BH (went away with water and change of position).

You are almost there!!

 

[Vacation Lover]

I had preterm labor with all 3 of mine, and, like the other posters, my doctor recommended staying well hydrated. With my 3rd, I had the false labor that you described. For 2 nights in a row I had very regular contractions about 5 minutes apart, and, even though it was my 3rd pregnancy, I kept questioning myself about whether or not it was time to go to the hospital. Finally on the third night, the contractions were slightly more painful and more consistent. I was 36 weeks at the time, and had been on bedrest for a month. It sounds to me like your body is getting ready--call your doctor and ask what to do.

 

[TylerAggie]

Call your doctor immediately. You never know, you could be starting labor. Both my kids were born three to four weeks early. With my first, I called and they said not to come in, that I was just experiencing Braxton Hicks. I didn't want to be a bother and didn't think I was in labor(I have a very high tolerance for pain), so I stayed on the couch in some pain and then unexpectedly my water broke and I barely reached the hospital in time. My daughter was born withing 5 minutes of reaching the hospital. My contractions were 5 minutes apart also. I realized it is better to be safe than sorry, if you go in and they send you home, then so be it, it is nothing to be embarrassed about.

 

[brandylouwho]

During my first pregnancy I barely noticed any BH Contractions, but during my 2nd I had them all the time from about 6 months on. They didn't really hurt too much until the last week or so of the pregnancy. Then some would be a little more painful. The last two or three days before I had DD#2 were rough. Some hurt, some didn't. They'd be regular at about 5 minutes apart for a half hour to an hour and then stop. Even the day I had her I had on and off questionable pains... then real/obvious labor hit and about 3 hours later she was born.

Good luck!

 

[carrie s]

Yes. With my last baby I started having contractions a few weeks before.They would get closer and closer together and then they would stop.I wasnt dialated at all.I think they were real contractions,this was my fourth baby so i knew the difference.I just think my body took along time to get going.

with my third baby I had been having contractions for over a week so my mom took me to the mall and i walked around for hours,my water broke that night.

So my advice is to walk and walk and walk,it really does help speed things up.
if your unsure when to go to the hospital call your doctor or call the hospital.You are usually suppose to go to the hospital when the contractions are 5 minutes apart or when your water breaks and the pain will be alot worse,there could also be abit of blood.

 

[tripletots]

Please keep us updated on how you're doing.

 

[QueenGoblin]

I've been through 2 pregnancies and the only rule seems to be "there are no rules." Everyone hears about swollen feet and food cravings, but I had all these other crazy symptoms (heart palpitations were the ones that really freaked me out) and my doc would just say, "yup, you're pregnant."

So I never even went into labor with either of my kids (scheduled c-sections..they were both huge and refusing to leave their happy little home inside mom) but it does sound like no two labors are the same. If you are worried, call your doc or go in to the hospital...you will not be the first very pregnant woman who is confused about labor...you probably won't even be the first TODAY. But rather safe than sorry...my friend ended up having her baby in the ambulance on the side of the road. She and her DH knew they weren't making it to the hospital so they called an ambulance in route. It met them, she got into the ambulance, they cut off her pants and she had the baby. Ta-Dah!

 

[cybrkitn]

I had DS5 at 38 weeks and he was considered full term. Sounds like your little one is getting ready to make his/her entrance real soon. Congrats!

I wound up on bed rest my last trimester with DS. Towards the end of my pregnancy, I had called DH home from a church meeting he was at b/c I had "contractions" and they were about 10 minutes apart from each other. They went away, but I also had a scheduled doctor's appointment the next day anyway. When my doctor saw me, she told me I was 4cm dialated (sp?) already. Two days later DS made his entrance . So calling DH home from his meeting was a good thing . DS just turned 5 last month.

If you are not sure what to do, call your doctor.

Also, if you like, hop on over to the Community Board. There's a thread there you may be interested in. Here's the link http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1101947&page=382

It's not just for those trying to conceive, it's also for those who are already pregnant.

 

[Nanu57v]

Yes! That happened to me the whole weekend before I went into "real labor." I started timing on Friday and got all excited, and then they went away. Kept happening until Monday when they didn't go away. DD was born Tuesday. So it could be soon you'll see your little one! But definately don't hesitate to call your doctor...better to be safe!

 

[tinker&belle]

Wow! Thanks for so many responses! I guess I should have given more info. I did call my Dr. on Thursday and again last night (when I had a contraction that lasted about half an hour ). She told me I could come in or try and rest and go to sleep and if I couldn't it might be real labor. I managed to sleep both times so maybe relaxation was the ticket...? I don't know.


I knew about the water. My dear friend, a medical midwife who will help as my doula told me water is a good way to get rid of the contraction if it is fake. I have been drinking lots of liquids, especially water.

So anyway, more contractions today off and on, nothing regular... I have read some ways of getting your body to go into labor, but not sure I sure try these yet since even though I am full term, she would probably benefit from another couple weeks....

Oh last detail. I went to the Dr. Saturday (reg. appointment). It was the first time they told me I had changed: they said I am 1 cm dialated, 70% effaced (sp?) and the head was at -2.

 

[Vacation Lover]

Sounds to me like that baby's coming soon! Good luck and try to get some rest!

 

[3jsmommy]

Good Luck!!!
That babe will be here bfore you know it, try to rest now!!
I always remember the sound of that first cry, I couldn't wait to see my baby, but what brought tears to my eyes was hearing his voice for the first time

 

[juligrl]

With DD#2 I had no B-H contractions, but 2 weeks before my due date I was having mild contractions (which I thought were B-H) all morning one day - regularly about 5-10 minutes apart. Kinda blew them off since I wasn't due for another two weeks, but took a chaperone (my mom) to the grocery store with me and DD#1 that morning anyhow.
Long story short - they were real contractions that didn't really catch my attention until I laid down that afternoon. Three hours later, I had a beautiful baby girl!

 

[rayasmom]

Braxton Hicks contractions - vary by time and intensity. One may last 60 seconds, the next 30 seconds, the next 45, etc. One may hurt sooo bad and the next will just be a "tightening"

True Labor contractions - Each contraction is consistent with the previous one. They will each last the same amount of time, which will increase as your labor progresses. The intensity will also be the same and will also increase as you progress.

HTH!