Concerns About Labor

JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 04:10 PM

So I know these are probably all really dumb questions but as I get closer to my due date I am thinking/worrying about them more. I have been having BH contractions on and off since the beginning of the 3rd trimester. My concern is that I'm not going to know when its the real thing and not practice contractions. Everyone keeps telling me that I will just "know" but my Mom didn't think she was in labor with her first until a while later, because she didn't have any pain in her belly at all, it was in her hip. I have had hip and back pain for most the pregnancy so how will I know if its labor or not? Also people say when you are in labor your belly gets rock solid, well I have a very small belly so its always hard because all I feel is baby.

I realize I am probably thinking into this WAY too much but for some reason I'm not nervous at all about the birth I'm just so scared I won't know I'm in labor! Any one else having this or had this before? I'd appreciate any advice
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*Jenny* · 11-03-2009, 04:17 PM

In regards to the "you'll know because the uterus is rock hard", I have to disagree. I have been having Braxton-Hicks since about 18 weeks (at first only after orgasm, now they come on their own) and my uterus gets rock hard with those, so I doubt that that is a reliable symptom of labour. They aren't painful, but very, very tight and uncomfortable.

The best way to tell is to keep regular visits with your doctor, and monitor your contractions as the date nears (especially if they become very painful). If you are contracting regularly (even if it starts out at 20 minutes apart), that is a sign of labour. Usually labour contractions are accompanied by pain as well, which is a good sign.

Many people will tell you that your water breaking is a sure sign as well, and it is, unless it doesn't break! This happens very often so don't take your water not breaking as a sign that you aren't in labour.

I'm no expert - so I'd ask your doctor to make sure
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Good luck, and congrats!

JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 04:27 PM

Jenny- I have the same thing (getting BH after an orgasm) I guess like everything else in pregnancy everyone is different and I'll have to wait and see
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I plan on really talking to my dr more in depth at my appointment tomorrow. Thanks for the response!

*Jenny* · 11-03-2009, 04:30 PM

No problem! I'm scared too, I think it's quite normal! Although I hear that once labour starts, you are so excited and looking forward to the baby coming that you actually get quite calm...we'll see if that holds true for me as I can tell you I'm quite terrified
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JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 04:42 PM

I know. I am really looking into websites and talking with people about staying calm and everything during labor, especially since I want to have him completely naturally. My mom gave me a lot of good pointers, but I am still scared.

Daisychain · 11-03-2009, 05:34 PM

During BH, your belly gets hard...but while I might be mildly uncomfortable they are not really painful. When your contrax get to be 5 minute apart AND the pain is enough to take your breath away, yeah, chances are, THAT"S labor...

When you have to stop talking, stop doing ANYTHING, just to concentrate on breathing...good sign that it's labor...

I think that's most expecting women's fear...WHEN is it going to happen?! Yikes! Whether it's your first, second, third, etc....even women who have been through it before can think it's the real thing only to go to L&D and be sent home...
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JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 05:42 PM

Thanks!!! I've heard alot of people say the real thing will take your breath away... Yeah this waiting game is no fun
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lol

DiamondInTheRough · 11-03-2009, 05:42 PM

With my 6 year old, I was 8 centimetres dialted, and didn't feel a single contraction. I only went in to get checked out because I noticed spotting in the morning. Imagine my shock!

With my 2 year old, I went in because for over a week, I'd been having a constant tight, crampy pain in all of my abdomen, and I just couldn't take the pain anymore. Once I got to the hospital, they had me walk around for 2 hours, and I would have regular contractions when I walked (they stopped when I sat down) that I felt and took my breath away like Daisy mentioned. That brought me to 5+ centimetres, so my OB broke my water and the rest was history.

My advice is when in doubt, get checked out
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It really is different for everyone, and even varies from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same person.

JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DiamondInTheRough
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My advice is when in doubt, get checked out
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It really is different for everyone, and even varies from pregnancy to pregnancy in the same person.

Yeah I'm glad I have an appointment tomorrow to ease my worries a little~~

pookietooth · 11-03-2009, 05:56 PM

I was having prodromal labor for a couple of days -- it felt like menstrual cramps, but I was able to walk and talk through them, so it wasn't considered real labor. Then, suddenly, I awoke at 3:30 am with really bad cramps. I could tell I was definitely in labor because the pain was really intense. I thought they were still irregular, so I called my doula, and she timed my contractions, and it turned out they were 2-4 minutes apart. She told me to call the midwife right away, and was already on her way. I had an extremely precipitous labor, and was already ready to push before the midwives got here. The doula was here though and was able to coach me to breathe through the urge to push until the midwife could get in and get set up for the birth. The baby was born at 5:43 am, in the water, in a birth tub in my living room. I am so glad we didn't go for a hospital birth, because I probably would have had the baby in the car.
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JDS524 · 11-03-2009, 09:11 PM

Oh wow, your labor did move along really fast. I'm going to ask my dr about the menstrual like cramps tomorrow because I have been having them for the past few days. Thanks for all the info/advice!

crisslynn · 11-04-2009, 12:20 AM

im with diamondintherough i had no idea i was in labor. i went in because i thought maybe i sprung a leak and well i did but i was also 6 centimeters dilated 4 hours later .. baby! so hearing everyone saying youll know you'll know makes me nervous. because well lol i dont think i will know! i hope kmy water breaks again or springs a leak lol

Acajou73 · 11-04-2009, 06:22 AM

i have read that after your water breaks, things progress rather rapidly from there. I wonder if not knowing is part of the reason doctors start seeing us weekly after 34 weeks. Maybe that's a silly thought.

I too am getting more nervous the closer my doubt date comes. My docotr wont let me go past 39 weeks, so I have 27 days left. He also thinks I wont make it past 37 weeks which means I have 2 weeks left. I'm shooting for 39.

Quote:

Originally Posted by crisslynn
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im with diamondintherough i had no idea i was in labor. i went in because i thought maybe i sprung a leak and well i did but i was also 6 centimeters dilated 4 hours later .. baby! so hearing everyone saying youll know you'll know makes me nervous. because well lol i dont think i will know! i hope kmy water breaks again or springs a leak lol

Jenlynn83 · 11-04-2009, 09:59 AM

"OH You'll know when you're in labor...." HA HA HA..

I didn't. I did not have a clue. With my first 2 I was induced, so that felt different than natural labor. Then at 31 weeks I had PTL and didn't know it. I thought my hips were just hurting... for about a week! oooppps! They stopped it, but I continued to lose my mucous plug until delivery so at 39w6d I cut the grass. Later that night my plug got watery-er but I didn't think anything about it. I didn't feel right. I was just super achy. The next morning at 40wk I got my oldest to school and called a friend who insisted that my aches were labor and my watery plug was my water broke. I laughed. That morning I scrubbed the deck, the patio, and deep cleaned my house. Well she kept saying "Go to the doc" I didn't listen. At 2:15pm I had to call a neighbor because I couldn't stand up to get off the swing to get my daughter off the bus. I then called the doc and she told me to come to the office, so I drove myself over 20 minutes on the highway contracting with my water broke! LOL I get there she checks i'm well over 5cm and in need of the hossy now, but I refused the ambulance! So I drove myself to the hospital, parked and walked myself up. Then my mom, dh, bff, and kids showed up.

So even having number 3 I had NO CLUE I was in labor. Not a clue! It was pretty comical! I admit I am worried about what labor will be like this time, I am going with a midwife and birthing center so an induction is probably not going to happen. I'll probably end up delivering in the car
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Daisychain · 11-04-2009, 10:49 AM

[quote=Acajou73;1890129418]i have read that after your water breaks, things progress rather rapidly from there. I wonder if not knowing is part of the reason doctors start seeing us weekly after 34 weeks. Maybe that's a silly thought.

[quote]

My water broke with DD#1 at 36 weeks. HUGE gush. Like a balloon popping. Right after that, contrax every 5 minutes. Got to the hospital, they checked me, put me on Pit...and then...nothing. I never progressed past 4cm...after almost 24 hours of labor (and OUCH! The epidural only worked on one side, so I still felt every contrax on my left side) they gave me a c/s...