When to go in? STM help please

mominwaiting29

I am a FTM so I KNOW this is going to sound really stupid but I honestly have no idea when to go into L&D. I am 100% sure I have been having sporadic contractions for the past 2 days (Since Friday night when at times they were bad and I couldn't sleep but then totally stopped.)  The sporadic waves of abdominal pain continued saturday but there was nothing timeable.   Sunday I had some period like cramping, ever 30 min and some very light pink tinged DC.  I called the On Call doc who wasn't worried but I had not DTD and I didn't have a Cervical exam at my last apt.  Previously I wasn't dilated at all so she thought the contractions were probably causing dilation and a little Pink DC but nothing to worry about. Then it went away and I actually slept last night.

Now I sit at work and I feel like I am in High school and about to have my first period, but the pain doesn't go away, my abdomen is always tight but on a scale of 1-10 the pain is like a 3 or 4 If I were in High school Id take a midol and be done.  I don't know if this could last all day, days or even a week or 2.  I have a Dr. Apt tomorrow at 5pm so I really want to avoid calling and going in if this is normal but I have no idea what is normal anymore so I am reaching out.  Thoughts?

babyLOLO13

Have you tried to time them? 

mominwaiting29

@babylolo13 it is hard for me to judge if there is a clear beginning and end.  Like I don't feel a "peak" just a long cramp.  Lower abdomen and no release.  It doesn't seem to get better I have gone to pee to see if that helps but it doesn't change.  It is not what I expected I guess so I am really confused i thought this would be simple but it doesn't seem to be cut and dry. Well at least not yet.

beckybeth123

Have you tried drinking water or walking around or laying down? Also, my OB says not to go in unless they are to the point that I am having a hard time talking through them (which for me would be more than a 3-4). I would drink so water, go for a walk, maybe try a bath to see if anything helps them. If you are really worried though, everyone is different so go in if you feel like you need to. The worst that will happen is they will send you home.

sfshorter

I've been having the same type of thing for over a week now.  I'm just waiting until my appointment Thursday to see what's going on down there.  If the pain feels like bad period cramps, and the contractions don't keep coming, I'm not going in.  I was induced with my first and had no early labor symptoms, so I can only imagine this is just our bodies getting ready for real labor, which I know is going to hurt, not just be annoying.  Good luck! 

CherryHolly

I have had pain and cramping like this on and off for almost two weeks.  I think its false labor.  I have more pain in my back which is fairly continuous and can get tighter and loosen.  When I was checked last week, she didn't even bother to do a full check as I was visibly closed.  Therefore, my waves of contractions and pain are just false labor...It sucks!  Occasionally I get measurable and timeable contractions but they are not regular and tend to go away after an hour or two.

 Unless you can time them, I would think it is false labor.  Especially if the on call doc has not been concerned yet.

Hang in there, the false labor is no fun...

shelley1002

I was told for a FTM 5-1-1, S+TM 10-1-1.  Contractions every 5 minutes, that last for 1 minute, for 1 hour of timing.  Plus I have to call my doctor before heading to L&D, I can't just show up (emergencies are different).  That way he can meet me there (he's the head of L&D and only OB at the hospital).

If you are concerned call your doctor.  They could tell you what is going on better than we can.

mominwaiting29

CherryHolly said:

I have had pain and cramping like this on and off for almost two weeks.  I think its false labor.  I have more pain in my back which is fairly continuous and can get tighter and loosen.  When I was checked last week, she didn't even bother to do a full check as I was visibly closed.  Therefore, my waves of contractions and pain are just false labor...It sucks!  Occasionally I get measurable and timeable contractions but they are not regular and tend to go away after an hour or two.

 Unless you can time them, I would think it is false labor.  Especially if the on call doc has not been concerned yet.

Hang in there, the false labor is no fun...

This is possibly what is happening.  I can walk and talk though them  and I am still at work (I can't lay down   But I think sadly it is false labor.  I think all these over ambitious October babies have me on edge  

Crinita

This sounds a lot like what I have been experiencing.  Even though I have had timeable BH contractions for around 1.5 hrs they don't stick or get bad enough to not be able to walk or talk through.  Also, I have been having the period like cramping for almost 2 wks now, exactly as you are describing.  I think things are happening down there but it is not time to go in yet, at least according to the talks that I have had with my midwife/midwives about when to come in.  It is frustrating though! 

mominwaiting29

@comeongetdown Thanks I think this is something I am going to do because I am noticing like right now I don't have that cramp feeling so I guess it is coming and going, I can also walk and talk and work through them so I am not going to worry. (As much) 

Arod1087

@crinita your october costume isn't a fail, because that is the cutest freaking costume for a dog ever!!!

Crinita

Arod1087 said:

@crinita your october costume isn't a fail, because that is the cutest freaking costume for a dog ever!!!

I couldn't help it... I found it under a "failed pet costume" search and I loved it soooo much.  Little Ewok!  I figured it makes me happy and in the end of the 3rd tri that is a good thing.  :P