I think my body is defective

WinesNotWhines

I'm 37 weeks now, and I've been having regular contractions since Thursday. Sometimes they're even timeable (3-5 minutes apart). But they're not particularly intense/painful, just uncomfortable. I had them for about 12 hours yesterday, and they eventually tapered off in the evening. I guess these are just persistent Braxton-Hicks? Why, body, why? My doctor said not to come in until I couldn't breathe/talk through them, and I definitely haven't gotten to that point. But it's seriously annoying to be sitting here at work while having contractions every 5 minutes. Now I'm experiencing the tightening along with the crampy feelings. I think I'm going to lose my mind if I have to go through 3 more weeks of this.

DCtoLowcountry

Hang in there, gtown! You're full term! For the people I've known who've had tons of BH ctx it meant that when they finally got down to business labor was over quickly. I hope it's the same for you!  

WinesNotWhines

I hope so! I also have a fairly high pain tolerance, so I'm wondering if I'm ever going to get to the point where I can't breathe or talk through contractions. Does everyone get to that point? They must, right? The ones I'm having this morning are much more intense than yesterday's. I can't ignore them as much, but I'm not exactly moaning on the floor or anything.

amh_navyblue

Don't worry, you WILL know when labor really gets going.  I have a pretty high tolerance as well and I can assure you that you'll really feel it eventually.

GL and hang in there!!!  Since it seems like your body is pretty ready, you might want to keep moving--maybe that will really get things going. 

Hey Jellisy

They definitely get worse.  As my birthing class teacher said, B-H are practice for your uterus so it will be in great shape during delivery. It's like marathon training I guess.  My fingers are crossed for an end to BH and a short labor for you.

suecadence

Oh, I feel for ya.  I was having really uncomfortable BH contractions in the days/weeks before giving birth.  I remember sitting in meetings at work being like "What is happening?!?!?"  But you will know when it is the real deal.  The big-time contractions were so intense for me that I practically lost consciousness and wanted to throw up.  Not to scare you or anything!

Artslvr

I think my tolerance for pain is above average (I'm no superwoman, but I can work through a lot of thigns), and I'd say my "real" contractions didn't cause me to literally not breathe or talk, but more like they took my breath away, if that makes any sense.  I wasn't writhing on the floor, but I would stop breathing for a second and if I had to talk, it was a strained "oh-dear-lord-here-comes-another-one-insert-swear-word-here."

NowDNAtoo

It sounds like you're well on your way to holding that little one in your arms. I don't think you're going to make it another 3 weeks.

kastle

Saturday I had real contractions (as in painful, had to focus thru them) every 15 min for 3.5 hours.  Then they went away.  I've been monitored twice now & apparently have contractions regularly but can't feel them.

It's completely annoying, but it sounds like your kiddo might be a bit of an early bird, so here's to hoping you don't have much longer to deal with them!

victoria1212

My advice is to go to the hospital when you feel like you need to. Not to make you worry but there are women who don't get the painful contractions and I am one of them. Even when my contractions were really strong- I was sitting around watching TV with DH with no idea what was going on. I had one point where I felt some muscle spasms in my back but nothing that hurt. My doctor kept telling me at all my appointments the same 'don't go to the hospital until you can't breathe or walk through them' and then when we were at the hospital because my water broke- the doctor there said, 'glad you water broke or you would have been one of those women having your baby in the bathroom.'

BridetobeEm

I can totally sympathize.  With my 1st pregnancy I had BH regularly for 4 weeks straight before I was sent to the hospital for monitoring.  At some point they became actual contractions and I was put on bed rest.  I didn't feel much of a difference between my BH and real contractions, honestly.  Hopefully you won't have to wait much longer until it's the real deal if it isn't already!

rnin02

gtown_bride:

I hope so! I also have a fairly high pain tolerance, so I'm wondering if I'm ever going to get to the point where I can't breathe or talk through contractions. Does everyone get to that point? They must, right? The ones I'm having this morning are much more intense than yesterday's. I can't ignore them as much, but I'm not exactly moaning on the floor or anything.

i have a high pain tolerance too, and it took me a long time to get to the point i couldn't talk during a contraction, and that's with a pitocin induction. and even at the end most of time i could still talk. it actually helped me cope with the contractions.

MrsTiara

Can you work from home at all?  That might help with the contractions just because you'd be a bit more relaxed (presumably).  For the most part, you'll know when real labor has begun, at the very least, when your body starts the elimination process (pooping & vomiting) you'll get some good signs.

FWIW, apparently B-Hs can be much more painful the second time around.  And I've been getting them for over a month now with some pre-labor signs this morning while I was out running errands (like stocking up on diapers for BabyCrown so DH won't have to worry about it for a few months).  Make sure you're also staying well fed & hydrated, particularly in the heat.  Dehydration can cause early labor.

Have you had any bloody show yet?  It can happen a while before labor starts (one friend had it start a week and a half before) but for me it was that morning.  Or have you lost your mucus plug (not everyone notices this, I didn't with BabyCrown but did when I had my miscarriage)?  There are some other signs to look at to indicate that real labor will be starting soon (remember, internal checks don't necessarily mean anything since you can start dilating weeks before labor).

In the mean time, get as much rest as possible and make DH do everything that isn't necessary for you to do.

fatjavacat

I must have a very defective body then..I never felt a BH.

Good luck - trust your intuition and go to the hospital if you even think it is time.  Better to be sent home then like the PP said - have a baby in the bathroom! 

OhhLahLah

I am in very shape like you (judging by your siggy!), have a high pain tolerance (at least that is what they told me after my labor! I still don't think of myself this way), and I had weeks of braxton hicks contractions before I went into real labor (started at 34-41.5 weeks).

Let me just tell you - It is a good thing I did a homebirth, because I would have ended up having the baby at home anyway - lol.

My labor was hard and horrifically fast (six hours, and he was my first baby). Anyone who says VERY quick labors are easier are crazy - your body still does all the work it does in a 15 hour labor, just in a compressed period of time.  It felt like being on a runaway roller coaster.

The birth was still the BEST experience of my life - and I'd go natural again in a heartbeat!!  The natural high you get after giving birth is tremendous!!

I'm not telling you any of this to scare you.  I'm telling you this because I want you to know that it is VERY possible to deny you are in labor.  However, you WILL get to the point that the pain seems unbearable - and when you do, go to the hospital/birth center or call the midwife as soon as possible.  Don't delay once you hit that point - if you have a high pain tolerance, the baby is not far behind.  Good luck!!!

Signed,

Woman who would have had a taxicab baby if she had to get to the hospital

 

secuccaro

victoria1212:

My advice is to go to the hospital when you feel like you need to. Not to make you worry but there are women who don't get the painful contractions and I am one of them. Even when my contractions were really strong- I was sitting around watching TV with DH with no idea what was going on. I had one point where I felt some muscle spasms in my back but nothing that hurt. My doctor kept telling me at all my appointments the same 'don't go to the hospital until you can't breathe or walk through them' and then when we were at the hospital because my water broke- the doctor there said, 'glad you water broke or you would have been one of those women having your baby in the bathroom.'

I was going to write the same thing!  Some women do not have painful contractions and end up giving birth at home or in the work bathroom.  Take care of yourself!  GL and keep us posted!

SoonToBeMrsDTS

I had this for almost 3 weeks with DD. I don't have that high of pain tolerance, I spent a lot of time whining and crying but no real labor until 38.5 weeks Trust me you'll know hopefully it'll be sooner than later!