Dumb Question RE: Am I in Labor? for 2ND Time Moms...

MamatoJackson

Being that my first labor was induced, failed and ended in C-Section, I have no idea what real labor is like.

I'm having consistent contractions - Every 5 minutes or less, lasting for well over a minute.  Am drinking a bunch of water to see if that calms things down a bit.  I'm not really having any uterine pain.  It's uncomfortable because my uterus gets so tight and is pressing hard against my lungs, making it a bit hard to breathe but no uterine pain.

I am, however, having some mild back pain which just developed.

I know you're not doctors and this is a random question, but... could this be it?! 

sweetmelissa0707

I'm interested in the answer to this as well, not because I'm especially close or even having contractions right now, but I have never had a "normal" contraction or start of labor, everything was chemically/hormonally induced. I know what induced contractions feel like, and I sure hope normal ones are a little more mild. 

MamatoJackson

sweetmelissa0707:

I'm interested in the answer to this as well, not because I'm especially close or even having contractions right now, but I have never had a "normal" contraction or start of labor, everything was chemically/hormonally induced. I know what induced contractions feel like, and I sure hope normal ones are a little more mild. 

Ditto-here.  Holy cow. 

Ceefome

I've never really felt real labor either, but the hand out from my OB says walking should make real labor more intense.  Have you tried walking to see if gets worse?

And if you've been having these contractions (same frequency and duration) for over an hour, you would not be out of place to call your doctor and see what they say!

tapcat63

Take Tylenol and a warm bath or shower. Keep drinking water and keep your bladder empty. After all of that, if your contractions continue for an hour, call L&D. Those things will slow down or stop BH. Only time will tell if it's the real thing! Good luck!

MamatoJackson

Yeah - If it is labor, I'm going to wait a bit.  I was just in L&D last night because at my check-up, I had high-ish BP.  They had me there on monitors for five hours. All was well but I don't feel like going back tonight if it's just nothing.  

I'll know eventually, right?  And hopefully significantly before I'm having a baby in my pants? 

mariannerules

how long have they been 5 min apart and lasting a minute?

schoolsoutbride

Could be, but it could go on like that for a long time.  I've been contracting like that somewhat regularly since 28 w (but that's b/c of twins)

pkate98

tapcat63:

Take Tylenol and a warm bath or shower. Keep drinking water and keep your bladder empty. After all of that, if your contractions continue for an hour, call L&D. Those things will slow down or stop BH. Only time will tell if it's the real thing! Good luck!

yes, this.  Wait a little while longer to see if they continue and get worse.  

azzyberry

Follow the 3-1-1 rule.

If your contractions are 3 minutes apart and lasting 1 minute or longer for 1 hour or more than you're in labor.  It's time to go to L & D. 

sarainkansascity

Are you able to talk through the contractions?  Are they consistent or getting stronger?  Could be labor, but this could last AWHILE too.  Good luck!

FYI... almost 2 weeks before my DD finally arrived, I had consistent contractions that were about 5 min. apart for 7 hours. But they never got stronger & finally died down. 

 

 

KittahMama

I had consistent contractions for 2 weeks straight before giving birth- 4-5 minutes apart.  It was my own private hell.

The active labor ones that finally got me dialating felt the same, except I felt like someone had a hand up my vajajay and was twisting my cervix in knots.  It didn't feel like period cramps to me.  I also had back labor (just before my epi kicked in, if I knew that anesthisiologist's name I would name my first son after him!)...

Back labor felt like someone was bending me backwards, trying to break my spine like a twig. 

I realize these are horrid/scary descriptions, and they don't give you a great idea.  The front contraction pains felt like a wave, they started off slow, which gave me dread because I knew what was coming- they would get more intense over 45 seconds to a minute- and at the peak, that was when the wrenching sensation took over and last about ten seconds. Then it would slowly uncurl like a charlie horse in your calf muscle and then relax. 

The back ones were sort of similar in that they came in waves with a peak, but at the peak I literally thought my back was breaking.

I had to walk the halls for an hour before they admitted me to give birth and I stopped constantly crying and holding on to DH telling him things like "women that go natural are nuts" "this hurts so f-ing bad" "this is an only child don't ever touch me again"... I couldn't walk or talk during the contractions either, I could barely keep my mental sanity together.

This is why I had an epi.  After the epi I laughed, told jokes and pushed a baby out in five pushes! 

Anyway, hope that helps some!