"rest" between contractions

whitney1170

I've been having contractions, some timeable, some not since Tuesday evening. I have the noticeable, painful ones where my ute tightens and I have to breeaathhe, then it goes away, but the cramping and slight pain pretty much stays.

I thought there was actual rest and no pain between them? Maybe that's why these are not really getting a baby out yet...any advice or thoughts?

Tigerlilym15

That was my expectation as well, and I have heard people say that's how they experienced contractions (that the pain completely left in between). That was NOT the case for me. I had constant pain (it felt like period cramps) throughout my labor. From the time my water broke until I delivered, I had that constant cramp. Contractions would get stronger and fade away, but the pain was never gone.

 

A word of encouragement though, it was never unbearable! I did it all natural and have no regrets! Good luck, it looks like you will have a baby soon!

jugsdufresne

Tigerlilym15:

That was my expectation as well, and I have heard people say that's how they experienced contractions (that the pain completely left in between). That was NOT the case for me. I had constant pain (it felt like period cramps) throughout my labor. From the time my water broke until I delivered, I had that constant cramp. Contractions would get stronger and fade away, but the pain was never gone.

 

A word of encouragement though, it was never unbearable! I did it all natural and have no regrets! Good luck, it looks like you will have a baby soon!

This for me as well, especially toward the end. I think we just all experience them somewhat differently. If the pain subsides between, all the better for you, I say. I think I had pain between because I did not manage to go into labor in a good headspace. Irene had just blown through and we hadn't had power or water in over twelve hours. I was bleeding at that point and couldn't even take a shower to try and relax. I definitely was having a lot of fear and tension and trouble keeping calm and relaxed.

Good luck to you!!! 

whitney1170

Tigerlilym15:

That was my expectation as well, and I have heard people say that's how they experienced contractions (that the pain completely left in between). That was NOT the case for me. I had constant pain (it felt like period cramps) throughout my labor. From the time my water broke until I delivered, I had that constant cramp. Contractions would get stronger and fade away, but the pain was never gone.

 

A word of encouragement though, it was never unbearable! I did it all natural and have no regrets! Good luck, it looks like you will have a baby soon!

This is my hope as well! Thank you for the advice!

Iove.wins

I delivered naturally as well and it was never unbearable. I had a sensation of period cramps between contractions, but it really just felt like those early labor pains and I was pretty used to them by that point. My goal for myself was if I ever wanted an epi during a contraction, to wait the contraction out and ask myself again between contrax. Even with the cramping pain between contractions, I never felt between contractions that I needed one (I won't sugar coat it though, the contractions themselves hurt like a motherf*cker).

I'm glad I did it! Trust birth and trust your body and everything else will fall into place Your body and mind have ways of dealing with the pain if you give into it. Good luck and labor dust!